Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
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 […]
In its proposed rule released this week, CMS aims to eliminate the requirement for facilities to actively waive their right to a hearing in writing. Instead, there would be a waiver process that would operate by default when CMS has not received a timely request for a hearing. The 35% penalty reduction would remain. According […]
CMS announced a new proposed rule (CMS-3347-P) this week, and among many changes, such as the delay of Phase 3 implementation, are changes to the use of antipsychotic medication. In the proposed rule, CMS states that “some nursing homes are circumventing the pressure to reduce antipsychotic drug use by seeking an appropriate diagnosis from a […]
Two reports were released last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) demonstrating the results of in-depth studies of Medicare hospice recertification and complaint survey data from state agencies and accredited organizations between 2012 and 2016. The reports examine issues of deficiencies and abuse in hospice care. […]
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 […]
Home care aides often suffer verbal abuse at the hands of clients and their families, according to a study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine. The study involved people with a range of titles including home health aide, certified nursing assistant, hospice aide, personal care aide, personal care attendant and homemaker. About 7% of aides […]
Recent measles outbreaks in the United States are a grim reminder that infection control is crucial for post-acute providers. Twenty-two states have seen outbreaks of rubella in recent months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease had been considered eradicated in 2000, and anti-vaccination sentiments are thought to have […]
Here are four steps for therapy contract adjustment that you should take now to prepare for PDPM implementation on October 1, 2019. The PDPM Transition: Step 1 Analyze your Part A fee‐for‐service utilization data What is your RUG distribution? What is your average length of stay by RUG? What is your reimbursement per RUG category? What is […]
Source: The Bottom Line New CMP amounts that have been adjusted for inflation and are effective October 11, 2018 were announced in a final rule published by CMS on January 22, 2019. The adjusted amounts apply to CMPs assessed on or after October 11, 2018. For SNFs, NFs and SNF/NFs, the CMP Analytic Tool instructions […]
Source: Home Health Line More than a year after the revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoPs) took effect and about four months after the release of related interpretive guidelines, CMS has provided agencies with additional clarifying guidance around the requirements. On Jan. 23, CMS released 48 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the interpretive guidelines […]