Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
On November 1 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) final rule, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for Home Health Agencies. Unlike other Medicare provider types that have PPS rule updates corresponding to the federal fiscal year (10/1), home health … Read more
When the 2025 Final SNF PPS Rule was released, the focus was on Medicare rate increases. This is typically known as the “headline”. But as readers and followers here know, there is always a regulatory tidbit or two that can be even more significant in terms of operations, particularly as more and more Medicare patient … Read more
On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule effectively, banning non-compete agreements, provisions, etc. for employees, including executives. The final rule contains separate provisions defining unfair methods of competition for the two subcategories of workers. Specifically, the final rule provides that, with respect to a worker other than a senior executive, it is … Read more
Just announced this morning, CMS has finalized two hotly debated proposed rules into final rules. The final rules involve the SNF staffing mandate proposed last year and the Medicaid Access Rule, requiring 80% of payments for Medicaid HCBS programs go to compensation for direct care workers. The Medicaid Rule follows the original proposed rule while … Read more
A little over a week ago, an SNF operator dropped a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the District of Utah against a staffing platform that works somewhat, like a staffing agency. The platform Nursa acts as a software clearinghouse connecting nursing staff (RNs. LPNs, CNAs, etc.) to facilities with open shifts – “Nursa exists … Read more
In 2021, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Within the Act, a new Medicare provider was created – the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). The final rule is available here: Rural Emergency Hospital Final Rule REHs were created to improve and increase, access to emergency services and ideally, expanded outpatient services in rural areas. Starting … Read more
This morning, the Department of Labor issued a final rule interpreting who is and who is not, an independent contractor v. an employee. Contract work in health care has boomed since the pandemic, though even pre-pandemic, the use of contractors (physicians, nurses, therapists, etc.) was on the increase. The final rule is available here: 2024-00067 The … Read more
Happy Hump Day! Only 12 more shopping days until Christmas! In mid-November, CMS issued a final rule titled: “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Disclosures of Ownership and Additional Disclosable Parties Information for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Nursing Facilities; Medicare Providers’ and Suppliers’ Disclosure of Private Equity Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts“. The final rule is … Read more
Somewhat buried within the Home Health Final Rule (PPS) was an update on a CMS initiative to identify hospice agencies requiring additional regulatory oversight for poor care performance (poor quality, unsafe care practices). Back in 2021, CMS began the Special Focus initiative and in the 2024 Hospice Final Rule, CMS indicated that the recommendations for … Read more
Back a few weeks ago I did a post summarizing the 2024 Final PPS Rule for Skilled Nursing Facilities. Recall, these rules come out yearly, updating payment rates and other provisions impacting payment and some, impacting policy. Typically, the initial or proposed rule starts in spring and then after comments, etc., becomes final during the … Read more