HTS Blog

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Alert Update – WPS Medicare eNews 5-23-13

This is an update to the issue identified where some SNF claims (type of bill 21x) were being cancelled erroneously for not meeting the three day qualifying hospital stay requirement when in fact the requirement was met. After further analysis…

Therapy’s Role in Arthritis

While arthritis is a progressive condition, physical and occupational therapy can help to manage the symptoms of arthritis to allow people to live pain free and productive lives. Therapy performs an assessment by highly trained clinicians who…

Call for Stories – Observation Stays Issue

Monday, April 29, 2013 AHCA/NCAL has made the issue of Observation Stays one of its top advocacy and outreach priorities. Our efforts include supporting the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013, which ensures observation stays…

CMS clarifies physician delegation of tasks in skilled nursing facilities

Nursing home operators can now download a brief clarifying which tasks physicians may delegate to other practitioners caring for Medicare beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced…

New calculation method would reduce readmissions penalties, CMS says

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed changing the way hospital readmission penalties are calculated as part of its 2014 Medicare rate update. Potential readmissions penalties for long-term care providers — such as…

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) in Adults Swallowing disorders, also called Dysphagia, occur when there is a problem with any part of the swallowing process.  People with Dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and may also experience pain while…

How can Therapy Services Impact your Five-Star Rating with CMS?

The Five Star rating system, upgraded in 2009, combined with increases in online rating systems that the consumer relies on to make decisions, has definitely made a splash in long term care. The Five-Star Rating system has somewhat changed the…

April is National Occupational Therapy Awareness Month!

Occupational therapy is the holistic intervention in many areas of occupation such as: activities of daily living (ADLs) including: bathing, dressing, grooming; instrumental activities of living, such as: home and financial management, rest…

CRE: A newer and more persistent antibiotic resistant bacteria

The CDC has been tracking a resistant bacteria call carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae or CRE since 2001. This bacterium causes infections that are resistant to antibiotics and have affected people who are in or recently had inpatient medical…

5 Ways Effective Rehab Services Can Improve Your Census

By Amanda Green, HTS Director of Marketing 1. Rehab Services: Rehabilitation Outcomes As many of you already know, our hospital discharge planners and physicians are overloaded with senior care communities trying to get through their door. …

Magic Show Funds Provides 30,000 Meals to Children in Need

The 4th annual Greenwood Rotary Magic Show, which took place on Wed. Feb 13th at Greenwood Community High School, entertained hundreds of area residents and their children and helped feed the hungry. This year was the first in which the…

CDC’s New STEADI Tool Kit Now Available

CDC’s Injury Center created the STEADI Tool Kit for health care providers who see older adults in their practice who are at risk of falling or who may have fallen in the past. The STEADI Tool Kit gives health care providers the information…