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CMS is offering web-based training on existing requirements and changes coming to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program. The trainings apply to home health as well as Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilties (IRFs), Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs) and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). The course should take about 15 minutes. Training topics include: Overview of the IMPACT Act; […]
Agencies in Illinois are starting the second round of the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD). The second cycle of RCD in Illinois runs from Feb. 1 through July 31. Illinois agencies with a full affirmation rate or claim approval rate of 90% or higher during the first six months of RCD were able to choose one […]
CMS has issued an update to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual for home health. The update reflects policy changes finalized in the 2019 and 2020 PPS final rules, according to Change Request 11577. These changes include implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the shift to a 30-day payment period, changes to requests for anticipated payment […]
CMS is working to incorporate new improvements to Home Health Compare and other Compare tools to help patients find health care providers in various settings around the care continuum. Currently, when users visit Medicare.gov, they have eight different Compare tools to go to — Hospital, Nursing Home, Home Health, Dialysis Facility, Long-term Care Hospital, Inpatient […]
Home care positions were among the top five best jobs without a college degree, according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Home health aide topped the list based on a mix of factors including salary, job market, future growth, stress level and work life balance. The position currently has a median salary […]
A survey conducted by Axxess and home healthcare consulting firm BKD listed PDGM and staffing as the biggest challenges organizations will face in 2020. About 43% of respondents chose adapting to regulatory changes (e.g. PDGM, RCD, etc.) as the biggest challenge, while 29% said staffing would be the biggest challenge. This is consistent with HHL‘s […]
CMS has again released a change request outlining the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) split implementation, this time to include correct RAP percentages for 2020. On Dec. 20, CMS first reissued change request 11081 to reflect issues that were identified and resolved ahead of PDGM implementation. That update, however, mistakenly included the incorrect RAP percentages for […]
The latest release of CMS OASIS quarterly Q&As delves into issues around the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) as well as M items capturing activities of daily living (ADLs) and GG items capturing mobility and self-care. The January 2020 Q&As — published to the CMS website Jan. 21 — include 20 questions and responses on a range of topics. PDGM […]
CMS has issued a request for applications (RFA) for the hospice benefit component of Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model. Details on plans are included in the RFA. Completed applications are due to CMS by 11:59 p.m. March 16, 2020. The new component would give Medicare Advantage organizations the opportunity to add the Medicare hospice benefit […]
CMS has released an updated operational guide and frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the home health Review Choice Demonstration. The FAQs were updated Jan. 6 and include new questions related to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) which took effect Jan. 1. In one of these FAQs, CMS explains that agencies should not use the same Unique […]