Based on CMS Article PE201303-02, National Government Services (NGS) has released a "Sequestration" notice to all health care professionals, providers and suppliers. For a complete copy of the notice regarding the two percent Medicare payment reduction slated for claims with dates of service starting April 1, 2013 and information on contacting Congress, please click here.

Contact: Patrick Cucinelli, pcucinelli@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8827

Safe Health Care, CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, has reported the rapid, seven-fold increase in the number of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), a lethal infection. Up to 50 percent of the patients who acquire this infection will die, as there are few, if any, antibiotics that are effective in treating this.

Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson kicked off last week’s meeting on nursing home funding issues with LeadingAge NY and other associations by announcing that the state was ready to start developing some draft language on a universal rate appeals and litigation settlement. Click here to read more about this and other issues covered in our recent meeting with DOH.

Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841

DOH is considering changes to the global cap, based on recommendations from LeadingAge NY and other members of the Medicaid Global Spending Cap Advisory Group. Among other things, the state would share Medicaid savings with providers; make the spending projections more transparent; and explore modifications to the cap for factors outside of providers’ control.

DOH has revised its nursing home quality pool proposal , and plans to issue reports by May showing baseline 2011/12 values for each facility. Several LeadingAge New York recommendations have been adopted, but concerns remain over risk adjustments of measures and the source of funds, among other issues.

CMS has released revisions to the Surveyor Guidance originally released Sept. 27, 2012 regarding Naso-gastric Tubes, F- tag 322, and Advance Directives, F tag 155. Guidance and training materials have been revised to include stakeholder feedback and “provide additional clarification when determining compliance with §483.25(g)”.

CMS will hold a national provider call on March 20 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. ET on the Implementation of Edits on the Ordering/Referring Providers in Medicare Part B, DMEPOS, and Part A Home Health Agency Claims.

An interdisciplinary task force composed of national clinical organizations that set nursing home standards of practice has released Information Only: New Dining Standards of Practice Resources are Available Now , addressing dining, diets, food consistency, thickened liquids and tube feedings. This task force includes CMS along with 12 stakeholder organizations. CMS formed this task force in 2011 based on recommendations from the 2010 CMS/Pioneer Network symposium on food and dining.