The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) aims to further advance its overall value-based care strategy with the finalized 20224 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) – adding ways for medically complex, high-cost beneficiaries like those in nursing homes to participate in Medicare Shared Savings Programs (MSSPs). Additionally, CMS therapy assistants can be more generally […]
Category: Therapy
Ahead of the upcoming Minimum Data Set (MDS) changes on Oct. 1, the preparation of clinicians is mixed and may have a lot to do with company size and regional market, along with resources to stay apprised of reimbursement updates. Many clinicians feel stressed and overwhelmed by the adjustments, with some playing catchup to the […]
Physical therapists working in long-term care facilities received an average actual* pay increase of 3.7% in the last year, which was greater than the average actual pay increase seen by PTs in hospitals and home health settings. That’s according to the latest Rehabilitation Salary & Benefits Report from Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service, which showed […]
A big question that operators must ask themselves when considering involvement in an institutional special needs plan, or I-SNP, is ultimately wrapped up in how much money is being made on the Medicare Part B therapy side, some say. It might not make financial sense to sign up for an I-SNP if a SNF operator […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to reduce payment for physician services under the fee schedule compared to last year, the federal agency announced late Thursday. The reductions would affect the provision of therapy in nursing homes. Indeed, the proposal represents a “significant cut” that will put nursing home “providers in […]
As resident falls are still a primary source of financial loss for long-term care providers, researchers and tech companies are continuing to develop and improve on tools that predict the risk of falls. The latest offering in clinical tools that predict falls is a risk prediction model aiming to identify residents of nursing homes at […]
Nursing homes will have an opportunity to test out coding prior to Minimum Data Set changes slated for October, and receive pre-recorded video training this spring, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shared in an open door forum Thursday. The videos will deliver foundational knowledge necessary to understand the new items and guidance, […]
Preparations for Minimum Data Set (MDS) changes vary from state to state, raising questions about how Medicaid reimbursements will be determined as the clock ticks down to the Oct. 1 start date. The key issue is the removal of Section G, which is used to measure the functional status of residents, from the nursing home […]
Operators in the nursing home space are dealing with a crippling workforce shortage and rising costs of care – all while seeing continued higher acuity among residents. Providers and vendors in the space agree they’re seeing a larger proportion of patients with higher acuity, but the definition of acuity varies along with methods to measure […]
Over the last two years, skilled nursing providers have faced a pandemic and a labor crisis. As 2023 dawns, leaders across the industry are taking stock of their changed organizations and a reshaped business environment, and are preparing to execute strategies formulated in the COVID crucible. As Signature HealthCARE CEO Joe Steier puts it: “Every […]
As therapy providers in the nursing home setting brace for a 4.47% cut in the Physician Fee Schedule in 2023, Congress may not help bridge the gap as much as in the past. Currently, Congress is toying with a 2% to2.5% boost to help providers dealing with the 4.47% cut, panelists said during a webinar […]
As therapy providers in the nursing home setting, among other health care workers, are expected to absorb a finalized 4.4% cut to the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), those impacted aren’t so sure Congress will help offset the decrease like they’ve done in years past. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized the […]
Therapy providers in the nursing home space believe their role in increasing mobility will contribute to upside in the sector – especially within the context of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), pandemic recovery and staffing challenges. It’s a draw for prospective residents and their families, both on the short-term and long-term side, as clinical improvements […]
As more nursing homes seek to add behavioral health services to their continuum of care, providers that have been specializing in these areas for decades can be used as a blueprint to achieving similar results. Covid-induced isolation, coupled with initiatives outlined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), make existing programs – like […]
While the spotlight on skilled nursing continues to shine bright, an election year has advocacy groups certain that legislative efforts will be pared down to just a couple key pieces Congress aims to tackle this fall. Policy dedicated to boosting a floundering workforce, expanding telehealth beyond public health emergency (PHE) waivers, and streamlining authorization processes […]
The National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL) kicked off its 33rd annual meeting in Nashville this week by announcing it would be operating under a new name: Advion. Complete with the tagline: “the next generation of NASL,” the new name recognizes the trade association’s position as both an advocate for patients, […]
As federal minimum staffing requirements loom for skilled nursing providers, analysts with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) unveiled crucial data detailing the effects of state-level standards on the industry. While research found state minimum staffing requirements increased staffing levels and in some cases improved quality measures, there were some unintended consequences: a decrease in […]
Coming out of three-plus years of isolation and uncertainty during the worst of the pandemic, perhaps it’s not a surprise that the nation’s nursing homes residents are suffering from increased indications of anxiety and depression. The number of residents that show clear signs of behavioral health challenges is coupled with, in some cases, a severe […]
Providers are staring down yet another slash to their bottom lines as the federal government last week proposed reductions to Medicare reimbursement for various Part B therapy services. Early assessments of the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule have found that cuts could fall between 4 to 4.5%, according to Mark Besch, senior specialist […]
Therapy providers in the skilled nursing space have been forced to adapt. The sector has already seen a hindrance in access to care following cuts made earlier this year to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Specifically, Medicare Part B physical and occupational therapy rates took a 15% hit […]
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