CMS Releases Hospice Stats

Within the past two weeks, CMS released data from 1998 to 2008 for length of stay and diagnosis trends.  What is interesting to note is the utilization trends (length of stay and numbers) over the period as well as the diagnosis correlated to utilization.  For CMS and in particular MedPAC, the prevailing concern has been … Read more

Skilled Nursing Facilities, Healthcare Reform and Gloomy Propsects

On October 1, the SNF industry received a 1.1% reduction in Medicare payments.  On October 13th, the Senate Finance Committee passed its version of Healthcare Reform, commonly known as the Baucus Bill.  While the Baucus Bill is the least penalizing to the industry, of the major health reform bills waiting in Congress, it is destined for the Senate shredder … Read more

Hospice Update

In March, I wrote about the MedPAC recommendations to change the Medicare Hospice program and payment system.  Yesterday, CMS announced the final (2010) payment for Hospice as well as the implementation structure of some key MedPAC recommendations.  The final rule will be published August 6th in the Federal Register. For FY 2010 (commencing October 1), … Read more