Judge orders CMS to comply with Jimmo settlement

On February 1, a U.S. District Court judge in Vermont ordered the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a Corrective Action Plan under the Jimmo agreement. The plan must be underway by September 4, 2017. It must improve education about the coverage of nursing and skilled therapy services needed to maintain health and function.

SNF M&A: The provider number trap

Editorial Note: This post has been republished with permission from the author, Reg’s blog. Over my career, I have done a fair amount of merger and acquisition (M&A) work, including:

Vaccine payments for hospice adjusted retroactively

Instead of covering preventive vaccines at “reasonable cost,” CMS will now shift payment to 95% of average wholesale price (AWP) for hospices.

February is American heart month

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack. Fortunately, lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication, can reduce risk for CAD. To learn more about heart disease from the CDC, click here.

Discounted registration for Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference through March 17!

Argentum’s Senior Living Executive Conference is scheduled for May 1 – 3 in Nashville, TN. Discounted “early bird” registration is open until March 17.

Upcoming CMS Events

Tuesday, February 21, 1:30pm-3:00pm ET - Understanding and Promoting the Value of Chronic Care Management Services Call

Thursday, February 23, 1:30pm-3:00pm ET - Looking Ahead: The IMPACT Act in 2017 Call

Thursday, March 23, 2:00pm-3:00pm ET - Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum

Wednesday, May 10 - Medicare Advantage & Prescription Drug Plan Spring Conference & Webcast

Thursday, May 11 - Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Audit & Enforcement Conference & Webcast

Product Spotlight

Medicare Boot Camp®—Long-Term Care Version

HCPro's Medicare Boot Camp®—Long-Term Care Version covers the latest Medicare rules and regulations so that you can help your facility provide quality resident care, document successfully, bill appropriately for services, and prevent payment denials. Medicare Boot Camp—Long-Term Care Version follows a Medicare patient from preadmission through discharge, addressing the function of each department, and uncovering the pitfalls along the way.