Effective October 1, 2016, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are permitted to bill for nursing visits, provided certain criteria are met.  Section 1861(aa)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act authorizes RHCs and FQHCs located in areas with a shortage of home health ...Read More...

CMS published Change Request 9648 on July 15, 2016 with the updates for FY 2014 SSI percentages (https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R1681OTN.pdf).  There are links within the change request for the ratios for the IPPS Hospitals, Inpatient Rehabilitations Facilities, ...Read More...

Introduction There are some providers who do not claim bad debts on the Medicare cost report.  Whether due to a lack of personnel to track and report bad debts or a lack of full understanding of how to claim bad debts, many providers are not recouping bad debt reimbursement that is due them.  The ...Read More...

Summary On Friday, May 20, 2016, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed into law a bill that reduces Tennessee's Hall Income Tax from 6 percent to 5 percent for 2016 (tax returns due on April 15, 2017) and eliminates the tax in 2022.  The legislation is House Bill 813/Senate Bill 47 and its sponsors ...Read More...

There has been much focus on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare, since its passage in March 2010.  A Kaiser Health Tracking Poll in 2013 found that just 37 percent of Americans viewed Obamacare favorably.  However, there is one exemption or loophole ...Read More...