This article is part of the HHCN+ membership This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services promoted new contracts with numerous health insurance plans to reduce the number of advance approvals and to promote the entire previous approval process. However, the nature of contracts, other recent Medicare advantage moves, and the modifiable philosophy of CMS leadership related to MA makes us feel wary of the future, if not pessimistic, at least for home care. I write about providers that denounce complex and time-consuming pre-authentication processes. And I'm in healthcare that involves reaching the pharmacy counter just to be told…
Author: admin
Two Republican senators are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to maintain the interests of Medicare Home Health Organizations (HHAs) to “use full authority under the law.” Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Susan Collins (R-Main) wrote to CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to raise concerns about the future of profits, including payment cuts that could shut down more HHAs. Home-based care advocates praised the message, saying policymakers must take action to protect their interests. In 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) directed the CMS to develop a new payment model for the HHA from January 2020. Congress…
One big beautiful bill considers historic Medicaid reduction, job requirements The Senate version of One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has cleared a significant hurdle, but it is not without substantial changes that have sent concerns through the healthcare industry. While the initial fear of wiping out Medicare cuts appears to have been avoided, the bill's impact on Medicaid funding and eligibility requirements poses considerable challenges for healthcare providers and patients. An important focus for industry watchers is the bill's stance on provider tax. Although not completely ruled out as some people fear, the Senate version of the bill takes…
A former nurse found guilty of murdering four elderly patients has today lost his appeal against the convictions. Colin Campbell, formerly known as Colin Norris, was convicted in 2008 of murdering four women and attempting to murder a fifth by injecting them with insulin. All five women were older inpatients on orthopaedic wards in Leeds where Campbell worked as a nurse. Each died after developing severe, unexplained hypoglycaemia. Campbell was convicted of murdering Doris Ludlam, 80, Bridget Bourke, 88, Irene Crookes, 79, and 86-year-old Ethel Hall at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital in 2002, during a five-month trial which…
Almost a sixth of all Black and minority ethnic (BME) staff working at English NHS trusts have experienced discrimination from co-workers in the last year, and face barriers to progressing in their organisations, according to a new report. The latest the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), an annual report which evaluates progress made in improving inclusivity in the health service in England, was published this week. “It’s still deeply painful to see the same patterns repeated year after year” Neomi Bennett Since the first iteration of the report was published in 2016, the disparities between BME and White staff have…
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched ambitious equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets to drive fairness in its regulatory processes, after a new review found bias in the way it handles cases involving Black and male professionals. The regulator pledged to eliminate ethnicity and gender disparities in its processes and stop the disproportionate pattern of fitness to practise (FtP) complaints received from employers in relation to ethnicity by 2030. “Everyone who interacts with the NMC should feel respected and treated fairly, regardless of their background or characteristics” Paul Rees It comes as new research published today has laid…
MPs from across the political spectrum gathered in Westminster Hall this week to debate Gloria’s Law, calling for a legal right to Care Supporters that would guarantee family members and advocates access to their loved ones in care settings. The debate, brought forward by Dan Carden MP, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by families trying to support relatives in residential and nursing homes, despite the introduction of Care Quality Commission Regulation 9a earlier this year. Carden explained that while Regulation 9a was designed to protect visiting rights, it has proven insufficient in practice. “Evidence from advice lines shows care providers…
Elara Caring is at the helm of a new CEO. On Wednesday, the company announced that it had appointed Anant Mohan to the role. Mohan, who has been Elara Caring's Chief Operating Officer since 2021, will take over Scott Powers as CEO. Powers has left the company in a role for nearly six years. For many years, Elara Caring has emerged as one of the largest home care providers in the United States. The Dallas-based company has around 200 locations in seven states and serves more than 60,000 patients. “It was a privilege to guide Ellala through a period of…
Humana (NYSE: HUM) is known as a major insurance company, but has recently established itself as a healthcare service company. Centerwells, including the Home Health segment, are a major part of this evolution. PayVider plans to expand its home health services line to protect and grow market share while accelerating operational and clinical improvements and value-based arrangements. “Centrewell is a significant part of what we're doing at this point,” Humana CEO Jim Retchin said at the company's investor meeting this month. “The insurance companies themselves have a much larger presence in Medicaid, and the way Medicaid and Medicare businesses work…
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) has sold Current Health, a home-focused technology company, to Christopher McGhee, co-founder and former CEO of the company. The sale takes place less than four years after Best Buy acquired the company. In a statement released Tuesday, McGhee confirmed his return as current CEO of Health. He said the company is set to build it in “the world's largest medical institution.” The company said the change in ownership is linked to “a return to Scrapiness and its startup spirit.” “I'm back to build my current health into a globally important company,” McGee said in a statement…