Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
RSSArticles
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Hospital-SNF Partnership Brings Better Care for Complex Patients
Coordinating post-acute services for patients has been an ongoing challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. One solution is for hospitals to form partnerships with local skilled nursing facilities. These partnerships can help hospitals find adequate care for complex patients. Hospital case managers and other staff can help the skilled nursing facility with difficult problem-solving and care coordination.
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Post-Acute Care Transitions Were Problematic in Pandemic-Ravaged Areas
The continuum of care hit roadblocks in some U.S. cities as the COVID-19 pandemic made post-acute care transitions extremely challenging. In New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in March and April 2020, case managers needed to transition patients from acute care beds quickly, but had to adjust to surge obstacles to their usual post-acute options, according to the results of a recent study.
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CMS Extends Hospital Survey Limitations
Agency restricts hospital complaint surveys to immediate jeopardy allegations.
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Centralized Utilization Management: The Good, the Bad, and the Best Practices
Challenged with employing enough staff in case management departments, the need for expertise in every role, and the increased requirements from payers, case management leaders are evaluating centralizing utilization review. This centralization carries both benefits and challenges, some of which are amplified because of the current healthcare climate.
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Home Devices Expand Telemedicine Options
As telemedicine use increases, case management professionals can harness its benefits to improve outcomes and provide a better experience for patients and physicians. COVID-19 played a large part in the increase as providers worked to minimize exposure to the virus. However, many patients still need proper monitoring.
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Q&A: CM Leadership During Pandemic Surge
Case management leaders have been navigating another COVID-19 case surge. Angie Roberson, MSN, RN, ACM-RN, director of case management at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in Spartanburg, SC, works in one of the worst-hit counties in one of the worst-hit states during the late 2020 and early 2021 surge of COVID-19 that swept across the United States.
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Case Management Is Critical to Bundled Payment Programs
A healthcare organization’s Medicare Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BCPI Advanced) program resulted in lower hospital readmission rates. The program reduced readmission rates from 30% to 19%.
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Help Case Managers Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy
Many Americans and healthcare workers have doubts and skepticism about the first vaccines for COVID-19, despite the need for a rapid end to the pandemic surge that began to overflow hospitals before the December holidays. In hospitals that have mandated a COVID-19 vaccine for all staff, it is a good idea to communicate to employees why they should be vaccinated.
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New Year Starts with Challenges of COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
As the COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out to U.S. healthcare organizations, there will be challenges in access, logistics, and maintaining infection prevention practices. The first step is determining which employees are eligible for the first phase of the vaccine rollout.
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CMS Finalizes 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, Tinged with a Bit of Controversy
A budget neutrality provision leads industry groups to cry foul over Medicare cuts.