Reports that 20% or more of unplanned hospital readmissions are avoidable has led to considerable interest in policymakers in reducing readmissions.[1] Actively reducing hospital readmissions is seen as a route to lower Medicare spending and … [Read more...] about Reducing Hospital Readmissions by Addressing the Causes
Weekly Alert
Improving Quality of Care for Nursing Home Residents by Improving Wages, Benefits, Training and Working Conditions for Nurse Aides
The single factor most critical to high quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents is the staff who provide residents with care. Most direct care in nursing facilities is provided by nurse aides, primarily women of color, … [Read more...] about Improving Quality of Care for Nursing Home Residents by Improving Wages, Benefits, Training and Working Conditions for Nurse Aides
Notice About the Center’s Nurse Staffing Project
As part of the Center’s ongoing project on approaches to improve nurse staffing levels in nursing facilities, this week we are posting a paper on “Increasing Reimbursement.” This approach increases reimbursement to nursing … [Read more...] about Notice About the Center’s Nurse Staffing Project
Center Submits Comments to CMS Opposing Prior Authorization of Home Health Services
As discussed in our March 2, 2016 CMA Alert, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a notice in the Federal Register in February 2016 announcing its effort to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to … [Read more...] about Center Submits Comments to CMS Opposing Prior Authorization of Home Health Services
Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 is tremendously important for the protection of older people and people living with disabilities. The Reauthorization Act Bill passed the House with an amendment on March 21, 2016. The … [Read more...] about Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
International Study: Privatization of Long-Term Care Facilities Does Not Lead to Greater Transparency or More Care
A comparison of the long-term care industry in California, Ontario (Canada), England, and Norway evaluates the extent to which ownership of nursing facilities has shifted from the public sector to private for-profit and not-for-profit companies, and … [Read more...] about International Study: Privatization of Long-Term Care Facilities Does Not Lead to Greater Transparency or More Care
CMS Proposes Changes in How It Pays for Part B Drugs
Medicare Part B covers drugs that are usually not self-administered, such as many intravenous medications and chemotherapy drugs. Medicare Part D, on the other hand, generally covers self-administered outpatient prescription drugs. On … [Read more...] about CMS Proposes Changes in How It Pays for Part B Drugs
CMS Policy Change Allows Windfall for Medicare Advantage Plans Under Sanction
On March 8, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memorandum entitled “Suspension of Policy Providing for Automatic Reduction of Star Ratings for Contracts Operating Under Intermediate Sanction.”Through … [Read more...] about CMS Policy Change Allows Windfall for Medicare Advantage Plans Under Sanction
Time for Medicare to Cover Audiology Care
Since its implementation in 1965, Medicare has excluded coverage for hearing aids and related audiology services despite the large numbers of older Americans that have hearing loss. It is increasingly well-documented, however, that untreated hearing … [Read more...] about Time for Medicare to Cover Audiology Care
Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments Regarding Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D
1. Comments to CMS re: 2017 Draft Call Letter for Medicare Parts C and DEvery year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases a draft of payment, performance and other rules that will apply to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments Regarding Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D