Provider Letters: Patient Restraint and Seclusion

In a letter dated May 22, 2006, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) advised nursing facilities about new rules in Title 40 of the Texas Administrative Code, effective June 1.
The new rules relate to the definition of restraints, frequency of use, notification of restraint use and seclusion to patients’ legal representatives, etc. [...]

Senate Committee Asks CMS to Investigate QIOs

Concerned about executives’ salaries and perks, the Senate Committee on Finance has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to investigate Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) for effectiveness and improprieties. (Medical News Today)
The call for an investigation was likely prompted by the American Health Quality Association’s request for more funding and broadened responsibilities. [...]

Update: Medicare to Allow Spinal Disk Coverage

You may recall previous posts about Medicare’s potential coverage of the artificial spinal disk Charite. As late as February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) wanted to deny coverage for the surgery. CMS allowed a 30-day comment period, and at the time, the chances of coverage didn’t look promising.
According to Johnson & Johnson, the [...]

Provider Letter: Freestanding Inpatient Hospice Evac Requirements

In a letter dated May 19, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services reminds freestanding inpatient hospices about patient safety during disasters. All Home and Community Support Services Agencies are bound by law to have a written policy for “publicly known natural disaster preparedness for clients receiving services.”
Inpatient hospices must also have an [...]

Politicians Push to Eliminate Medicare Drug Penalty

The deadline to sign up for Medicare’s prescription drug program has come and gone, but a bipartisan group of politicians is pushing to eliminate the late fee for beneficiaries who missed the deadline. The next open enrollment period begins in November. (Kaiser Network)
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt wants Congress to wait [...]

Medicaid Personal Responsibility Contracts

At least one state wants Medicaid beneficiaries to take responsibility for their own care strongly enough to put incentives in place. West Virginia proposed and the feds approved a plan for “personal responsibility contracts.” (Medical News Today)
To receive credits for health care services, beneficiaries must choose a primary care provider – a “medical home” – [...]

Senate Rejects Medical Care Access Protection Act

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living issued a statement about the U.S. Senate’s rejection of the Medical Care Access Protection Act, a bill that would have implemented health care liability reforms.
Long term care providers have had to reduce patients’ access to certain services because of the high costs [...]

FMLA Amendments on the Table…Again.

On April 24, the Department of Labor (DOL) published its semiannual regulatory agenda promising to issue revisions to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The DOL set a deadline for June, 2006 for publishing the revisions. Of course, the DOL has already set and passed numerous dates for the proposed FMLA revisions. [...]

Provider Letter: Joint Training Survey Announcement

In a letter dated May 12, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) asked providers to participate in an online survey for joint training courses. Based on the survey, DADS will assess the needs of nursing, assisted living, adult day care, and intermediate care facilities when developing joint training courses for long term [...]

CMS Proposes Competitive Bidding for Durable Equipment

In a move designed to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries and save the money for the Medicare program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking to open up bidding for durable medical equipment.
From the press release:

“We intend to implement these DME competitive reforms to get savings for beneficiaries and taxpayers, while maintaining [...]

Next Page »