Home care’s future looks bright — and daunting — as workforce challenges loom large
By
Joe Jancsurak
Nov 19, 2020
With the number of Medicare beneficiaries expected to increase from 54 million to more than 80 million by 2030, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee, and with the public expressing a preference...
CMS reports $5.9 billion decrease in improper home health payments
By
Joe Jancsurak
Nov 19, 2020
Home health changes resulted in a $5.9 billion decrease in estimated improper payments from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.
Report shows huge jumps in Medicare Advantage enrollment among minorities, dually eligible
By
Joe Jancsurak
Oct 19, 2020
Minority enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans increased by 111% in 2019, with minority beneficiaries accounting for 31.5% of Medicare Advantage enrollees. Meanwhile, enrollment of dually eligible beneficiaries...
Drug-discount cards could reach Medicare recipients after election
By
Joe Jancsurak
Oct 19, 2020
President Trump’s proposed plan to send 33 million Medicare beneficiaries cards that can be used to help pay for as much as $200 in prescription drug costs won’t be completed until after the election,...
Medicare Advantage plans banking on non-medical home care needs
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 28, 2020
An exploding number of Medicare Advantage plans are working with home care providers to provide non-medical services ranging from therapeutic massage to grocery store transportation, according to benefit...
CMS considering different reimbursement strategies for COVID-19 tests
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 18, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could change the way it pays for COVID-19 tests, a top federal health official suggested this week. The move would come just months after the agency doubled...
CMS evaluating outcomes-based reimbursement strategies for COVID-19 tests
By
Amy Novotney
Sep 17, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is investigating a new outcomes-based reimbursement strategy for COVID-19 tests, according to an InsideHealthPolicy report. CMS Administrator Seema Verma said...
CMS announces 2.2% Medicare raise for SNFs in 2021
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 04, 2020
Nursing home operators will receive an aggregate $750 million Medicare pay increase for fiscal year 2021 under a final rule announced Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It would amount...
Supply of post-acute care facilities continued decline last year: MedPAC report
By
Amy Novotney
Jul 21, 2020
The nation’s supply of inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities continued to decline in 2019, contracting by 1.5%, 3.9% and 0.8%, respectively. That’s...
$1.8 million healthcare scam defrauded senior living residents, Justice Department says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jul 01, 2020
An Omaha, NE, man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for using the personal information of senior living residents in several states to defraud Medicare and state Medicaid agencies out of thousands of...