Center for Medicare Advocacy

Advancing Access to Medicare and Healthcare

Weekly Alert

Discharge Planning: Tips for Evaluating a Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility Placement Choices

Medicare beneficiaries often need care in a Medicare- participating skilled nursing facility (SNF) after an inpatient hospitalization.  For these patients, hospitals are responsible for identifying skilled nursing facilities within the … [Read more...] about Discharge Planning: Tips for Evaluating a Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility Placement Choices

Proposed Revisions to Requirements for Discharge Planning for Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs)

On November 3, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), published in the Federal Register (80 Fed. Reg. 68126), proposed revisions to requirements for discharge planning for hospitals, CAHs, and HHAs. The proposed rule is also … [Read more...] about Proposed Revisions to Requirements for Discharge Planning for Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs)

House Passes Budget Agreement That Would Reduce Dramatic Rise in Part B Costs for Beneficiaries – Bill Moves to Senate; Advocates Remain Concerned About Underlying Causes

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.  Broadly speaking, this agreement avoids a pending government default by raising the nation’s debt ceiling, and prevents relief from budgetary … [Read more...] about House Passes Budget Agreement That Would Reduce Dramatic Rise in Part B Costs for Beneficiaries – Bill Moves to Senate; Advocates Remain Concerned About Underlying Causes

CMS Proposed Rules for Nursing Facility Requirements of Participation: Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments

On July 16, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published proposed rules to revise the Requirements of Participation (RoPs) for nursing facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid, or both.[1]  Since most nursing … [Read more...] about CMS Proposed Rules for Nursing Facility Requirements of Participation: Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments

Kaiser Family Foundation Report on Income and Assets of Medicare Beneficiaries

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently released an issue brief that describes the income and assets of Medicare beneficiaries in 2014. It is essential to place proposals making changes to the Medicare program within the context of this data in order … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Report on Income and Assets of Medicare Beneficiaries

Solution to Medicare Part B Cost Increases? Look at “Outpatient” Observation Status

If Congress and the Administration truly seek ways to limit Medicare premiums and deductibles, they ought to look at CMS's hospital Observation Status policy.A major cause of the Part B increase is likely the parallel increase in … [Read more...] about Solution to Medicare Part B Cost Increases? Look at “Outpatient” Observation Status

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