The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's annual report, “NHPCO Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America,” shows that, while hospice utilization is on the rise, African Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos continue to be 25% to 65% less likely to access hospice benefits. Numerous investigations using primarily surveys and focus groups have attempted to understand and […]

Democratic, Republican and Independent Voters Alike Express Stronger Support for Lawmakers Who Vote in Favor of Legislation to Replace Medicare Cuts with Payment Reforms WASHINGTON – A new national survey finds registered voters overwhelming support Congressional action to stop cuts to the Medicare home health benefit, which are estimated to directly affect more than one million seniors […]

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a study concluding that non-payment for nosocomial infections deemed avoidable has not reduced the rate of hospital-acquired infections so far.* Beginning in 2008, CMS declared that if patients returned to the hospital or surgeon for an infection that was deemed avoidable, they would not pay additional fees […]

With the potential of 26.5% pay cut from the “Sustainable Growth Rate” calculations that could take effect January 1 plus a 2% pay cut from the “Fiscal Cliff,” doctors are probably giving more thought than usual to their Medicare participation. Physicians will have until Dec. 31, 2012, to modify their status with the Medicare program […]