Due Diligence and Acquisitions: A Review of Common Pitfalls

A regular, although not necessarily routine, exercise that I go through is a re-evaluation of recent acquisitions in the senior housing/long-term care industry to see “how they are doing or performing” post transaction.  Perhaps the primary reason that I do this is my curiosity regarding the effectiveness of the due diligence process and the accuracy … Read more

House Passes Jobs Bill Containing Enhanced FMAP

On a party line vote, the House of Representatives passed legislation euphemistically coined the “jobs bill”.  The $26 billion dollar legislation includes a $10 billion appropriation for state school budgets and $16 billion to continued the enhanced FMAP (Medicaid match) provided under the ARRA (Stimulus bill), set to expire on December 31.  The vote was … Read more

Enhanced FMAP Funding Moving Through the Senate

On December 31st of this year, enhancements made to the Medicaid FMAP (Federal matching dollars) via the ARRA (Stimulus or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) are set to evaporate.  In a series of bills and other legislative initiatives throughout the spring and early summer, Congress has failed to extend funding to prevent the evaporation of … Read more

Compliance, the Courts and a Risk Reminder

In previous posts I’ve written about the need for providers in all industry sectors to fully understand the compliance and legal risks that are inherent to the appropriate industry sector, as well as to health care today in general.  As someone who has been immersed in health care operations and health policy for the past … Read more

Medicaid Expansion and the PPACA

Article I wrote for the National Healthcare Reform Magazine on the implications for Medicaid as a result of the expansion provisions under the health care reform law. Click on the link below (or copy and paste) to view the article. http://healthcarereformmagazine.com/article/health-reform-and-medicaid-expansion.html

As the Home Health and Hospice World Turns: Part II

In Part I, I wrote about my last week’s conversations, etc. regarding the home health industry, specifically Amedysis, the Senate Finance Committee inquiry, the industry impact via the PPACA and the likely consolidation and merger trends that are approaching.  Suffice to say, not all of last week’s news and conversations focused on the home health … Read more

As the Home Health and Hospice World Turns: Part I

Sorry for borrowing (piece of)  a soap opera title for this post but it is rather appropriate given the news that occurred over the past 30 days.  Just this past week, I’ve been interviewed by two business newspapers and on the phone with an investment banking firm I consult with from time to time regarding … Read more

Doc Fix Survives, Medicaid Ehanced Match Doesn’t

In another procedural vote on the revamped Jobs bill in the Senate, Democrats fell short of mustering 60 votes to end a Republican filibuster, effectively ending for now, legislative efforts to extend unemployment benefits.  The vote count was 57 to 41 to continue debate.  Dying with the extension of unemployment benefits are a series of … Read more

Senate Doubles Back on “Doc Fix” Legislation

After a mid-week roadblock was established on a procedural vote all but derailing the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act and the integrated provisions that included a “doc fix”, the Senate doubled-back on Friday and passed a separate measure that patches the pending cuts (21%) in the physician fee schedule set for June 1.  … Read more

Senate Sets Roadblock on Jobs Bill: Impact is Felt for Doc Fix and Medicaid Funding

Yesterday the Senate, via  a procedural vote, set a roadblock on the continued track toward passage for the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act.  The original version, re-crafted by the House to lower the price tag and then sent to the Senate, found limited traction on Wednesday.  Oddly enough, the House version effectively trimmed … Read more