Home Health

California HHS rebuffs CDC, extends mask guidance through mid-June

California state health officials announced this week that they will extend a mask mandate through June 15, despite Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that lifted many of the restrictions for fully vaccinated people. “Until June 15, when California plans to fully reopen the economy, California will keep our existing guidance around masks in place,” California …

Private Duty

CMS bolsters payments for in-home COVID-19 vaccinations

In an attempt to vaccinate homebound individuals, CMS announced June 9 an additional payment for administrating the COVID-19 vaccine in-home for Medicare beneficiaries who have a hard time leaving home. “There are approximately 1.6 million adults 65 or older who may have trouble accessing COVID-19 vaccinations because they have difficulty leaving home,” the CMS press …

Featured Event

Join us at Post-Acute NOW!

Long term care, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the globe are taking steps to establish new guidelines and keep the industry moving forward into an ever brighter future. Join us and industry leaders as we explore the future of post-acute at this virtual event on June 17. This half day event will focus on topics that are important to post-acute professionals tasked with improving overall quality of care and reducing total health spending.

Post-Acute Advisor Podcast

Virtual Summit: Post-Acute NOW discusses rebalancing PDPM post-COVID

What will the new normal look like as the pandemic turns a corner? Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) need to understand how payment was unique during the pandemic and how reimbursement might change moving forward. Understand what your SNF should be prepared for and how to look at the data to determine payment in the future. …

Home Health

Medical reviews begin for pandemic claims

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have resumed post-payment medical reviews on claims during the public health emergency, according to Palmetto GBA and the latest MLN Connects newsletter. Since August, MACs have limited medical reviews to claims with dates of service before March 2020. “MACs may now begin conducting post-payment medical reviews for later dates of service,” …

PPS Alert for Long-Term Care

Elements of person-centered care

Person-centered care is an integral aspect of caring for SNF residents. Implementing person-centered care into an already well-run community takes time, training, and effort. Creating a person-centered care program may vary from one facility to another and still be focused on the well-being of the resident.