CMS announced in December that the amendment requiring the development of the HRIII RUG has been repealed. Therefore, as of October 1, 2010 the RUG IV will remain in effect through out the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Facilities will not need to monitor for possible payback or the reconciliation of revenue received since October 1, 2010 under RUG IV. (more…)
Even though both the House of Representatives and the Senate have not yet completed work on their respective bills to restructure the health care delivery system, it seems very likely that we will be experiencing the most significant health care reform legislation since the advent of Medicare and Medicaid. As has been noted by so many key figures in this national debate, the current system is unsustainable, impacting one-sixth of our economy, and if the status quo were to prevail, President Obama’s economic recovery strategy would itself be in “immediate jeopardy.” So while the House leadership and members of the “Blue Dog Coalition” of fiscally conservative Democrats have succeeded in delaying the necessary committee work and a vote on any of the most likely bills being crafted in the near future, in all likelihood some significant health care reform legislation will be enacted, probably by the end of the year. (more…)
In a Memorandum to State Survey Agencies dated March 13, 2009, CMS ruled that Rural Health Clinics that lose their mid-level practitioner after Medicare certification and demonstrate that they cannot recruit a replacement in the required 90-day period, can apply for a temporary staffing waiver. The change in the ruling states that the requested waiver is not dependent upon the date that the RHC became certified, allowing them to apply anytime after a mid-level practitioner leaves.
In a ruling dated March 9, 2009, CMS determined that the effective date of Medicare participation for an FQHC under new ownership was the date CMS received the signed participation agreement, not the date that the Change of Ownership (“CHOW”) application was filed. Although the FQHC continued to serve Medicare beneficiaries during the transition, the CHOW was not considered final until the agreement was signed and received.
BECKY CARROLL, Principal, Director of Clinical Operations
As of October 1, 2010, skilled nursing facilities and swing bed programs will be undergoing the most extensive change since the advent of PPS. The MDS which has stayed as a constant assessment tool for approximately 10 years will be revamped as the MDS 3.0. CMS has stated that this version will provide a much more valid and reliable assessment of the patient/resident while decreasing the amount of time it takes for the staff to complete the form(s). While there are many changes to the completion of the assessment, the payment structure is of priority to all concerned. (more…)
