On October 7th, 2019, CMS announced abrupt changes to the Five Star Quality Ratings System and the Nursing Home Compare website. The two changes are scheduled to go into effect on October 23, 2019 and include: 1) a conspicuous new warning icon to lab…
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Introduction
Part 2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations imposes limits on “the disclosure and use of substance use disorder patient records which are maintained in connection” with a federally assisted program that “holds itself out…
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A new Final Rule, effective September 16, 2019, revises Medicare’s Requirements of Participation (ROPs) to permit and regulate the use of pre-dispute, binding arbitration agreements in nursing facility admission agreements. Nursing facilities using…
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Introduction
Attention hospitals, physician offices and nursing homes: there is a new regulatory requirement for drug disposal, requiring new standards, paperwork, and training for many facilities. The new rule published by the Environmental Protec…
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Introduction
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a Proposed Rule (the “Proposed Rule”) with the stated intention to relieve the administrative burden placed on nursing facilities that participate in Medicare…
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Virginia’s Certificate of Public Need (COPN) law has long stated, as a guiding principle, the development and maintenance of health care services and access to those services by every person who needs them without respect to their ability to pay. I…
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Introduction
Congress recently passed an omnibus bill (the SUPPORT Act) intended to combat this country’s growing national opioid epidemic. One of the measures included in this legislation was the Eliminating Kickback…
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Introduction
For over a year, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have prepared for the impending adoption of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) for fiscal year 2020 (beginning October 1, 2019). The adoption of the PDPM has…
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Over the past decade, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented numerous initiatives to expand oversight of the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing facilities (NFs). CMS takes credit for a 38.9% reduction in the use…
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Effective April 2019, CMS made changes in the Five Star Quality Rating System of the Nursing Home Compare website that affected all domains of the rating system. This advisory provides a brief description of these changes, how they will directly impa…
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