In a delayed step toward Medicaid expansion, North Carolina implemented a law in July that is impacting healthcare providers across the Tar Heel state. As one of the few states holding out on Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the state passed legislation that calls for “privatization of Medicaid in North Carolina, switching […]
In addition to enhanced oversight around infection control at skilled nursing facilities, CMS has authorized states to step up routine surveys. How prepared is your facility for a routine inspection or a special focused survey? Key regulations to understand Survey readiness begins with understanding clinical quality programs and reporting requirements that directly impact survey results, […]
As World Heart Day approaches, ABILITY Network would like to encourage everyone to be heart aware. The heart is the strongest muscle in the body, but worldwide, more people die from cardiovascular disease every year than from any other cause.1 This makes attention to heart health imperative. For long-term care providers, one way to prioritize […]
Faced with a sudden shelter-in-place order in April 2020, mental health therapist Lys Hunt needed a way to serve her patients through the pandemic. Before COVID-19 hit, Hunt had only a single patient who didn’t attend in-person sessions at her office. With this shelter-in-place order, she suddenly needed a telehealth solution for 15 patients per […]
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) face unique challenges when it comes to infection prevention and control. The close-contact nature of SNFs and an older adult population – many with underlying medical conditions – put residents at increased risk of severe illness from infectious diseases. Due to the elevated risk of contracting infections, SNFs need to be […]
The SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program is in for an overhaul. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has been advocating to replace the current program with an alternative that is more equitable across skilled nursing providers and that builds in financial incentives to motivate quality improvement efforts more effectively. On July 29, the Centers for […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, therapist Janet Dyer had to quickly find a way to serve all her patients – without compromising their health or her own. As an immunocompromised person herself, Dyer needed to protect her own health so that she could continue to serve the 20 patients per week who depended on her […]
When you think of healthcare claims, “effortless” is not usually the word that comes to mind. Quite the opposite, in fact. But that’s how one billing consultant described her experience using ABILITY’s claims management application. Regina Burnham is a billing and account management consultant who works with behavioral health providers. To provide the best service […]
Hospitals and health systems have long struggled with creating, growing and maintaining healthy revenue cycles. The pandemic introduced new challenges when many facilities were forced to cancel elective procedures, dealing a hefty blow to balance sheets across the country. As your organization regains its footing, what are some of the most impactful strategies for recovery? […]
How do you improve your collection efforts when you’re faced with limited access to both data and insurance carriers? Every collection agency has its challenges, but Marie St. James, Chief Operating Officer at Gulf Coast Collection Bureau, was dealing with limited data and delays that significantly impacted collection rates. So, not only did she need […]