June 1995

Cover

 
  • Final Survey, Certification, and Enforcement Rules for Nursing Facilities

    The final rules governing survey, certification, and enforcement of Requirements of Participation for Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities have been published by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). This article describes the background of the rules, their major provisions, and HCFA's plans for implementation of its new enforcement system.

    By Toby Edelman, National Senior Citizens Law Center

  • Intervenor Funding in Public-Utility Rate Cases

    This column identifies resources that may be available to enable low-income consumers and their advocates to participate in regulatory proceedings that dictate utility rates and practices.

    By Nancy Brockway, National Consumer Law Center

  • The Home- and Community-Based Waiver Program Under Medicaid: An Update

    One of the most common ways that states cover home health services for Medicaid recipients is to operate "home- and community-based waiver" (HCBW) programs. These programs target specific population groups and often are capped, financially or through enrollment limits or limits on geographic areas served. This article, which updates an earlier article on Medicaid home health resources, focuses on case law that has evolved as a result of recipients challenging denials or limitations of services under HCBW programs, and provides strategies for addressing such denials.

    By Michele Melden, National Health Law Program

  • Medicare Discharge-Planning Regulations: An Advocacy Tool for Beneficiaries

    Regulations implementing Medicare hospital discharge requirements, published late last year, are a useful advocacy and education tool for obtaining posthospital care services in the least restrictive setting of choice.

    By Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr., National Senior Citizens Law Center