Medicare Extends Ban On New Home Health Agencies, Ambulance Companies In Some States
The temporary measure is part of an anti-fraud effort. Also, Medicare officials announce payment rates for nursing homes, and a Houston hospital wins coveted five stars from Medicare.
Modern Healthcare:
CMS Extends Ban On New Home Healthcare Agencies In Select Markets
The CMS has extended a moratorium on new Medicare home-healthcare agencies and ambulance suppliers in some states. It's part of an ongoing effort to curb fraud. The agency will extend the temporary ban for six months. It affects new Medicare Part B non-emergency ground ambulance suppliers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. Home health agencies in Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Texas and their providers additionally are prohibited from enrolling in Medicaid and CHIP. (Dickson, 8/1)
Bloomberg BNA:
Medicare Extends Temporary Enrollment Moratoria, Again
Medicare said the extension and statewide expansion were necessary due to ongoing fraud and abuse concerns. Fraud and abuse risks were extending beyond the counties where the moratoria were originally imposed, Medicare said, due largely to providers moving their practices outside of the affected counties but still serving patients within the counties. In some case, Medicare has uncovered providers who are treating patients who live more than 300 miles away. (Swann, 8/1)
Bloomberg BNA:
Nursing Homes To Get 2.4 Percent Medicare Pay Bump In FY 2017
Nursing homes will get $920 million, or 2.4 percent, more in Medicare payments in fiscal 2017 compared to 2016, a July 29 final rule said. The rule also added quality measures that nursing homes will have to report on in the future to avoid Medicare payment reductions. The payment increase outlined in the final rule ... is $120 million more than the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services originally proposed in April. (Williamson, 8/1)
Houston Chronicle:
Hospital Ranking System Gets Low Marks From Some In Congress, Medical Profession
Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest network of hospitals in the region, garnered a rare and coveted 5-star rating when the federal government released its measurement of overall hospital quality. But the good news comes with some bad, as the new rating system remains under fire from some in the medical community as well as Congress who call the methodology inconsistent and the conclusions "deeply flawed." (Deam, 8/2)
