Category: CMS

Although readmissions continue to be a significant concern for hospitals, a comprehensive transitional care service aims to tackle the issue by extending a hospital’s quality of care, increasing patient satisfaction, and reducing preventable readmissions for the critical first 30 days after discharge. Readmissions continue to be a significant concern for hospitals, as they will receive…

The Washington Post highlights a Georgia hospital to illustrate the choices safety net hospitals will face if their states opt against the health law’s Medicaid exansion. Also, a number of states continue to grapple with debate and decisions related to the expansion issue. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130628/When-states-reject-the-Medicaid-expansion-safety-net-hospitals-likely-to-be-in-a-bind.aspx

A former Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator told the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday that Medicare should focus on fewer quality measures in their assessments, letting patient outcomes dictate what constitutes quality care instead. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130628/Former-CMS-head-Tie-doc-payment-reforms-to-patient-outcomes.aspx

As currently structured, entitlement programs can’t keep up with longer life expectancies and changing demographics. Soon, one-third of Americans will be retired and will spend one-third of their lives in retirement. Meanwhile, the ratio of workers to retirees has dropped precipitously. During this decade and the next, the number of Americans 65 or older will…

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, criticizes the pending immigration bill and health law while Medicare observation care and audits are hot topics during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. Also in the news, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, talks about hospital CEO pay. In addition, he and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., push to open the Medicare claims payment…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services chief Marilyn Tavenner discussed health exchanges, among other things, with Georgia Health News. Other news outlets detailed the exchange developments in Minnesota and Colorado. Source: Tavenner outlines specifics on health exchanges, other health law issues

News outlets also report the latest developments regarding the Medicaid expansion debate in Michigan and Mississippi. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130626/Where-states-opt-against-Medicaid-expansion-working-poor-likely-to-lose.aspx

This Op-Doc video explores the relationship between an immigrant caretaker and an elderly woman in the last months of her life. Joesy, a Fijian immigrant, works long hours providing live-in care for 95-year-old Haru Tsurumoto in Sonoma County, Calif. Through intimate and quiet scenes, we explore Joesy’s complex relationship with Haru. The two respect each…

Only a dozen states have taken advantage of a long-standing option to stick the federal government with at least half the cost of hospitalizations and nursing home stays of state prison inmates. The other states have left tens of millions of federal dollars on the table, either because they didn’t know about a federal rule…

Federal lawmakers have introduced a bill which would grow the list of exemptions physicians could seek to the Medicare penalties faced by those not meaningfully using an EMR. The bill, which was filed in the House by Rep. Diane Black (R, Tenn) would add new hardship exemptions to an existing list which would help solo…