Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
There is an old joke/riddle that goes like this: “Where does an 800 lb. gorilla sit? Answer: Anywhere it wants to”. For SNFs and REITs today, that gorilla is Medicaid. Sure, there are numerous industry headwinds that SNFs face in terms of financial performance; Rising percentage of Medicare Advantage patients as part of the payer … Read more
Within the last few days, CMS/HHS sent a proposed rule to OMB (Office of Management and Budget) that would cancel the planned January 2018 roll-out of the (mandatory) cardiac and traumatic joint repair/replacement bundles. Specifically, CMS was adding bypass and myocardial infarction DRGs to the BPCI (Bundled Payments for Care Improvement) along with DRGs pertaining to … Read more
Long title – actually shortened. In honesty, I clipped it back from: SNF Fortunes, HCR/Manor Care, Five Star, Value-Based Payment, Hospitals Impacted Too, Home Health and Hospice Fortunes Rise, and all Other Salient Lessons for/in Health Care Today. Suffice to say, lots going on but almost all in the category of “should have seen it … Read more
Yesterday, CMS confirmed the details of an earlier published proposed rule (May) set for publication on August 22, 2014 (final rule) regarding FY 2015 hospice payments. Anyone wishing a copy of the Federal Register text, please contact me as provided on this site (either via comment or contact info. in Author page). As is always the case … Read more
An issue that continues to confound the hospital and SNF industry is the growing use and thus, referral and coverage (Medicare) ramifications of observation stays. Fundamentally, and observation stay by current definition is a non-inpatient stay – an extended residence in an outpatient status. Truly, this a bifurcated problem or issue; hospitals wishing to avoid … Read more
Before too much rancor sets in among readers, I’ll admit that my content has strayed just a bit lately from health policy, etc. to politics and economics. This too shall pass and rather quickly. This post is for a friend and reader who e-mailed me earlier about the ADP job report and what it means … Read more
One week from today is the national election for president, every seat in the House of Representatives, and one-third of the Senate. Additionally, there are numerous gubernatorial elections and local or state-wide races at issue. No other nation on the face of the earth affords, nay protects, the rights of all of its citizens to … 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
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