March 15, 2019 Legislation

Hospitals

Hospitals

Medicare is cutting payments to about 800 hospitals this coming year for problems with high rates of infections and patient injuries.  110 of these are being hit for the fifth straight time, the entire time this has been in operation.  Almost one third of the California hospitals are being penalized.  The program punished the worst quartile even if they have improved.  The reduction is 1%, not an insignificant amount considering the amount of discharges.

The feds fined Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in New Jersey $600,000 for poor hygiene and other problems related to the deaths of 11 children .  There were problems with hand washing as well as no oversight by the medical director.  The center disputes the findings but the agency stands by its direct observations.

CMS has terminated I-70 Community Hospital in Sweet Springs, Missouri, for problems with EMTALA.  The hospital is owned by the financially troubled EmpowerHNS of Kansas City, Mo.  

CMS has fined Wanaque Center in New Jersey $600,000 after 11 disabled children died thee of adenovirus last year.        Top

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DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.