Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
Poor-Performing Nursing Homes Now In Medicare's Crosshairs
National list to provide public with choices, agency says Poor-performing nursing homes will undergo stringent enforcement until they make significant improvements or they will be terminated from Medicare or Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the national list of poor-performing nursing homes Nov. 29, identifying those listed as special focus facilities (SFF) in need of extra scrutiny because of significant quality lapses or repeated failed surveys. "Nearly three million Americans, most of whom are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, depend on the nation's 16,000 nursing homes at some point during each year to provide life-saving care," said Kerry Weems, CMS' acting administrator. This list reinforces CMS' commitment in providing beneficiaries and their families needful information when making long-term care choices, Weems added. State survey agencies will monitor whether SFFs are making necessary improvements, according to the release. The SFF list is one of several CMS initiatives to improve quality of care in the nation's nursing homes. Other plans include tightening criminal background checks for facility staff and applicants, new emphasis on pressure ulcer prevention, and improving the state survey process. To avoid choosing the wrong nursing home, CMS recommends that consumers consult the SFF list and take the following additional steps: check a nursing home's progress through the most recent state or CMS survey; ask nursing home staff about steps taken for improvement in quality of care; and contact a local state nursing home representative, the US Administration on Aging (AoA), and local groups to learn more about the nursing home. Resources: For details, visit: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- DME:
New Deadline Disappoints Accreditation Advocates
Ante up -- or lose Medicare payments Suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and [...] - Regulations:
Feds To Suppliers: We Won't Back Down
Denial won't protect your supplier number Low-volume suppliers of home medical equipment received a wake-up [...] - Part B Mythbuster:
Follow 3 Tips For Your ED Coding Makeover
The emergency department is an outpatient setting, not inpatient Myth: Only a certified emergency department [...] - Minimum Data Set:
MDS 3.0 Is On Its Way, CMS Says -- Here's What To Expect
Agency provides 'high level' view of what's new The countdown for MDS 3.0 implementation is [...] - Long-Term Care:
Poor-Performing Nursing Homes Now In Medicare's Crosshairs
National list to provide public with choices, agency says Poor-performing nursing homes will undergo stringent [...] - Coding Coach:
Cure Colonoscopy Denials With CMS' Advice
You may be surprised by Medicare's guidance on diagnosis codes If you're confused about what [...] - Hospice:
Cost Of Hospice Care On Federal Radar Screen -- Again
Care provided in nursing homes costs Medicare more, OIG finds The cost of hospice care [...] - Industry Notes:
ALJs' Independence Threatened By Proposed Rule
Plus: Post-acute care demonstration to roll out in 10 cities Seniors could have a much [...]
