It is becoming apparent that certain cities have been targeted by recently stepped-up CMS efforts to protect the Medicare trust fund from inadvertent or fraudulent overpayments. Wise administrators and owners in non-targeted regions are watching what is going on in Miami, Houston and Los Angeles carefully, learning from the experiences of their colleagues there. Here […]
As we have previously reported, RAC auditors are prohibited from investigating overpayments arising from any clinical or administrative issues that were not on the table during the 3-year RAC demonstration project. One by one, the collection agencies that hold RAC contracts have been adding to the list of issues, applying for and getting CMS approval for issues not addressed during the demonstration. From time to time, we will provide updated lists of approved issues. As you will see from this week’s list, RACs are not looking at home care yet.
by Trisha Tulloch, RN, BSN, MSN, HCS-D With less than three months until OASIS changes again, home health providers are proactively organizing and finalizing OASIS-C training initiatives to provide up-to-date information on critical new and revised assessment items based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Guidance. Additionally, agency leadership is assessing the […]
Congratulations to Ann McCaughan – First Nurse to Win Frost & Sullivan Lifetime Achievement Award for North American Remote Patient Monitoring by Carolyn J. Humphrey, Editor Ann McCaughan, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Noninvasive Medical Technologies, Inc. (NMT) is the 2009 Frost & Sullivan Lifetime Achievement Award winner in the category “North […]
Home care and hospice can breathe easy for a while, but only about this one issue. Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) are limited in the issues they can use to recoup funds from Medicare providers. It is important that all providers learn what those issues are and keep themselves updated as they change. Initially, RACs may […]
It has just become far more likely that Medicare will take disputed money while healthcare providers pursue payment denial appeals instead of waiting to collect it until a decision has been reached at the end of the process. On September 16, 2009, CMS published a Final Rule implementing Section 935 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, […]
by Julianne Haydel, RN Agencies often ask their consultant, “What do we have to do in order to pass survey?” Frankly, a complete answer would be so lengthy it is easier to ask how to flunk one. I can answer that one authoritatively because I have firsthand knowledge on how to completely bomb a survey. […]
If you spend less on auto maintenance, you eventually spend more on repair. If you never paint your house, you eventually have to replace trim boards and eaves. If you save money by not watering your lawn, you end up with dust and mud. The state of California announced this week that it believes these principles do not apply to the cause-and-effect relationship between home care and nursing homes.
Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL), the non-profit organization facilitating the expanded use of health information technology in Vermont, and Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX), the Chicago-based health information technology provider with a major facility located in South Burlington, Vermont, announced last week their intention to enter into a strategic alliance.
If Microsoft has “won” the Operating System battle and the Office Suite battle, why is it having so much trouble competing in the Smart Phone wars? According to reliable information leaked from the company’s recent closed-door Venture Capital Summit, CEO Steve Ballmer answers that question by admitting, “We screwed up!”
