Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services found improper payment for home health claims climbed slightly in 2021, despite a decline in the overall improper payment rate, according to a CMS release. From the HHS report: Insufficient documentation for home health claims continues to be prevalent. The improper payment estimate for […]
Despite a decrease in hospital discharges to skilled nursing facilities in 2020, the rate of discharges to home health remained largely unchanged. That was one of the results shared in the 2021 Home Health Chartbook, released Nov. 10, 2021, by the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation and the National Association for Home Care […]
As the Food and Drug Administration authorizes booster shots for all adults, it’s important for agencies to note that employee booster monitoring is part of the CMS vaccine mandate rules released Nov. 4, 2021. The updated Conditions of Participation for agencies, § 484.70 (d), includes 10 requirements for agency policies and procedures around the vaccine […]
Home health agency staff have new tools from CMS to help with OASIS assessments. These pocket guides are expected to assist in assessing and coding self-care and mobility, falls and pressure ulcers/injuries. The pocket guides provide a quick reference for important terms and definitions that promote coding accuracy. They are approximately 2 x 3.5 inches […]
The average hourly rate for Registered Nurses (RNs) in home health agencies increased 2.98% in 2021, according to the 2021‐2022 Home Care Salary & Benefits Report, released recently by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS) and published in cooperation with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). In a comparison of national average […]
CMS recently published a new change request to provide Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) with guidance on new LUPA add-on amounts for occupational therapy visits under new regulations in the home health final rule. The change request also addresses system issues with the payment grouper process. With the start of PDGM in 2020, all home health […]
In a message to investors last month, LHC Group noted the impact that the pandemic and Hurricane Ida had on results in the third quarter. The combination of Hurricane Ida and clinicians on quarantine led to a sequential decline of 1.5% in average daily home health census from 85,553 in the second quarter of 2021 […]
Pennsylvania home health and hospice provider Geisinger Community Health Services (GCHS) will pay $18.5 million to resolve allegations of civil liability for submitting claims to Medicare for services that violated Medicare rules and regulations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. After it discovered the problems, GCHS took corrective action […]
Secure a 5% bonus when Home Health Value Based Purchasing (HHVBP) goes national as proposed for 2022. Gather your staff for this live webinar on November 16 and receive easy-to-follow tips for moving the needle on those key outcomes that drive scores in HHVBP. Get details at: https://store.decisionhealth.com/hhvbp-bonuses.
CMS is giving agencies time to prepare before the national rollout of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing model (HHVBP) begins impacting payments. That’s one of the big changes in CMS’ Home Health Prospective Payment System final rule, released late Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The HHVBP model will adjust payments based on how an agency performs […]