News

Every year since 2006, Congress has ultimately renewed the exceptions process for annual caps on outpatient therapy under Medicare Part B. Since that has not yet happened for 2018, the caps are currently in effect. This year the caps are $2,010 for physical and speech combined and another $2,010 for occupational therapy. 

Home health care agencies should now be complying with the new Conditions of Participation that went into effect Jan. 13. Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has yet to finalize the interpretive guidelines that offer more detailed information on certain measures. 

Feb. 14 is the due date for care centers to submit Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) staffing data for the period Oct. 1, 2017 – Dec. 31, 2017. Submitting timely and accurate data may be especially important this quarter, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has said it will utilize PBJ data in 2018 to calculate the staffing measures posted on the Nursing Home Compare website and used in the Five Star Quality Rating System.  

A three-day government shutdown came to an end on Monday when the Senate advanced a continuing resolution to provide funding for the federal government through Feb. 8.   

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week announced the formation of a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the HHS Office for Civil Rights.  

Congress has until Friday, Jan. 19 to find agreement on an appropriations bill. If they fail to meet that deadline or fail to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open, a partially government shut down will begin at midnight on Jan. 20. What does a government shutdown mean for LeadingAge Minnesota members and the people they serve? 

Employers that violate laws enforced by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division could face slightly higher civil penalties in 2018.