Long Term Care & Senior Living Blog

Following recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy or episodes of serious flooding; the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Final Rule to help Medicaid & Medicare providers and suppliers plan for natural and man-made disasters. The new regulations provide consistent emergency preparedness requirements with a goal of enhancing patient safety during emergencies and a coordinated and defined response to disasters. 

On February 9, 2016, CMS issued an update announcing changes related to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), signed into law on April 16, 2015. The changes extend the therapy cap exception process through December 31, 2017.

As many of you are aware, on January 1, 2016, the Illinois Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act (the “Act”) became effective. This Act imposes various responsibilities on long-term care facilities in Illinois to allow residents to engage in electronic monitoring. The Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) also has certain responsibilities under the Act. The following Summary provides highlights of the background and requirements of the Act, IDPH and facilities’ respective responsibilities, and challenges presented for the facilities subject to the Act along with a few recommended actions in response to the Act. There’s also a link to the Consent and Notification Form promulgated by IDPH for use when a resident desires to use an authorized electronic monitoring device in a facility. If you have clients subject to this Act, you may want to pass this information along to them. I would be happy to answer any questions or provide additional information, if needed.