Benefits of Exercise for Older Adults
Being physically active on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Studies have shown that exercise provides many health benefits and older adults can gain a lot by staying physically active. The Benefits of Exercise Include:
Rehabilitation for Joint Replacement
Arthritis is the second most common chronic condition in the US and causes pain, joint stiffness and limited mobility. With Arthritis and other diseases, joints can be damaged limiting healthy blood flow to your bones. Replacing a damaged joint can relieve pain and help you move and feel better.
Knee Pain in Older Adults
The knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body. The number of moving parts in the knee that make it so useful also render it vulnerable to injury. Incidence of knee pain increases with age and is a very common occurrence in older adults. Home remedies to treat knee pain include: rest, […]
Change to Payment Liability for Therapy Cap Denials – CMS UPDATE: 5-23-13
Section 603(c) of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) changed the payment liability for denials resulting from the outpatient therapy caps from beneficiaries to providers effective January 1, 2013. Medicare systems were not updated in time to accurately represent this change on provider remittance advices (RAs). Medicare contractors may have already processed therapy […]
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 by the Common Working File (CWF), it was determined that this only impacted SNF claims […]
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 are the experts at treating musculoskeletal conditions affecting adults. A full evaluation is performed to assess the severity, […]
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 count toward the Medicare-required three-day hospital stay, and connecting with key members of Congress to support this legislation. […]
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 in a document released Wednesday.
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 those recently floated by the White House — would likely be based on the established CMS formula for hospitals.
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 swallowing. The process of eating is quite complex, with 50 pairs of muscles and nerves all working together to move […]