skilled nursing facilities Archives - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

Biden Administration Takes Action to Improve Competition, Transparency and Quality for Hospitals and Nursing Homes

by Caroline Reignley, George Tzanetakos, Evie Atwater and Gregory Fosheim | Jul 14, 2022 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published detailed databases summarizing changes of ownership of Medicare-enrolled hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The databases currently include information from 2016 to 2022, but the data will be updated and released quarterly. CMS also released the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) proposed rule (the Proposed Rule), including proposed updates to payment based on quality and value-based care measures.

OSHA Announces Plan to ‘Expand Its Presence’ in Certain Healthcare Facilities Treating COVID-19 Patients

by Abigail M. Kagan and Lindsay Ditlow | May 26, 2022 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor

Between March 9, 2022, and June 9, 2022, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will “expand its presence” in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities that treat COVID-19 patients and that were previously cited or issued Hazard Alert Letters for alleged COVID-19 violations. OSHA’s stated purpose is to “target[] high-hazard healthcare facilities” to “verify and assess . . . compliance actions taken” by employers to rectify prior allegations related to COVID-19 safety violations. The initiative is focusing on employers’ “readiness to address any ongoing or future COVID-19 surges.”

Senate Finance Committee Considering Telehealth Options to Improve Care and Lower Costs

by Dale C. Van Demark, Lisa Schmitz Mazur and Marshall E. Jackson, Jr. | Jan 15, 2016 | Health and Welfare Plans

On December 18, 2015, the United States Senate Committee on Finance (the Committee) released a Bipartisan Chronic Care Working Group Policy Options Document, which outlines approaches under consideration to improve the care and treatment of Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic diseases.

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