Archive for July, 2008

Hospice patients have more control of their treatment under new regulations

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

By MARK AGEE Many dying patients will have new rights because the federal government has updated hospice regulations for Medicare participants for the first time in 25 years. Some of the most significant changes for hospice patients, who typically have less than six months to live, include the right to effective pain medications and to choose their own physician, according to the Centers for…
(more…)

Medicare adds to do-not-pay list

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Medicare is adding to its do-not-pay list for hospitals two new categories of preventable conditions it won’t cover, a much smaller number than it had been contemplating. Last year, the Centers for Medicare and medicaid services set new ground by determining it no longer pay would extra costs for treating certain preventable conditions, referred to as “never events.” An example of a never event…
(more…)

Legislation Would Require Greater Transparency In Physician Self-Referrals For Imaging Procedures

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Senate Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley that would require physicians to disclose their financial ties to imaging services ordered under Medicare when making self-referrals, CQ HealthBeat reports.
(more…)

New regulations give hospice patients more control of their treatment

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

By MARK AGEE Many dying patients will have new rights at the end of their lives after the federal government updated hospice regulations for Medicare participants this summer for the first time in 25 years. Some of the most significant changes for patients in hospice, who typically have less than six months to live, include the right to effective pain medications and the ability to choose one’s…
(more…)

Gentiva Health posts double-digit revenue, profits gains

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Increased Medicare revenues helped Gentiva Health services Inc. post double-digit increases in both revenue and earnings in its second quarter, the Melville-based home health-care provider announced Thursday.
(more…)

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Recent Medicare News

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Summaries of two recent developments related to efforts by Congressional Republicans on Medicare issues appear below.Medicare fraud: Senate Republicans on Monday held a forum to highlight their efforts to reduce Medicare fraud, CQ HealthBeat reports. In June, Sens. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.
(more…)

AARP: Medicare Anniversary Highlights Need For National Health Care Reform Next Year

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

AARP issued a statement commemorating the 43rd anniversary of Medicare and medicaid. The statement, from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond, follows: “The passage of Medicare and medicaid in 1965 was an important event in America’s history.
(more…)

Gentiva Reports Strong Second Quarter led by Home Health Segment

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Gentiva Health services, Inc. , the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive home health services, today reported strong second quarter results, led by double-digit increases in Medicare revenues and admissions in the Company’s Home Health segment.
(more…)