Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Late this afternoon, I caught news that CMS will release a number of Final Rules impacting post-acute providers over the next few days. Below is a quick summary of what is known for SNFs. I will update this information as I get access to the Final Rule. PPS rates (manual) to adjust by 2.4% (increase). A … Read more
In a memo set for release today, CMS is proposing to reintroduce pre-payment review (with a twist) for Home Health claims. The memo version is here: HHA Pre Payment Recall, CMS first introduced pre-payment review in August 2016, starting in Illinois. The process required agencies to submit claim-related data BEFORE receiving final payment or face an … Read more
Last Friday, CMS released the contents of its annual proposed rule updating the SNF PPS plus (as always), fine tuning certain related programmatic elements. Final Federal Register Publication is set for May 8. (Anyone wishing the PDF version may download it from the Reports and Other Documents page on this site or access it here … Read more
Just ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, CMS released its proposed home health rule changes for FY 2015. As common, the proposal includes rate changes/modifications and clarifications and adjustments to Conditions of Participation. The proposed rule continues a path for CMS and the industry of rate reduction/rate rebasing and movement toward greater emphasis on … Read more
In news just released, Kindred (the post-acute, skilled, rehab and LTAcH behemoth) has made two separate offers to purchase control of Gentiva, the latest a $14 per share offer consisting of half cash, half stock ($7 and $7). An earlier offer of $13 per share was rejected and it appears the $14 offer will see … Read more
Over the course of many engagements plus my years as an executive, I’ve addressed and been asked to address, the theme of effective governance, particularly at the Board level. To bring this topic into full context, one of my many “hats” that I wear (periodically), is as an advisor to graduate and post-graduate students working … Read more
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post covering the Home Health PPS Final Rule for 2014. As I was writing that post, I simultaneously reviewed the Gentiva/Harden deal plus the recent quarterly earnings of Amedisys and Almost Family (plus their acquisition of SunCrest HealthCare). The earnings reports plus the analytics from these two … Read more
Most of my readers know by now that I am an economist by training and formal education. My clients know this as well. The net result is that I’ve been queried, almost to death as of late, as to what this current round of Washington folly is really all about. Is it about the ACA? … Read more
A number of my regular readers and clients routinely ask for my thoughts/analysis on where the Reform Act/Affordable Care Act/Obamacare is at, particularly in-light of the recent one-year delay in the employer mandate. Given the complexity of this subject and the scope of the overall law, a single post won’t cover the subject adequately. In compiling … Read more
Since last week, I’ve fielded a number of questions/inquiries stemming from the PBS segment on Assisted Living. Interesting, a number of the queries have come from sources tangential to the industry (policy folks, trade associations, advocacy groups, etc.). Thematically, these sources are looking for answers as to “why” and “what can be done”. Aside from … Read more