We advocate for Medicare and Medicaid payment systems for nursing homes that will appropriately account for essential costs of high quality care. We work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to obtain the most up-to-date information on payment policies and updates.

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SNF Medicare Rate Calculation Tools Update

We have updated the Medicare Part-B rate calculation tool for final rates reflecting provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act signed into law in December 2013. The law allowed for a 0.5% average increase in Medicare payment rates and extended the 2% sequestration cut for all health care providers for another 2 years. Access to this tool requires login via My.LeadingAge.

LeadingAge Hearing Statement on Reforming Long-Term Services and Supports Financing and Delivery

The LeadingAge statement for the record of the March 1, 2016 U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on long-term services and supports discussed our report, Perspectives on the Challenges of Financing Long-Term Services and Supports. Our statement also recommended delivery system changes, including more home- and community-based options, the importance of nursing home care, the need to combine supportive services with affordable housing and the promise of applied technology.

CCRC and Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Study

With the help of LeadingAge, state associations, and survey participants, Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS) has added over 20 new jobs to this year’s CCRC and Nursing Home Salary & Benefits study. To streamline the participation process, the survey document has been completely retooled so that HCS job numbers line up with the job category order used to report staffing and census information for the CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ). 

Advance Care Planning Codes: What They Mean for Aging Services

On July 8, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, which activates 2 advance care planning codes (CPT) that can be billed for by physicians or other qualified health professional.

Most Common Mistakes in Financial Budgeting/Forecasting – Part I

In this first article of a three-part series, BKD addresses common mistakes related to complacency in the budgeting process. When preparing your organization’s finances, you should pay special attention to one-time items, incremental and historical budgeting, and the hockey stick effect.