Patients & Families' Resources

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Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice Instructions in New MLN Matters Article

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Observation Status
February 24, 2017
A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) MLN Matters Article on Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) Instructions is now available. The article gives instructions on how to use the MOON to inform Medicare beneficiaries when they...

Price Officially New Secretary of HHS

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
February 17, 2017
Congressman Tom Price, MD, (R-GA) was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 52-47 to service as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Price is an orthopedic surgeon that has been in support of repealing the...

Pneumococcal Vaccine – Guidance from Top Experts in PALTC

Navigating PALTC
Long-Term Care, Post-Acute Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Infections, Immunization/Vaccination, Infection Prevention/Control, Pneumonia
February 1, 2017
Are you clear on which pneumococcal vaccine is appropriate for your patients or loved ones? Hi – I’m Christopher Laxton, Executive Director of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. The CDC recommends that all adults 65 years...

PBJ Submission Reminder

Policy Snapshot
Care Settings/Types, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
February 3, 2017
As of July 1, 2016, electronic submission of staffing data through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) is mandatory for all long-term care facilities. You have up to 45 days after the end of the quarter to submit data for Federal Fiscal Quarter 1 (...

Medicare Observation Status Addressed At HHS Confirmation Hearing

Policy Snapshot
Care Settings/Types, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Observation Status
February 3, 2017
This week, the Society worked with the Observation Status Coalition to submit a question during the Senate Finance Committee’s confirmation hearing for Representative Tom Price (R-GA), nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Senator...

Wyden Introduces Bill To Weaken IPAB

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment
February 3, 2017
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a bill and a resolution that would prevent the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) process from moving forward. The resolution comes before the February 1st statutory deadline required to discontinue the...

Affordable Care Act Replacements Introduced in Congress

Policy Snapshot
Practice Management
January 27, 2017
This week, two pieces of legislation were introduced as replacements for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced the Patient Freedom...

CMS Releases Second Year of Skilled Nursing Facility Utilization and Payment Data

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
January 20, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the second annual release of the Skilled Nursing Facility Public Use File (Skilled Nursing Facility PUF) with data for 2014. The Skilled Nursing Facility PUF presents summarized...

Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Observation Status
December 16, 2016
Enacted August 6, 2015, the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act (NOTICE Act) requires hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) to provide notification to individuals receiving observation services as...

New HHS Secretary and CMS Administrator Nominees Announced

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
December 2, 2016
This week, President-Elect Trump announced that Congressman Tom Price, MD, (R-GA) will become the next Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Dr. Price is an orthopedic surgeon and has served in the House of Representatives for 14 years,...