Last April, I was proud to announce the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) five-part strategy to help ensure safety and quality in America’s nursing homes. The strategy is multi-faceted, focusing on Strengthening Oversight, Enhancing Enforcement, Increasing Transparency, Improving Quality, and Putting Patients Over Paperwork. We’re examining each of these topics more closely so we can provide transparent, detailed information about how CMS is keeping nursing home patients and residents safe.

With a mild winter and warm spring past us, this year it’s hard to tell where one season ends and another begins. For those of us in CMS’ Division of Training, a sure sign that summer has arrived is a new round of National Medicare Train-the-Trainer Workshops!

Late spring means the annual SHIP conference is on its way—the 18th Annual SHIP Director’s Conference will be held June 4—7 in Atlanta.

On December 19, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which was included as section 6002 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.  This provision will provide important transparency in requiring reporting of payments or gifts to physicians, and physician ownership and investment interests.  During the 60 day comment period, CMS received over 300 comments from a wide range of stakeholders.

Did you know that 31% of Hispanics are uninsured, compared to 12% of non-Hispanic whites? Or that less than one-third of African American adults with diabetes receive the recommended services? Or that fewer than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults over 50 have gotten screened for colorectal cancer?