Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
On Sept. 10, 2021, CMS provided updated guidance on certain claims as agencies transition from the monthly RAP to a one-time Notice of Admission (NOA) in 2022. As previously noted by CMS, for beneficiaries receiving home health services in 2021 whose services will continue in 2022, the agency will need to submit a one-time, artificial […]
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will make $25.5 billion available to health care providers impacted by the pandemic, with the application period opening Sept. 29. This funding includes $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicare patients, and an […]
The latest home health agency audit by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights a frequent topic for OIG reviews: questioning the need for homebound services mid-episode. OIG claimed that 17 of the 100 claims it reviewed from Catholic Home Care were incorrectly billed. Sixteen of those claims were […]
CMS has recognized the ways that the pandemic has influenced home health aide training and use and is proposing to extend the waiver allowing virtual supervisory visits for aides. The virtual option should be rare, CMS notes in the proposed rule, with an agency limited to two virtual supervisory assessments during a 60-day period. If […]
Medicare Administrative Contractor CGS recently released a new three-page document on fraud and abuse in home health and hospice. The document, published Aug. 16, looks to educate employees on recognizing fraud and abuse. “If you work with patients receiving home health & hospice services it is vital to be informed about all aspects of fraud,” […]
DecisionHealth is seeking speakers to present at the 2022 Home Health Administrator’s Summit, to be held May 2-4, 2022, at the Paris Hotel, in Las Vegas. All interested applicants should email Marci Geipe at mgeipe@decisionhealth.com. Presenters must submit their proposals the application prior to September 2, 2021 deadline. The goal of the conference is to […]
Agencies and stakeholders have until Friday, August 27, to provide comments on the 2022 Home Health final rule. Formal comments can be submitted online. Introduced in late June, the proposed rule: Plots a national expansion for the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model in 2022 Sets a date for OASIS-E implementation: January 1, 2023 Increases […]
New Jersey will require health care workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to regular testing, including employees of licensed home health agencies operating within the state. Gov. Phil Murphy announced the new requirements on Aug. 6, 2021, noting workers should be fully vaccinated by Sept. 7. At that point, if a worker hasn’t […]
CMS is restarting the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) program, according to an announcement in the MLN Connects newsletter Aug. 12, 2021. Suspended since the start of the pandemic, TPE is intended to help educate providers and reduce future denials and appeals. “If your Medicare Administrative Contractor audits you, take advantage of the TPE education, […]
Plans to test a shorter, web-based version of the Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) survey are expected to be published in the Federal Registry on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. CMS wants to test the response rates and scores of a web-based mode for the survey, with hopes of adding it to the mail and telephone […]