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Issue 50, December 21, 2015

• Insider's scoop | Pain management for cancer patients

  Editor’s note: This week’s Insider's Scoop is adapted from HCPro’s new Home...

• Weekly Roundup

  Home care workers achieved a victory when the Department of Labor ruled they are entitled to...

• Insider's Scoop | Controlling diabetes

  Editor’s note: This week’s Insider's Scoop was adapted from HCPro’s 40 Essential...

• Weekly Roundup

  Home health providers travel billions of miles Nurses, therapists, and home care aides drive...

• Free! Hospice Orientation for the Interdisciplinary Team

  According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, hospice organizations should...

Issue 49, December 14, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  Investors put faith in large home health agencies According to the Stoneridge Partners Home Health...

• Insider’s Scoop | Evaluating health literacy

  This week’s Insider's Scoop is from The Post-Acute Care Guide to Maintenance Therapy, Cindy...

Issue 48, December 7, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  The National Quality Forum (NQF) has announced its plan to review the standardized performance...

• Is Therapy ’Necessary’?

  Editor’s note: This week’s Inside Story was adapted from one of HCPro’s...

Issue 47, November 30, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  William Dombi, vice president for law at the National Association of Home Care & Hospice...

• CMS seeks new RAC contracts

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Requests for Proposals for the next...

• ’Recognize the value of the work,’ says Clinton

  On November 22, at a campaign stop in Iowa, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke...

• Sharing results, good and bad

  While all agencies have every intention of providing high-quality care to their patients, they...

Issue 46, November 23, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  After the Inspector General's office investigated an unnamed veteran's death in April, the IG has...

• Ward off work-related injuries with good posture

  Good posture means more than just sitting up straight, particularly when it comes to protecting...

• How does good posture affect the musculoskeletal system?

  How does good posture affect the musculoskeletal system?

Issue 45, November 16, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  Agencies will hopefully have more understanding of home health billing in the aftermath of the 2016...

• Insider's Scoop | Assessing clinical competencies: Gastrointestinal skill checklist

  No matter what changes in homecare, there will always be the need to validate clinician...

• Why must agencies be able to produce documentation that demonstrates their clinicians’ competencies?

  Why must agencies be able to produce documentation that demonstrates their clinicians...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 44, November 9, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  Last Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG...

• Insider’s Scoop | Fostering a culture of accountability

  Before you can work toward achieving accountability, you need to ensure that you understand what it...

• What are some key differences between accountability and responsibility?

  What are some key differences between accountability and responsibility?

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 43, November 2, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  After receiving 118 comments from the public, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services...

• Insider’s Scoop | The role of the care plan in maintaining a compliant clinical record

  The written care plan is not simply busywork. It is essential in the organization, delivery...

• How does the care plan reflect the process of skilled service delivery?

  How does the care plan reflect the process of skilled service delivery? 

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 42, October 26, 2015

• The Weekly Roundup

  The Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation (AHHQI), a national non-profit consortium of...

• Insider's Scoop | Determining and documenting the appropriate visit frequency

  For years there has been debate on what is an appropriate frequency for a patient. Frequency...

• What are some of the factors that clinicians must consider to determine an appropriate frequency of visits for a given patient?

  What are some of the factors that clinicians must consider to determine an appropriate frequency of...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 41, October 19, 2015

• The Weekly Roundup

  On October 9, members of the House Budget Committee approved a package of legislation that would...

• Insider’s Scoop | Staff education on infection control

  Care delivered according to infection control guidelines is the most effective tool available for...

• When implemented properly, what can infection control practices accomplish for a home health agency?

  When implemented properly, what can infection control practices accomplish for a home health...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 40, October 13, 2015

• The Weekly Roundup

  After Chief Justice Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court denied an application for the stay of a past...

• Insider’s Scoop | Start-of-Care Assessments

  The start-of-care (SOC) assessment is completed as a patient is being admitted to a home health...

• What’s the timeline home health providers and their clinician partners must follow for initiating and completing a start-of-care (SOC) assessment?

  What’s the timeline home health providers and their clinician partners must follow for...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 39, October 5, 2015

• Weekly Roundup

  This past Thursday (October 1, 2015), began the live implementation of ICD-10 across the...

• Insider’s Scoop | Make Therapy Goals Measurable

  Well-written goals correlate to assessment findings. The “measurement” component...

• How often and how many goals should therapists have?

  How often and how many goals should therapists have?

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 38, September 28, 2015

• The Weekly Roundup

  A handful of senators published a letter last Thursday urging CMS to withdraw the case mix cuts and...

• Insider's Scoop | Medication management

  Managing medications in the home can be a challenging process. The following list comprises...

• Insider's Scoop | Medication management

  Managing medications in the home can be a challenging process. The following list comprises...

• What are some approaches patients may try to implement themselves to overcome swallowing difficulties, and what are more effective alternatives?

  What are some approaches patients may try to implement themselves to overcome swallowing...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 37, September 21, 2015

• The Weekly Roundup

  With the kickoff of ICD-10 just a handful of days away, CMS has released an infographic to help...

• Insider’s Scoop | Lifting and Transferring

    Caring for patients with limited mobility tends to involve a great deal of lifting. You...

• What care elements and considerations does preventive care encompass?

  What care elements and considerations does preventive care encompass?

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and...

Issue 36, September 14, 2015

• The Weekly roundup

  CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation announced earlier this month the Medicare...

• Insider's Scoop | General Infection Control Principles at Home

    Infection control issues in the home pose special challenges. For this reason, it’s...

• What infection control measures should home health staff instruct patients and their caregivers to take surrounding the disposal of sharps?

  What infection control measures should home health staff instruct patients and their caregivers...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and...

Issue 35, August 31, 2015

• The Weekly Roundup

  The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) released a draft Friday of its comments...

• Insider’s Scoop: Adverse events: When bad things happen to good nurses

  People expect safe and responsible care whenever they enter the healthcare system. They hold...

• What are some ways that home health nurses can protect themselves against culpability after the occurrence of an adverse event?

  What are some ways that home health nurses can protect themselves against culpability after the...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and...

Issue 34, August 24, 2015

• Letter from the editor

    Dear reader,   We are trying something new. As you peruse this week’s edition...

• The Weekly Roundup

  After a lengthy bout of legal proceedings, a federal appeals court on Friday upheld the U.S...

• Insider’s Scoop: Documenting medical necessity for teaching and training services

  There is a lot of caregiver and patient teaching that occurs in the home. In fact, Medicare allows...

• Why should clinicians document every relevant aspect of a patient’s condition and care experience in their routine visit notes, even if these topics seem obvious?

  Why should clinicians document every relevant aspect of a patient’s condition and care...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 32, August 17, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses Change Request 9189, which took effect last week and...

• Physician certification requirement updates take effect

  Last Tuesday, a CMS change request (CR 9189, Transmittal 602) saw in revisions and clarifications...

• What aspects of certification documentation does Change Request 9189, which took effect last week, instruct Medicare contractors to consider when determining whether to award coverage for home health services?

  What aspects of certification documentation does Change Request 9189, which took effect last...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and...

Issue 31, August 10, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses the upcoming national call CMS will host to help...

• CMS to host national provider call on ICD-10 prep

  CMS will soon host an MLN Connects National Provider Call to help healthcare providers gear for...

• What will CMS’ August 27 national provider call on ICD-10 cover?

  What will CMS’ August 27 national provider call on ICD-10 cover?

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 30, August 3, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses CMS' recent six-month extension of the longstanding...

• CMS issues another six-month extension of targeted home health moratorium

  CMS recently announced another six-month extension of its longstanding moratoria on newly...

• In what metropolitan areas does CMS’ recent six-month extension of the moratorium on newly enrolling home health agencies apply?

  In what metropolitan areas does CMS' recent six-month extension of the moratorium on newly...

• Ethics and Liability for the Home Health Team, a new HCPro training video

  A home health agency depends on its entire care team—aides, nurses, therapists, and social...

Issue 29, July 27, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses the recent release of the first home health edition of...

• First round of home health PEPPER reports now available

  The first ever home health edition of the Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic...

• What billing domains does the first ever home health PEPPER cover?

  What billing domains does the first ever home health PEPPER cover?

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and...

Issue 28, July 20, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses the much-anticipated debut of star ratings on Home...

• Quality of patient care star ratings debut on Home Health Compare

  Last Thursday, CMS premiered the first ever round of star ratings on Home Health Compare—an...

• What measures do the quality of patient care star ratings now featured on Home Health Compare summarize?

  What measures do the quality of patient care star ratings now featured on Home Health Compare...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and state...

Issue 27, July 13, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider provides a rundown of CMS’ proposed rule for calendar year...

• Home health proposed rule for 2016 now available in the Federal Register

  CMS’ proposed home health rule for calendar year (CY) 2016—which was first released...

• By how much would CMS’ proposed rule for calendar year (CY) 2016 alter overall home health payments?

  By how much would CMS’ proposed rule for calendar year (CY) 2016 alter overall home health...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and state...

Issue 26, July 6, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers a new proposal by the Department of Labor to raise the...

• New DOL proposal to extend overtime pay could affect home health and hospice providers

  Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule that would extend...

• How does the Department of Labor (DOL) propose to alter the salary threshold for the federal overtime exemption?

  How does the Department of Labor (DOL) propose to alter the salary threshold for the federal...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and...

Issue 25, June 29, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers the House’s passage of a bill to repeal the ACA-enacted...

• House passes IPAB repeal bill

  Last Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the Independent Payment...

• Why is the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) championing the repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)?

  Why is the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) championing the repeal of the...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and state...

Issue 24, June 22, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers HHS’ unprecedented takedown of alleged fraudsters...

• Medicare fraud strike charges 243 healthcare providers for more than $700 million in false billing

  Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an historic sweep that...

• What are some of the charges faced by the healthcare providers implicated in HHS’ recent fraud strike?

  What are some of the charges faced by the healthcare providers implicated in HHS’ recent...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and state...

Issue 23, June 15, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers the House’s recent vote to nix the use of Medicare cuts...

• House votes to eliminate Medicare provider reimbursement cuts from trade bill

  In last week’s vote of 392-32, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelming passed...

• Instead of extending the Medicare sequestration into 2024, how do recent legislative proceedings and political reporting suggest Congress intends to fund the reauthorization of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program?

  Instead of extending the Medicare sequestration into 2024, how do recent legislative proceedings...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and...

Issue 22, June 8, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers the highlights of the Shared Savings Program final rule...

• CMS finalizes Shared Savings ACO provisions

  Last Thursday, CMS released a final rule that will update the Medicare Shared Savings...

• How many organizations and beneficiaries currently participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program?

  How many organizations and beneficiaries currently participate in the Medicare Shared Savings...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and...

Issue 21, June 1, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers the upcoming White House Conference on Aging, which will...

• 2015 White House Conference on Aging to take place July 13

  The Obama Administration announced last week that the 2015 White House Conference on Aging...

• What are the four elder issue areas that staff from the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) have identified as focuses for this year’s event?

  What are the four elder issue areas that staff from the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA...

• Last chance to attend! ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training...

Issue 20, May 18, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider unpacks the findings of a new report by the Office of Inspector...

• New OIG report calls for more background check standards in home health

  Despite the uniquely intimate relationship between frontline staff and patients in the home...

• What percentage of home health employees had at least one criminal conviction out of the total sample of agencies studied in a recent review by the Office of Inspector General (OIG)?

  What percentage of home health employees had at least one criminal conviction out of the total...

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training on...

Issue 19, May 11, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers pending legislation that would extend the Medicare...

• Provider advocates speak out against legislation that would extend Medicare sequestration

  Trade associations across the care continuum joined forces last week to voice their concerns to the...

• If passed in its current form, how would the legislation reauthorizing the Trade Adjustment Assistance program affect Medicare payments to providers?

  If passed in its current form, how would the legislation reauthorizing the Trade Adjustment...

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training on...

Issue 18, May 4, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider covers five facts CMS recently released to dispel common ICD-10...

• CMS clears up common misconceptions about the transition to ICD-10

  CMS recently spoke with the provider community to help dispel some of the myths surrounding...

• What are some alternative submission options available to providers that won’t be able to transmit ICD-10 claims electronically?

  What are some alternative submission options available to providers that won’t be able to...

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training...

Issue 17, April 27, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses a new report that shows technology usage in the home...

• New report predicts 78.5 million consumers worldwide will use home health technologies by 2020

  Home health technologies are on the rise, according to a new report from Tractica, a technology...

• How many worldwide consumers does Tractica predict will use home health technologies by 2020?

  How many worldwide consumers does Tractica predict will use home health technologies by 2020?

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training...

Issue 16, April 20, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses two recent surveys that offer different perspectives on...

• New surveys suggest HH services most affordable in PAC sphere, but still too pricy for many boomers

  While home health may be the most affordable postacute care (PAC) setting, the cost of services...

• By what percentage has the cost of home health services risen over the past five years?

  By what percentage has the cost of home health services risen over the past five years?

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training...

Issue 15, April 13, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses two upcoming events intended to advance awareness about...

• Upcoming events shine light on elder issues

  June 15 will be the ninth annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)—an event held to...

• When and why was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) first launched?

  When and why was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) first launched?

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training on...

Issue 14, April 6, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses CMS’ recent request for the Office of Management...

• CMS seeks OMB approval of ICD-10 OASIS version

  CMS recently published a request in the Federal Register for the Office of Management and...

• How will OASIS-C1/ICD-10 differ from the data set iteration currently in use (i.e., OASIS-C1/ICD-9)?

  How will OASIS-C1/ICD-10 differ from the data set iteration currently in use (i.e., OASIS-C1/ICD-9)?

• ICD-10 Coding for Home Health Workshop

  CMS has slated the implementation of ICD-10 for October 1, 2015, meaning education and training...

Issue 13, March 30, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discussed the upcoming release of the first home health edition of...

• Home health agencies will soon have access to a new billing tool

  In July, CMS contractor TMF Health Quality Institute will release the first edition of the Program...

• What target areas will the first edition of the home health PEPPER cover?

  What target areas will the first edition of the home health PEPPER cover?

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and...

Issue 12, March 23, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses a new bipartisan bill intended to broaden access to...

• New bipartisan bill intends to expand homecare access for older Americans

  A bipartisan bill introduced by two U.S. senators aims to increase home health access for...

• What is the new bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Grassley and Cardin intended to accomplish for low-income elders who use the Medicare benefit?

  What is the new bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Grassley and Cardin intended to accomplish...

• 40 Essential In-Services for Home Health: Lesson Plans and Self-Study Guides for Aides and Nurses

  Annual home health in-service training is not only required to remain compliant with CMS and state...

Issue 11, March 16, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses the results from a survey on the current senior living...

• Surveyed senior care experts call home health top elder service after recession

  The recession elevated the attractiveness of home-based services more than any other model of...

• According to the results of a recent survey taken by senior living care stakeholders, how does the appeal of home-based services appeal today compare to its standing before the recession?

  According to the results of a recent survey taken by senior living care stakeholders, how does the...

• Accountability, Professionalism, and Ethics in Home Health

  As society and healthcare evolve, the transparency emphasized by the new care landscape...

Issue 10, March 9, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses CMS’ recent decision to extend the deadline for...

• CMS extends deadline for postacute care HIT survey; tech experts hold briefing on Capitol Hill

  After considering a number of stakeholder requests, CMS has extended the deadline for...

• What topics did the expert panel cover during a recent Capitol Hill briefing on HIT adoption in the LTPAC sector?

  What topics did the expert panel cover during a recent Capitol Hill briefing on HIT adoption in the...

• Accountability, Professionalism, and Ethics in Home Health

  As society and healthcare evolve, the transparency emphasized by the new care landscape...

Issue 9, March 2, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses the specifics of CMS’ voluntary technology survey...

• CMS' voluntary HIT survey for PAC providers ends tomorrow

  Tomorrow is the final day for home health agencies and their counterparts in the skilled nursing...

• Why did CMS develop a voluntary health information technology (HIT) survey for postacute care (PAC) providers?

  Why did CMS develop a voluntary health information technology (HIT) survey for postacute care (PAC...

• Accountability, Professionalism, and Ethics in Home Health

  As society and healthcare evolve, the transparency emphasized by the new care landscape...

Issue 8, February 23, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses the contents of CMS’ upcoming open door forum.

• CMS to host call on IMPACT Act directives for standardized PAC quality, assessment data

  On Wednesday, CMS will host a special open door forum to discuss the implications of the Improving...

• CMS releases new ICD-10 resources

  With the October 1, 2015, implementation date of ICD-10 ever-nearing, CMS has been releasing an...

• Accountability, Professionalism, and Ethics in Home Health

  As society and healthcare evolve, the transparency emphasized by the new care landscape...

Issue 7, February 16, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses highlights from a recent open door forum on the upcoming...

• Star (and half-star) ratings on the horizon for HHAs

  CMS recently announced that the star rating methodology soon to augment Home Health Compare will...

• How will the addition of half-star increments to the rating system soon to augment Home Health Compare affect the distribution of stars among agencies?

  How will the addition of half-star increments to the rating system soon to augment Home Health...

• Bettering Patient Outcomes and Home Health Care CAHPS Scores Through Patient Engagement

  As the home health industry continues to expand and regulations increasingly emphasize the...

Issue 6, February 9, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses how the Obama administration’s proposed budget for...

• President’s 2016 budget calls for home health copays, PAC reimbursement cuts

  Last week, the Obama administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2016, calling...

• What reimbursement changes did the Obama administration propose for post-acute care (PAC) providers in its budget for fiscal year 2016?

  What reimbursement changes did the Obama administration propose for post-acute care (PAC) providers...

• Bettering Patient Outcomes and Home Health Care CAHPS Scores Through Patient Engagement

  As the home health industry continues to expand and regulations increasingly emphasize the...

Issue 5, February 3, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses CMS’ recent extension of its moratorium on new...

• CMS extends length, not scope of targeted home health moratorium

  Last week, CMS announced a six-month extension of its moratorium on new home health agencies in...

• What updates did CMS announce last week to its moratorium on new home health agencies in certain geographic areas?

  What updates did CMS announce last week to its moratorium on new home health agencies in certain...

• Bettering Patient Outcomes and Home Health Care CAHPS Scores Through Patient Engagement

  As the home health industry continues to expand and regulations increasingly emphasize the...

Issue 4, January 26, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses new coverage criteria that will be implemented next Monday...

• Modifications to CMS’ pneumococcal vaccine policy to be implemented next week

  Next Monday, CMS will implement reimbursement policy modifications to better align Medicare...

• What coverage criteria does Change Request 9051 introduce regarding pneumococcal vaccine administration for Medicare beneficiaries?

  What coverage criteria does Change Request 9051 introduce regarding pneumococcal vaccine...

• Bettering Patient Outcomes and Home Health Care CAHPS Scores Through Patient Engagement

  As the home health industry continues to expand and regulations increasingly emphasize the...

Issue 3, January 19, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses a recent court ruling that struck down the DOL’s...

• Judge decision finalizes striking of DOL overtime rule

  Last Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that the Department of Labor (DOL) cannot extend overtime...

• What did Judge Richard Leon rule last Wednesday regarding the DOL’s attempt to reconfigure the overtime exemption for companionship services?

  What did Judge Richard Leon rule last Wednesday regarding the DOL’s attempt to reconfigure...

• Bettering Patient Outcomes and Home Health Care CAHPS Scores Through Patient Engagement

  As the home health industry continues to expand and regulations increasingly emphasize the...

Issue 2, January 12, 2015

• This issue of Homecare Insider

  This issue of Homecare Insider discusses key change requests that were issued by CMS in 2014 and...

• Home health change requests take effect in 2015

  On January 1, several of the change requests (CR) CMS issued during the last calendar year went...

• Under CR 8813, what revisions to home health diagnosis reporting guidelines took effect on January 1?

  Under CR 8813, what revisions to home health diagnosis reporting guidelines took effect on January...

• The 2015 Home Health Winter Webcast Series

  Our winter series features presentations by seasoned industry speakers with expert knowledge on...

Issue 1, January 5, 2015

• Overtime compensation rule delayed

  The U.S. District Court issued a temporary restraining order that prevents a U.S. Department of...

• Will home health remain exempt from overtime compensation in most circumstances like it has for 40 years?

  Will home health remain exempt from overtime compensation in most circumstances like it has for 40...