Articles and Blogs

Recently, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published a report of its findings pertaining to the nearly 70% growth of Medicare spending for hospice care provided to nursing facility (“NF”) residents from 2005 – 2009.  During that time, Medicare spending on hospice care for residents in NFs increased sixty-nine percent (69%) from $2.55 billion to... READ MORE

Michigan’s Department of Community Health will enforce Michigan’s Medicaid Asset Recovery Act (MCL Sec. 400.112g) with efforts starting July 1, 2011.  Michigan may file claims in the probate estates of individuals age 55 or older who received Medicaid benefits that paid for long term care services after September 30, 2007.   Michigan’s claim would seek... READ MORE

When the new hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs) became effective in Decmeber of 2008 there was a provision in the CoPs stating a hospice must have an agreement with a nursing home if the hospice provides services in the nursing home.  While it was a standard business practice for hospices to have agreements with nursing homes prior... READ MORE

In response to the changes contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) designed to address increasing lengths of stay in hospice programs, CMS added a “face-to-face encounter” requirement to the hospice certification requirements. Effective January 1, 2011, a hospice physician or nurse practitioner must have a “face-to-face” encounter with each hospice... READ MORE

Indiana recently enacted the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act (the “Act”).  The Act is effective July 1, 2011, and is designed to eliminate multi-state jurisdictional issues and “Granny snatching” cases.  The Act is located in Indiana Code 29-3.5. Typically, the fact pattern arises when (1) an Indiana older adult resident visits... READ MORE