Medicare Insights Weekly Podcasts

Don’t have time to keep up with Medicare changes? Missing an important change or instruction can mean denied or delayed claims! Don’t miss another Medicare update! Subscribe to our the free podcast,Medicare Insights Weekly. Medicare Insights Weekly will present important Medicare updates in a concise audio program you can listen to while you work, in the car or at home! Download this free program to your MP3 player or computer and never miss another update.  Sign up for Medicare Insights Podcasts for Part A and Part B services here.

How many?

There are over 16,000 nursing homes, 20,000 retirement and assisted living communities and some 5,000 senior home care agencies provide medical and non-medical assistance nationwide.

Baby Boomers

70 million baby boomers will reach retirement age by 2030.

Home Health Therapy Services Manual Updates

The long awaited update to the Home Health Services Medicare Manual has arrived.  The updates go into effect on Thursday, May 5, 2011.  You can find copies of the updates here.

Growth in LTC Industry

Researchers expect the market for Long-Term Care services to grow at a rate of 5% to 6% per year, with the greatest growth for providers offering a continuum of care!  Read more.

Wonderful article on the Medicare Enrollment Process

Check out an article I found in this month's ABA Health Law Section journal entitled, "The Medicare Enrollment Process - CMS's Most Potent Program Integrity Tool."  A copy of the article can be found here.  A fabulous summary of the background and actual provider enrollment process.

COST OF INSURANCE DEPARTMENT EXAMINATIONS

Pursuant to 31 Pa. Code §12.1 et seq., Insurance Department examinations are conducted to verify the financial condition of the examinee and ascertain whether the examinee has complied with the laws of the Commonwealth.  Section 907 of the act (40 P. S. §  323.7) provides that the expenses incurred in and about the examination of an entity, including compensation of Department employees assisting in an examination and other professionals or specialists retained as examiners, shall be charged to and paid by the examinee.

How Nursing Homes Can Cut Expenses and Still Give Good Raises and Benefits

A really great McKnight's editorial on reducing the cost of employee benefits (without reducing the quality) through use of a health reimbursement account can be found here.

March 2011 PA Health Law Newsletter

March 2011 PA Health Law Newsletter can be found here.

CMS Implements New Law on Home Health, Hospice

The rule requires the healthcare professionals who make certification decisions to provide documentation saying they met with the patient in person. The face-to-face meetings must take within 90 days before the start of services or 30 days after care begins. If an individual is already receiving Medicare home health or hospice services, a hospice physician or nurse practitioner should meet with the patient before the patient's 180th day recertification, as well as each subsequent recertification.  Read the article here.

Certificate of Need States

check out this website for a great summary/history of the Certificate of Need (CON) Process, and a listing of states which require CON: Certificate of Need: State Health Laws and Programs