Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
CMS has set out to provide further information regarding the Primary Care First (PCF) Seriously Ill Population (SIP) model option with a two-part webinar series, hosted by the PCF Model Options Team. The model “encourages advanced primary care practices, including providers whose clinicians are enrolled in Medicare who typically provide hospice or palliative care services,” […]
In a July report, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) revisited its top 25 unimplemented recommendations for reducing fraud, waste and abuse. Several of the recommendations involve home health, hospice or personal care services. The OIG recommends the implementation of a statutory mandate requiring surety bonds for home health […]
With the advancement of technology in the digital era, many providers want more access to electronic referrals. Many home health agencies plan to focus on closing the gap between what referring providers want and what agencies provide in terms of interoperability, according to the results of a survey from Brightree. Home health agencies’ interoperability proposals […]
The price patients and clients pay for home health care can vary greatly from state to state or city to city. Care was most affordable — as a percentage of annual household income — in Maryland (64.5%), West Virginia (68.5%), District of Columbia (68.9%), Connecticut (71.3%), and New Jersey (711.8%), according to a recent study […]
About 878 agencies nationwide earned five stars in the ratings system involving HHCAHPS, according to the ratings released in July 2019. That’s a significant decrease from May 2019. In May, there were 1,553 5-star HHCAHPS agencies nationwide. Unlike star ratings in quality of care, the patient satisfaction star ratings have previously fluctuated significantly each quarter. Number of […]
Two new courses are available under CMS’ Hospice Quality Reporting Program. The first course, Introduction to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP), provides an overview of the Hospice Item Set (HIS) and the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS ®) Hospice Survey. These five lesson make up the course: What is the […]
Beginning in 2020 there only will be a few exceptions for when providers will be allowed to use Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) on claims. After Jan. 1, 2020, agencies must use the new Medicare beneficiary identifiers (MBIs). Until then, CMS will accept claims whether they include an MBI or an HICN. The transition […]
CMS is seeking to reduce agency payments even more than expected to account for assumed behavioral changes agencies will make as part of the Jan. 1, 2020, implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Even with the shift from 6.42% to an 8.01% reduction in agencies’ payments due to behavioral changes, the home health industry […]
A significant portion of the 2020 PPS proposed rule deals with potential measures and associated assessment elements that could come to the home health industry in the future. While CMS is not planning to finalize any of these measures or standardized patient assessment data elements (SPADES) as part of the rulemaking process this year, CMS […]
CMS is staying true to plans to implement a new payment model. The 2020 PPS proposed rule, which was posted to the Federal Register July 11, reinforces the plan to implement the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2020. The model will move from 60-day episodes to 30-day payment periods. While […]