CMS issues new guidance on HCBS final rule, but provider concerns remain
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 25, 2019
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday issued new guidance meant to clarify where Medicaid beneficiaries can receive home- and community-based services as defined in a 2014 regulation,...
Residential and personal care spending tops $173.5 billion
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 07, 2017
Spending on residential and personal care was $173.5 billion in 2016, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ National Health Expenditures report, published Wednesday.
CMS proposal would be ‘major financial burden’ for CCRCs, residents, organizations say
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 17, 2020
A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation effectively proposing new Medicaid taxes could “lead to a major financial burden” for continuing care retirement communities and residents —...
91 groups, individuals praise bipartisan Alzheimer’s-related efforts in Senate
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 14, 2020
Twenty-seven organizations and 64 individuals told Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that they are “particularly encouraged” by the lawmakers’ recommendation that the Center for...
Medicaid block grants will help address ‘looming cost crisis’ due to aging population, CMS says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 31, 2020
The Medicaid block grant program announced Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services won’t directly affect elderly and disabled beneficiaries, CMS Administrative Seema Verma said, but...
Data on Medicaid-funded personal care services need to be improved, GAO says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 26, 2017
One of 79 new actions that Congress or executive branch agencies could take to improve operations across government, according to the Government Accountability Office’s seventh annual report, released...
Past efforts point way to future success of Medicaid LTSS reform: report
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 08, 2017
As the population depending on Medicaid long-term services and supports grows, the experiences of several states offer lessons that providers can use to identify opportunities to collaborate with state...
Report recommends changes for programs serving dual-eligible beneficiaries
By
Lois A. Bowers
Sep 20, 2016
A new report from the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center recommends regulatory, payment and operational changes for programs serving dual-eligible beneficiaries. The authors also suggest that CMS test...
CMS extends deadlines for HCBS settings rule due to COVID-19 concerns
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 15, 2020
Citing concerns related to the coronavirus, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday said it would give states an additional year to comply with a settings rule related to the provision...
OIG plans review of Medicaid waivers, employee background checks, more
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 10, 2016
Reviews of Medicare and Medicaid payments, fraud and abuse, and employee background check efforts are some of the items on the agenda for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector...