The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) has sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), pushing the agency to give hospice organizations more time to comply with upcoming cost report changes. Industry organizations await CMS’ final version of the revised Hospice Cost & Data Report, which proposes significant […]
Category: Home Health Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has scaled back its restrictions requiring all hospice drugs to be approved before they can be dispensed. Now, prior authorization will only be necessary for four categories of prescription drugs: analgesics, anti-nauseants, laxatives and anti-anxiety medications, according to a recent CMS memorandum. “We recognize that the operational […]
Arizona-based home health company Sinfonia Healthcare Corporation (NASDAQ:PRSC) is launching operations beyond the Grand Canyon state into Virginia. Sinfonía announced its newest home health operation, Sinfonía Family Services of Virginia, Inc,. on Wednesday. The Farmville, Va.-based operator will offer services statewide, including home-based and school-based counseling, substance abuse treatment, medical services for the mentally ill, […]
The ever-present and impending funding cuts to the home health industry have yet to signal that the sky is falling, but while some providers may be feeling the strain financially, others are more optimistic of the future to come—with short term consolidation in the meantime. Regulatory cuts to home health Medicare payment rates, such as […]
Following an ongoing series of acquisition rejections, Kindred Healthcare (NYSE:KND) has again increased its offer to buy Gentiva Health Services (NASDAQ:GTIV). Gentiva recently rejected Kindred’s offer to acquire all outstanding shares of the company’s common stock for $14.50 per share, saying the offer undervalued the company and was not in the best interests of its shareholders. […]
Four patient recruiters have pleaded guilty for their participation in a home health fraud scheme that bilked the federal government out of an estimated $20 million in Medicare dollars. The four recruiters, Estrella Perez, Solchys Perez, Abigail Aguila and Monica Macias pleaded guilty last week to various charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, for […]
Home care workers in Minnesota are gearing up for what organizers say would be the largest union election vote in state history. Workers and organizers with the Service Employees International Union delivered state officials 9,000 union cards signed by workers calling for the election, TwinCities.com reports. These cards represent nearly 35% of potential voters, as […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would cut Medicare reimbursements for durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) by more than $7 billion from 2016 to 2020. The proposed rule would create significant changes to Medicare coverage and payment policies for DMEPOS, including a methodology for adjusting […]
Given the unpredictability of natural disasters and weather-reated emergencies, researchers are stressing the need to implement emergency preparedness plans for home care patients receiving nutrition services. In a paper published by The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, researchers from Coram Specialty Infusion Services emphasize that individuals with chronic health conditions and other special needs […]
More than half of Americans report that they are struggling to maintain housing, making at least one sacrifice during the past three years to pay their rent or mortgage, according to a survey conducted by Hart Research Associates. The second annual How Housing Matters Survey explains that these sacrifices include taking on an additional job or more […]
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