Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
In early October, I wrote an article regarding CMS 2019 OPPS (outpatient PPS) proposed rule, specifically regarding site neutral payments. The purpose of the article was to address the site neutrality trend that CMS is on, streamlining payments to reduced location of care disparities for the same care services. Succinctly, if the care provided is … Read more
A week from today, I am conducting a webinar on reducing/avoiding unnecessary rehospitalizations. With SNFs just experiencing the VBP impact (Medicare incentive or reduction) starting October 1, this event is extremely timely. I’ll cover the health policy and reimbursement implications regarding rehospitalizations plus new QRP and QM updates. I’ll also touch on PDPM implications. Some great … Read more
In the 2019 OPPS (outpatient PPS) proposed rule, CMS included a site neutral payment provision. With the comment period closed, the lobbying (against) fierce, it will be interesting to see where CMS lands in terms of the final OPPS rule – maintain, change, or abate. The one thing that is for certain, regardless of the … Read more
Yesterday I wrote a quick post regarding the news that CMS was about to issue the SNF Final Rule for Fiscal Year 2019. Today, the text is available. Official publication in the Federal Register is set for August 8th. Readers may access the text here: SNF 2019 Final Rule I will have analysis and more … Read more
Late this afternoon, I caught news that CMS will release a number of Final Rules impacting post-acute providers over the next few days. Below is a quick summary of what is known for SNFs. I will update this information as I get access to the Final Rule. PPS rates (manual) to adjust by 2.4% (increase). A … Read more
I read a lot – part of the job. I hear lots of conversations and participate in many in-person and online. Last week, I spent a few evenings with my rehab partner. Between he and my wife, with clients across the country, it was fascinating how the conversation regarding fortune or famine (providers) boiled down … Read more
After CMS nixed the mandatory expansion provisions for Bundled Payments and reduced the metro areas participating in CJR (joint replacement), the prospects for post-acute provider involvement in non-fee-for-service initiatives (payments and incentives based on disease states and care episodes) went in to limbo. With a fair amount of excitement and trepidation building on the part of the … Read more
Attached is a link a to a good PBJ (payroll based journal) article. It covers the basic concepts of what is going on today with regard to staffing level reporting and the Five Star system. Recall, staffing as a domain, is one of the stars in this system. The article is posted here (re-published) with permission of … Read more
Last year 2017, was a bit of a “downer” in terms of mergers/acquisitions in the home health and hospice industry. Though 2017 was fluid for hospital and health system activity, the home health and hospice sectors lagged a bit. Some of the lag was due to capacity concerns in so much that health system mergers, if … Read more
Last Friday, CMS released the contents of its annual proposed rule updating the SNF PPS plus (as always), fine tuning certain related programmatic elements. Final Federal Register Publication is set for May 8. (Anyone wishing the PDF version may download it from the Reports and Other Documents page on this site or access it here … Read more