The nursing shortage is so critical that someone graduating with only a two-year nursing degree has his/her choice of nursing jobs at relatively high salaries. The average starting salary for RNs is $56,000. The New York Daily News featured a story on the nursing job market and cited statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Nurses Association. The average nurse is 50 years old, and nursing schools have had to turn away students because there weren’t enough faculty to … [Read more...] about More News About Nursing Shortage
Provider Letters: Billing Requirements, Immunizations, and CMS Alert
In a letter dated November 2, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed nursing facilities and community services providers that third-party billers are required to enter into a contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission before claims can be submitted to the Texas Medicaid HealthCare Partnership, effective June 30, 2007. This is an effort to combat fraud. You may download the letter here. DADS informed home and community support services … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Billing Requirements, Immunizations, and CMS Alert
Party-Line Medicare Battles Continue
The new majority party in Congress didn’t wait long before it starting pulling rank. Under the current Medicare law, passed in 2003, the federal government is prohibited from negotiating drug prices or establishing a list of preferred drugs. Soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the Democrats will try to repeal the ban straight out of the starting gate. (Kaiser Network) So much for Republicans’ efforts to partially privatize the system. One of the concerns about the government … [Read more...] about Party-Line Medicare Battles Continue
Medicare News Roundup
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made a series of announcements about Medicare: 1. Payment rates for home health services will increase by 3.3 percent for 2007. The acting administrator for CMS said this increase will “reward home health agencies who continue to report quality data and also provides beneficiaries with access to more affordable oxygen equipment.†(Source) 2. CMS also announced a final rule for Medicare payments for hospital outpatient services … [Read more...] about Medicare News Roundup
Texas Register Updates
On behalf of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has adopted an amendment to §9.178 in Chapter 9, Subchapter D, which restores text inadvertently replaced with incorrect text during previous adoption of an amendment. For more information, see the relevant section of the Texas Register. HHSC announced its intent to submit Transmittal Number 06-030, Amendment Number 748, to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance. … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates
Medicaid News Roundup
In an effort to recoup money paid in Medicaid services, Tennessee’s Medicaid program will increase its efforts to go after beneficiaries’ estates. (Kaiser Network) As more retiring baby boomers start receiving Medicaid services, I suspect more states will follow Tennessee’s lead. In other Medicaid news, a radio program called Marketplace Morning Report examined Missouri’s Medicaid program and found that it went from being one of the best in the country to one of the worse. Over … [Read more...] about Medicaid News Roundup
Automatic Medicaid Enrollment of U.S.-Born Babies of Illegal Aliens Ends
Last week, President George W. Bush announced that U.S.-born babies of illegal aliens no longer will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. Under the new policy, which took effect this past July, illegal aliens will be required to prove their baby’s citizenship. (Kaiser Network) Leslie Norwalk, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the New York Times, “When emergency Medicaid pays for a birth, the child is not automatically deemed eligible. But the … [Read more...] about Automatic Medicaid Enrollment of U.S.-Born Babies of Illegal Aliens Ends
Texas Comptroller To Lawmakers: End Accenture Contract
Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller, chastised the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for its $800 million contract with Accenture, a group that administers Medicaid enrollment and other social services. Citing mismanagement, Stayhorn says the contract “must be ended.†According to the Houston Chronicle, Accenture’s call centers experience computer glitches and lost and backlogged applications. Strayhorn, who is running for governor, asked lawmakers to transfer project … [Read more...] about Texas Comptroller To Lawmakers: End Accenture Contract
Hearing on Proposed Provider Reimbursement Rates
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced in the October 20 Texas Register that there will be a public hearing for comments on proposed interim Medicaid reimbursement rates that will apply to large, state-operated Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation. Included are state schools operated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. The hearing will be held on Monday, November 6, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. in the Lone Star Conference Room … [Read more...] about Hearing on Proposed Provider Reimbursement Rates
The False Claims Act–A Significant Hammer!
For an example of how whistleblowers and the False Claims Act interact, read this article, Home Health Care Industry Reels from Medicare Scandal. Whistleblowers can bring qui tam lawsuits against providers and benefit hugely. In this particular case, the whistleblower benefits as follows: The False Claims Act permits individuals to file qui tam lawsuits against companies that defraud the government. Liable companies pay as much as three times the government's losses plus penalties for … [Read more...] about The False Claims Act–A Significant Hammer!