Showing 1 - 10 of 169 results

Policy Snapshot

April 28, 2025

CMS' Updated Surveyor Guidance for Skilled Nursing Facilities Now in Effect

As of April 28, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially implemented its revised surveyor guidance for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Originally announced in November 2024, the update experienced several extensions before taking effect on the final implementation date...
Policy Snapshot

April 14, 2025

MedPAC Highlights Concerns About Nursing Home Quality Ratings

At its April 11, 2025, public meeting, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) focused on the persistent challenges in nursing home quality oversight and the limitations of current Medicare policies aimed at improvement. MedPAC staff highlighted widespread concerns with the current Five-Star Qual...
Policy Snapshot

April 14, 2025

Federal Judge Strikes Down CMS Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

A federal judge in Texas has struck down a Biden administration rule that would have imposed a nationwide staffing minimum for nursing homes. The rule, set to begin phasing in by 2026, would have required facilities to have a registered nurse on-site 24/7 and provide at least 33 minutes of RN care per resi...
Policy Snapshot

April 4, 2025

PALTmed Supports the CONNECT for Health Act, Expanding Telehealth Access

PALTmed supports the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act (S. 1261), which was recently reintroduced by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS). Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), David Schweikert (R-AZ),...
Policy Snapshot

April 4, 2025

Senators Call for New Investigation into Assisted Living Facility Oversight

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) are urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a new investigation into the quality of care at assisted living facilities and the effectiveness of state Medicaid oversight. This follows a 2018 GAO report that f...
Policy Snapshot

April 4, 2025

Dr. Oz Confirmed as CMS Administrator

Dr. Mehmet Oz has been confirmed as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In this role, Dr. Oz will oversee Medicare and Medicaid programs, which are key to providing health-care services for millions of Americans, particularly in post-acute and long-term care set...
Policy Snapshot

April 4, 2025

LCAO Urges Protection of Services for Older Adults Amid HHS Restructurings

The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), representing 68 nonprofit groups, including PALTmed, has raised concerns about potential impacts on services for older adults as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) restructures. In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the LCAO...
Policy Snapshot

March 31, 2025

CMS Issues Guidance on Improving Payment Accuracy for Physician Services in SNFs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new MLN Matters aimed at enhancing payment accuracy for physician services provided in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Effective July 1, 2025, these measures will address common misclassifications of Place of Service (POS) codes that ...