Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
On May 5, the U.S. Department of Justice released its most recent complaint (legal suit filed in Federal court) against Chemed, the corporate parent of Vitas. The complaint is a False Claims Act suit. Briefly for the uninitiated, a False Claims Act suit alleges that the Medicare provider knowingly (or unknowingly but once discovered, did … Read more
In spite of best intentions, wicked winter weather across the middle U.S. has kept me off-track a bit and thus, I haven’t quite met my goal of having these all published by Valentine’s Day. Below is my and my firm’s consensus Outlook on the Home Health industry for calendar year 2013 (part FY 2014). Summary … Read more
The smallest provider centric benefit (by outlay) under Medicare is also one of the fastest growing in terms of expenditures and agency growth. Lately, it’s arguably become the most controversial in terms of payment and expenditure growth correlated with fraud. In the past year, the industry saw multiple large-scale investigations and ultimately, legal actions and OIG/Department of Justice … Read more
With the Holidays fast approaching and me, heading into a break and a brief vacation, the time is right to recap the current health policy landscape. As the title states, now it seems as if the industry is riding on the Healthcare Polar Express; head first into the dark, cold, snowy north. Fiscal Cliff: Wow, what … Read more
Lately I have fielded a growing number of questions regarding various applications/uses of the False Claims Act and Medicare billing inquiries. What is disconcerting about these inquiries is their source; too many from providers or provider organizations. One in particular arises out of an acquisition and this bears special note and comment which, I have … Read more
Full of turkey and the trimmings and avoiding any retail outlets, Black Friday seems perfect for a quick synopsis of what is happening with health policy. Fortunately, I’ve maintained a good inventory of “stuff” (not stuffing, though I have an inventory of that too) to cull for content. OIG on SNF Payments: This falls into my … Read more
A cornerstone of health policy arising from health care reform is the formation of Accountable Care Organizations. The premise is that an organizational structure focused on improving patient care and satisfaction, in a coordinated fashion, would improve quality and thus, reduce cost. The policy implication is that on a shared incentive basis, organizations at-risk, would … Read more
As the week concluded (sort of), I’m about half-way back in terms of cutting through the stacks of research and notes that I compiled through August and into early September. While time away from work is necessary for my sanity, it certainly promotes insanity upon return. Below is Part II of “catching up”, entirely focused … Read more
Off the golf course (reluctantly) and back to work. Last week was full of catching up and revisiting issues and reports. As promised before I went temporarily AWOL, here’s Part I of at least two parts (maybe three) of issues that I am following. Politics and the First Tuesday in November: The conventions are done and … Read more
Finally, my plans and I collide again on a Friday afternoon and I’m somewhat back on schedule … for now. With forecasted travel next week plus a touch of R&R time, it looks like I’ll be back off-track before long. We’ll see. Not a lot different on my dashboard as this week concludes. I’m pretty much awash … Read more