Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
CMS has released the fifth annual report of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model as officials prepare to roll the nine-state model out nationwide beginning in 2023. The findings from the new report note Total Performance Scores were 7% higher among agencies in the HHVBP states: Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee […]
CMS has updated the individual data for home health providers at Care Compare, the publicly reported data now includes two new measures. Visitors to the site will now see results for: “How often a patient’s functional abilities were assessed at admission and discharge and functional goals were included in their care plan (higher percentages are […]
A CMS change request issued April 7, 2022, is addressing issues identified with a unique issue with the transition to the Notice of Admission from the Request for Anticipated Payment, as well as a revision to make sure gaps in care are calculated consistently. The CR 12657 corrects the NOA process so that an NOA […]
CMS provides further guidance surrounding when to complete RFA 7 (Transferred to an inpatient facility — patient discharged from agency) and when to complete RFA 8 (Death at home) in its second quarter OASIS Q&As, released April 19. The April Q&As include five questions covering additional topics such as: Further clarification regarding a patient’s ability to take their medications […]
CMS announced April 6, 2022, that it will pay for a second COVID-19 booster shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Certain immunocompromised individuals and people ages 50 years and older who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago are eligible for another booster to increase their protection against severe disease […]
A new decision from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Michigan employers) provides guidance for employers on the corrective actions necessary to respond to employee harassment allegations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 4 Separate Incidents Alleged Ronald Burns was employed as a maintenance technician by Berry Global, […]
The Department of Health and Human Services has extended the Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to COVID-19 for an additional 90 days. The PHE has been renewed on a quarterly bases since it was first implemented in January 2020. The latest renewal will take the PHE into mid-summer, with a new end date on July […]
A Notice of Admission (NOA) error involving previous discharges that was thought to be fixed is continuing to cause trouble for home health agencies, according to an alert from Medicare Administrative Contractors NGS and Palmetto GBA. In an urgent notice to providers April 13, 2022, NGS noted that an issue in the Common Working File […]
Every experienced recruiter knows that finding the best talent for your organization is no mean feat. It’s a skill that is at once art and science, with a bit of good luck thrown into the mix. However, when you succeed in bringing the best people on board, the effect on the entire company can be […]
Make sure contracted staff are compliant with CMS’ vaccine requirement and that these contractors can provide proof of vaccination. CMS updated its guidance to surveyors on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, making it clear that contractor compliance is a high priority during survey reviews of vaccine documentation. The new guidance notes that surveyors should review the […]