Please find below the frequently asked questions (“FAQs”) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently released concerning therapy caps and advanced beneficiary notice of noncoverage (“ABNs”).

(more…)

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the results of a study of hospice general inpatient care (“GIP”) based on an analysis of Medicare Part A hospice claims for beneficiaries who received GIP in 2011.  The intent was to identify suspected abuse of GIP in hospice inpatient facilities by hospice providers because this is the second most expensive level of hospice care.  (more…)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently released a Survey & Certification Letter acknowledging the change in nomenclature for the professionals working in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (“ICF/IID”).  Formally known as Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals (“QMRPs”), these professionals are now Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professionals (“QIDPs”).  QIDPs are required to integrate, coordinate and monitor the treatment programs for ICF/IID clients.   (more…)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will publish the proposed fiscal year (“FY”) Medicare payment rate in the Federal Register later today.  Announced last week, the proposed rate includes a 2.3% market basket increase; however, a forecast error correction and other mandated adjustments will reduce the market basket increase to 1.4%.  This will still result in an estimated $500 million increase in the aggregate payments to skilled nursing facilities during FY 2014.  The complete proposed payment rate rule is available in the Federal Register.   (more…)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently released a Survey and Certification letter updating the State Operations Manual (“SOM”) guidelines  on surveys of deemed status long-term care (“LTC”) providers when the provider has been found to have a condition level instance of noncompliance, including immediate jeopardy (“IJ”), in a complaint survey.  This change in policy only applies to “deemed status providers.”  Deemed status is available when an approved accrediting organization (“AO”), separate from CMS, determines the provider is in compliance with Medicare conditions.  This “deemed status” will largely exempt the provider from routine surveys by the State Agency (“SA”) but still requires the provider to comply with all applicable Medicare conditions.  Nursing facilities are largely not eligible for deemed status; however, home health agencies (“HHAs”) and hospice and rehabilitation agencies are eligible.

(more…)

On April 9, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced the contract winners for Round 2 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (“DMEPOS”) Competitive Bidding Program.  This article is intended to answer some frequently asked questions about the Round 2 Competitive Bidding Program and the effect on referral agents.

(more…)

In a transmittal issued on April 5, 2013, CMS provided guidance on survey activities that will be affected by the sequestration cuts.  The transmittal provides guidance on several areas that will have an immediate and potentially negative effect on nursing homes and post-acute care providers.  These changes will affect the survey process as conducted by the state survey agencies.

(more…)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced today the contract suppliers for Round 2 and the national mail-order program of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (“DMEPOS”) Competitive Bidding Program. As of April 9, 2013, there are 799 suppliers that have been awarded contracts in this round, and these contracts will affect suppliers and beneficiaries in 91 competitive bidding areas.  Additionally, CMS announced 18 suppliers that accepted contracts to provide mail-order diabetic testing supplies at competitively bid prices nationwide. (more…)

During yesterday’s Open Door Forum, Jeanette Kranacs, the Director of the Division of Institutional Post-Acute Care for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) commented that CMS will not be issuing instructions to surveyors on evaluating compliance and ethics programs until the regulations have been promulgated.  CMS was required to have final regulations and various tools in place as of March 2012, but has not yet released any regulations on the ethics and compliance programs for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”).   (more…)

On March 19, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (“CMS”) Final Rule regarding notification and relocation requirements for closing a long-term care (“LTC”) facility was published in the Federal Register.

Under the new requirements, 60 days prior to the closure of an LTC facility, the administrator must provide written notice to the following: (more…)