You asked, CMS answered: FAQs about the New Medicare card project

As patients begin to receive new, social security number-less Medicare cards, your agency will benefit from taking several steps to ease your administrative burden as the slow-rolling initiative officially commences.

Medicare beneficiaries on hemodialysis face poor hospice access

Medicare beneficiaries on hemodialysis often are not given access to hospice care, according to a June 4, 2018 study published in Health Affairs. During the last year of life, patients only about 20% enrolled in hospice, and they only spent five or six days in hospice care. The study found that the findings “signal the need for greater flexibility in the provision of end-of-life care in this population.”

CMS asks Medicare insurance providers to monitor prescriptions of Neudexta

CMS is warning insurance providers to watch prescriptions of Neudexta for off-label use. Neudexta is a prescription meant to treat symptoms of pseudobulbar affect (PBA), which can cause uncontrollable laughter or crying. As CNN reports, prescribing for off-label use is not illegal, but creating a false diagnosis in order to secure coverage of the prescription is fraud.

Father’s Day is June 17: Plan a brunch at your senior living facility

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to engage your male residents and their families. Assisted living and other senior communities can plan a brunch, which usually involves a joint effort between the dietary department and activities department. Create invitations and mail them to adult children (or primary contact) and invite them to brunch. Include an RSVP to ensure an adequate count for food. Provide the list of attendees to support staff who can be sure residents are aware and ready for visitors.

Equip your leadership teams to achieve compliance and navigate CMS regulatory changes

The evolving post-acute care industry landscape introduces greater accountability, a heightened focus on patient outcomes, and significant payment reform for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Building solid processes and systems is critical for staying compliant under the numerous Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulatory changes effective at the beginning of each new fiscal year.