MEDICARE

MN Attorney General Begins Looking Into Proposed Sanford & Fairview Merger

ST. PAUL — Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has “opened an investigation” of whether the proposed merger of Minnesota-based Fairview Health Services with South Dakota-based Sanford Health complies with charity and nonprofit laws or would have “any possible effects on competition.” The planned merger is also seeing scrutiny at the Minnesota Legislature. Democratic Representative John Huot from Rosemount said access for…

Democrats Pass Massive Economic Bill Along Party Lines in U.S. Senate, Heads To House Next

WASHINGTON (AP/KVRR) – The estimated $740 billion economic package from Democrats is nowhere near what President Joe Biden first envisioned with his effort to rebuild America’s public infrastructure and family support systems. The Senate has approved the slimmer but still substantial compromise package 51-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. It heads next to the House. It’s…

Sanford Health partners with findhelp.org offering some services at reduced rates

Sanford Health's mission in this partnership is to address socio-economic needs of patients.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Sanford Health partners with findhelp.org to allow people to apply for services at a free or discounted rate even if they have insurance. All you need to do is enter your zip code and the category that suits your needs. A list of resources showcases information on what the services do, how to contact people for…

North Dakota joins lawsuit against Biden vaccine mandate for Medicare, Medicaid workers

Gov. Doug Burgum, Attorney General Wayne StenehjemBISMARCK, ND (KVRR) – Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Wednesday that North Dakota has joined a lawsuit that challenges a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers employed by companies that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds. According to the lawsuit, the CMS vaccine mandate “imposes an unprecedented federal vaccine mandate on nearly every full- or part-time employee,…

ND Medicaid Receives Waiver Implementing Temporary Program Changes to Address COVID-19

The waiver will end when the public health emergency is terminated.

BISMARCK, N.D.–The North Dakota Department of Human Services received a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services temporarily easing select Medicaid requirements to ensure resources and services are available to individuals enrolled in the program. The waiver will streamline the enrollment process for Medicaid providers, reduce the burden on providers associated with getting prior approval for services…

Whistleblower Accuses Bismarck Clinic of Kickback Schemes

The suit was filed in January 2017 by former Mid Dakota CEO Jeffrey Neuberger and unsealed last month.

FARGO, N.D.–A North Dakota clinic is accused of participating in kickback schemes that have cost the federal government millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims. A whistleblower complaint brought against Bismarck’s Mid Dakota Clinic and its building partnership alleges that doctors referred patients to the clinic’s surgical center, allowing them to increase their pay in the form of…

LIVE: Picking The Right Medicare Plan

The Right Medicare Plan Could Save Seniors Money

  It can be hard navigating the ever-changing world of Medicare coverage. Seniors might now know which plan will save them the most money. As open enrollment starts Tuesday, October 15th, there’s help on the way. Valley Senior Services is hosting a series of Medicare comparison sessions starting on Wednesday through December 4th. They’ll help seniors figure out which plan…

Minnesota Says It Must Repay Feds $48M for Improper Payments

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ordered the state in May to cease the payments to as many as 100 inpatient providers classified as "institutions for mental diseases.''

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)–The Minnesota Department of Human Services says it must repay the federal government an estimated $48 million that it paid to ineligible chemical dependency treatment providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ordered the state in May to cease the payments to as many as 100 inpatient providers classified as “institutions for mental diseases.” It said…

22 Nursing Homes In Region Cited for Health and Safety Violations

The 11 facilities identified in Minnesota for stricter oversight are just 3 percent of the state's nursing homes

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Eleven Minnesota nursing homes are on a list of facilities cited by federal officials for patterns of health and safety violations, including Moorhead Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. The list, which includes 6 facilities in North Dakota and 5 in South Dakota, has 400 nursing homes across the country that are in need of tighter oversight. The facilities…

Sen. Heitkamp Speaks to Seniors on Importance of Social Security and Healthcare Programs

Heitkamp focused the discussion around Social Security and bettering healthcare programs

FARGO – Senator Heidi Heitkamp spoke to North Dakota senior citizens at Touchmark at Harwood Groves about the importance of their benefits. The Democrat focused the discussion around Social Security and bettering healthcare programs. Heitkamp said she is standing firm to reduce the cost of healthcare because it is crucial for parents with disabled children, elderly in nursing homes, and people…