Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
A home health agency is allowed to ask whether its employees are vaccinated. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided this guidance, particularly singling out home health agencies as an example, in a broader Q&A on employee vaccination status and HIPAA guardrails, released September 30. The HHS guidance notes that the HIPAA privacy […]
Whether an employee’s COVID-19 vaccination status is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has been (or should be) on the minds of all HR personnel as of late. That’s especially true as we await the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) impending rule that will likely require employers with 100 or more employees […]
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 […]
A statewide order went into effect August 11 in California that requires proof of vaccination for all SNF visitors. If a visitor cannot prove vaccination status, they must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the visit. All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask as well. […]
Q: Can I require my employees to tell me if they are vaccinated and, if so, to provide proof? A: The EEOC’s COVID-19 guidance provides that asking for proof of an employee’s vaccinated status is not a disability-related inquiry and is permitted under the ADA. However, the EEOC cautions that asking an employee about the […]
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is reminding providers of the rules around administering the COVID-19 vaccine after complaints from patients charged for the vaccine and other reports of fraud and abuse around vaccine distribution. OIG is reminding all participating providers that they: must administer COVID-19 Vaccine with no out-of-pocket […]
Q: As case managers strive to best support patients recovering from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), what are some of the most important things to keep in mind? A: Ellen Fink-Samnick, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CCTP, CMHIMP, CRP, DBH(s), of EFS Supervision Strategies LLC, in Burke, Virginia offers five strategies for supporting COVID-19 patients. Discharge to […]
On December 3, 2020, U.S. Transcend Strategy Group fielded a survey asking if the COVID-19 vaccine would impact people’s willingness to receive care. Of the 599 respondents, 65% said a health care provider’s vaccine status will influence whether they seek care. More than a third, 35%, said a vaccinated caregiver will significantly impact their decision […]
Today, long-term care expert Reta Underwood, Medicare Specialist and president of CLTC, a national long-term care consulting firm based in Kentucky discusses skilled status charting for SNFs, as well as the differences between direct and indirect skilled services. Subscribe on SoundCloud, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
A bill changing notification of outpatient observation status for hospital patients has been signed into law by President Obama. On July 28, 2015, the Senate unanimously passed the NOTICE Act, which then got passed on to the President. This legislation was introduced by Congressmen Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35) and Todd Young (R-IN-9) in the U.S. House […]