The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reviewed requirements for reporting abuse and neglect allegations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). GAO concluded gaps existed in requirements for hospices as compared … [Read more...] about Gaps in Hospice Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Weekly Alert
Conviction of Florida Nursing Home Operator Affirmed
In July 2016, the federal government indicted Philip Esformes, owner and operator of the Esformes Network, including nursing facilities in Florida. He and two others have been criminally charged in a one-billion-dollar Medicare fraud and money … [Read more...] about Conviction of Florida Nursing Home Operator Affirmed
Medicare Enrollment Numbers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare on January 5th. As of September 2022, 65,103,807 people are enrolled in Medicare, an increase of 160,823 since the last report. Of … [Read more...] about Medicare Enrollment Numbers
Elder Justice “No Harm” Newsletter | Volume 4, Issue 6 Now Available
In the Elder Justice Newsletter, we highlight citations, including deficiencies related to abuse, neglect, and substandard care, that have been identified as not causing any resident harm. The goal of this brief newsletter is to shed light on … [Read more...] about Elder Justice “No Harm” Newsletter | Volume 4, Issue 6 Now Available
Medicare Provisions in Year-End Spending Bill
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2023 (H.R. 2617, now Public Law 117-328), which funds federal government operations for the 2023 fiscal year, was signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022. The CAA contains a number of … [Read more...] about Medicare Provisions in Year-End Spending Bill
Vaccinated Staff Equals Fewer Nursing Home Deaths – Require Boosters
A new study documents that vaccinations of nursing home staff resulted in fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths among residents and fewer COVID-19 cases among staff in the early part of the coronavirus pandemic. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid … [Read more...] about Vaccinated Staff Equals Fewer Nursing Home Deaths – Require Boosters
Require Full Disclosure & Accountability for Nursing Home Reimbursement
Owners and operators of nursing homes and their trade associations argue that they will need more money when mandatory staffing ratios promised by the Biden Administration are implemented. Don’t believe them. In “Are nursing homes really in tough … [Read more...] about Require Full Disclosure & Accountability for Nursing Home Reimbursement
CMS: Key Trends in Medicare Telehealth Utilization Report
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, was signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022. The omnibus spending bill extended for an additional two years the telehealth flexibilities originally put in place for the COVID-19 Public Health … [Read more...] about CMS: Key Trends in Medicare Telehealth Utilization Report
Survey: Widespread Clinician Concern Over Older Adults and Telehealth
A recently published national survey reported that clinicians have significant concerns about adults 65 and older relying on telehealth services for their medical needs.[1] Over 7,000 clinicians responded to a survey funded by the West Health … [Read more...] about Survey: Widespread Clinician Concern Over Older Adults and Telehealth
Center Supports Coverage of Gender Affirming Care in Amicus Brief
The Center for Medicare Advocacy has co-authored an amicus brief with the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) in support of West Virginia Medicaid beneficiaries seeking coverage of medically necessary gender affirming care. In Fain v. Crouch, 2022 WL … [Read more...] about Center Supports Coverage of Gender Affirming Care in Amicus Brief