Latest News On CMS

Latest California Healthline Stories

Short-Staffed Nursing Homes See Drop In Medicare Ratings

In its latest update to the Nursing Home Compare website, the government gave 1,638 homes its lowest star rating for staffing — one star on its five-star scale. Most were downgraded because payroll records reported no registered-nurse hours at all for at least four days.

Hospitals Chafe Under Medicare’s New Payment Rule For Off-Campus Clinics

Under the rule that took effect this year, Medicare will lower payments for clinic visits performed at hospital-owned facilities to a rate that is equivalent to what it pays an independent doctor. Federal officials expect the move will save the government $380 million this year.

CMS Ignores Federal Judge Ruling To Approve Medicaid Work Rules in Utah

Work helps make people healthier, CMS chief Seema Verma said in approving Utah’s waiver request to tie government health benefits to employment or volunteer work. But Judge James Boasberg has said that isn’t the goal of Medicaid.