Home Health & Hospice Week

Patient-Driven Groupings Model:
Proposed 4% Budget Neutrality Adjustment Continues HHAs’ Death By A Thousand Cuts
CMS calls for an overall 1.7 percent payment reduction in 2025 proposed rule released June... Read more
Reimbursement:
Take A Closer Look At Your Proposed Rate Change
Don't stop at base rate when gauging proposed cut's effect on your pay. The base paymen... Read more
Compliance:
Medicare Wants To Inspect Your Patient Acceptance Policies
New CoP would cost HHAs nearly $3.2 million in first year. Don't be surprised if a newly ... Read more
OASIS:
Say ‘Hello’ To 4 New SDOH Items That May Hit OASIS In 2027
Plus: CMS wants to tweak all-payer collection start date and asks for feedback on new QRP ... Read more
Value-Based Purchasing:
New VBP Measures May Be In The Offing
No immediate program shifts are a relief to HHAs. Unlike last year, Medicare isn't propos... Read more
Therapy:
Allowing Therapists To Complete Comprehensive Assessments, Even When Nursing Is Ordered, Is Back On The Table
Could this PHE-era ability be restored? A new Request for Information could lead to some ... Read more
Regulations:
Proposed Reg Tackles Thorny Service Questions, Tweaks PPEO Definition, And More
Tip: Keep an eye on these 5 topics addressed in proposed rule. Don't miss the lesser-no... Read more
Industry Notes:
OCR Focuses On Olmstead Compliance In Iowa Case
Other states should follow suit, feds suggest. If you had given up hope on the feds tryin... Read more
Industry Notes:
Hospice VBID Billing Glitch Harries Providers
Even though the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model's hospice car... Read more
Industry Notes:
Pennant To Manage Nonprofit Conn. Health System's HHAs & Hospices
A national chain is partnering with a Connecticut health system. The Pennant Group Inc. â... Read more
Hospice:
Hospices Implore CMS To Avert Crushing Reimbursement In October
Will industry's comments about ‘devastating' update fall on deaf ears? With mere weeks... Read more
Reimbursement:
Lackluster Rate Update Threatens Rural Hospices In Particular
Demographics, travel time, wage index work against rural providers. The proposed 2.6 perc... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Concealed Owners Feature In Latest Home Health Fraud Cases
Maybe hiring an alleged quadruple murderer was a bad idea. If you think previous enforcem... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
New York, Florida Home Health Providers Join Forces
Plus: AccentCare, Dover Health, SilverStone grow. A newly combined home health company ha... Read more
Legislation:
New Legislation Tackles Major Hospice Reform, Private Equity Safeguards
High-profile senator calls PE involvement in health care space 'parasitic. Home health an... Read more
Industry Notes:
NAHC-NHPCO Merger One Step Closer To Final
Eventual name still under wraps. The long-gestating affiliation of two of the industry's ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Watchdog Agency Keeps A Hold Of Medicare Advantage Bone
The OIG isn't letting up on its Medicare Advantage focus any time soon, it appears. Since... Read more
Industry Notes:
EVV Data Gets A Close Look By The OIG
The OIG is also addressing new electronic visit verification requirements in its Work Plan... Read more
Industry Notes:
Employee Downloading Wrong File Kicked Off Ascension Cyberattack
The fallout from the Change Healthcare cyberattack might finally be starting to wind down.... Read more
Industry Notes:
Chain Partners With Ohio Health System
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Compassus has formed a partnership with Columbus-based OhioHealth t... Read more
Industry Notes:
Don't Miss This Important August Deadline
Home health agencies in the Review Choice Demonstration states of North Carolina, Florida,... Read more
Industry Notes:
Weigh Choices Carefully For HIPAA Risk Analysis
If you're weighing whether to use an outside consultant for your HIPAA risk analysis, cons... Read more
Regulations:
MAC Walks Back Controversial ‘Hand Off’ Policy
Plus: CMS withdraws erroneous hospice certification guidance. A burdensome new requiremen... Read more
Medical Review:
Tackle TPE With These Expert Tips
Hint: Look at your MAC's focus to troubleshoot internal issues. Whether you've already su... Read more
Targeted Probe And Educate:
Pocket These 5 Tips on TPE Reviews
Pointer: Don't neglect internal audits. As you update your compliance plan, don't forget ... Read more
Compliance:
Complete These 9 Steps To Prep For Nondiscrimination Protections
Tip: Update compliance checklists to ensure your agency meets deadlines. With the new No... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
$93 Million Home Health Fraud Case Hits The Spotlight — Again
OIG excludes nearly 1,800 from federal programs in period from October through March. A ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Sham Hospice Owners Face Charges In L.A.
Ill-gotten gains went to real estate and cars, feds allege. The feds' battle against hosp... Read more
Industry Notes:
VBP Interim Performance Reports For April Now Finalized
Home health agencies can now see their Final April Interim Performance Reports for the Val... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicare Updates Manual For MFT/MHC Changes
Take a look at updated Sections 40.1.1 and 40.2.1 of Medicare's Hospice Benefit Policy Man... Read more
Industry Notes:
Enhancing Oncology Payment Model Extended
Hospices interested in collaborating with physician practices on cancer patients' care may... Read more
Industry Notes:
Redundant Choice Selection Eliminated For RCD
The feds are making one small thing easier for home health agencies in Review Choice Demon... Read more
Industry Notes:
Crack Open Your August Care Compare Preview Report
Hospices can now take a look at their freshest Care Compare data. “Access the latest Pro... Read more
Industry Notes:
Addus To Buy Gentiva Personal Care Operations
A major sale in the personal care services market is in the works. Addus HomeCare Corp. ha... Read more
Review Choice Demonstration:
Take These 12 Steps To Prepare For RCD Extension, Possible Expansion
As with any type of medical review, the physician face-to-face encounter needs to be a ma... Read more
Medical Review:
Review Choice Demo MAC Updates Cycle Info
Keep an eye out for ongoing revisions. If your home health agency operates in one of the ... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Arizona Hospice Chain Delves Further Into Palliative Care
Plus: Fourteen-state provider snaps up Texas hospice. A nonprofit Arizona hospice provide... Read more
Finance:
Comvest Financed Waud Capital’s Senior Helpers Buy
State government flip-flops lead Addus to exit New York entirely. The non-Medicare home c... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Unlicensed Staff, Missing Nursing Director Spark $1.6M Investigation
Plus: New York provider shells out $10 million to settle fraud charges. More Medicaid hom... Read more
Reimbursement:
Extend Hospital At Home, Heavy Hitters Urge
Care in the home is effective and desired by beneficiaries, advocates stress. All eyes ar... Read more
Hospice:
Hospice Certifying Physician Edit Hits June 3 — Are You Ready?
Keep in mind that requirements will change in the fall. While the new hospice certifying ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Retroactive Medical Director Payments Feature In Whistleblower Case
Pennsylvania provider pays high 6 figures to settle Stark Law charges. A recent False Cla... Read more
Industry Notes:
CMS Quality Measure Contractor Calls For Committee Nominees
Want to have a say in how quality measures are developed? Then don't miss your chance to s... Read more
Industry Notes:
Bill Aims To Block Nonprofit Hospices
If you think the bad-mouthing of for-profit hospices, and the reputational harm that may c... Read more
Industry Notes:
HHA Execs' Check-Kiting Scheme Takes Them Down
Medicare fraud isn't the only kind of crime that can bring down home health agency execs. ... Read more
Review Choice Demonstration:
Last-Minute Extension Of RCD May Be Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
Why the late notice? Your Medicare crystal ball may be cloudy, but you can be pretty sur... Read more
Medical Review:
Is A National Review Choice Demo Rollout In HHAs’ Future?
Here's what may be next for RCD — including maybe even hospice. Every expert contacted... Read more
Reimbursement:
New Hand-Off Policy From MAC Blindsides HHAs
Industry seeks CMS clarification on face-to-face-related instruction. The extension and e... Read more
Value-Based Purchasing:
You’ll Know Your VBP Payment Adjustment Before Summer Is Over
Plus: Keep your iQIES account active or face delays. Whether you've been working hard on ... Read more
Regulations:
Prepare For HH Star Ratings Change
Plus: Get those comments in before it's too late. School may be out for summer, but home ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Hospice Fraudster Draws 20-Year Prison Sentence
Billing unnecessary physician services for hospice patients was part of the conviction. S... Read more
Industry Notes:
Get Friendly With The Order And Referring Data File
See the latest on the upcoming Medicare claims edit requiring hospice certifying physician... Read more
Industry Notes:
Protective Services Final Rule Hits The Books
Home care agencies that have interactions with Adult Protective Services may want to take ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Meet Your MAC In Vegas
If you'd like to get up close and personal with your HHH Medicare Administrative Contracto... Read more
Industry Notes:
APRNs, PAs Now May Help FL Residents Access Home Health
A new Florida law is aiming to make Medicaid-funded home care easier to access. Gov. Ron ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Unionized Home Health Workers Negotiate Contract In NY
Home health workers at University of Rochester Medicine Home Care have begun talks on thei... Read more
Industry Notes:
Fake Home Health Nurse To Serve 18 Months, Repay $50K
Watch out for home health nurse imposters. One who pleaded guilty in Texas has been brough... Read more
Surveys & Certification:
Expect To See CMPs, Pay Suspensions Handed Down More Often For Condition-Level Deficiencies — Maybe A Lot More Often
Whether it's called an alternative sanction or an enforcement remedy, it can close agenci... Read more
Compliance:
IDR Process Gets Some Clarifications In New Survey Memo
Here's what IDR will look like under updated guidelines. Still getting a handle on the ve... Read more
OASIS:
Carve Out Time For OASIS-E1 Training
Even a scaled-back revision requires some planning. Smart home health agencies won't wai... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Social Media Posts Help Nail Medicaid Home Care Fraudsters
Whistleblowers rake in hundreds of thousands in recent cases. Home health fraud cases ar... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Catholic Health System, National Home Health & Hospice Chain Join Forces
Plus: Hospice market developments take place from coast to coast. Cincinnati-based Bon Se... Read more
HIPAA:
Follow These 3 Steps To Fulfill Employee Sanction Requirement Under HIPAA
You can't just look the other way when PHI is at stake. With aggressive cyberattacks ag... Read more
Industry Notes:
Add New Nondiscrimination Final Rule To Your Compliance Checklist
New notices, P&Ps, training are all on the horizon. You may find you have a laundry l... Read more
Industry Notes:
Oregon HH, Hospice Nurses End Strike
After marching in a picket line while on strike, PeaceHealth home health and hospice nurse... Read more
Industry Notes:
Keep Certifying Physician Claims Edit Top Of Mind
The upcoming Medicare claims edit requiring hospice certifying physicians to be enrolled o... Read more
Industry Notes:
FDA Program Aims To Boost Health Care In The Home
Another federal agency is getting behind the idea of moving more health care into the home... Read more
Industry Notes:
Here's Why TPE Claims Samples Have Been On The Larger Side
Get used to larger claims samples for Targeted Probe and Educate medical review. “Curre... Read more
Worker Safety:
Lawsuit From Slain Home Health Nurse’s Family Shows Dangers Of Lax Worker Safety P&Ps;
Elara employees reporting safety concerns were 'chastised, shamed and gaslit,' lawsuit al... Read more
Legislation:
Look To State’s Pending Law For Clues On Your Worker Safety Future
Are you ready to report all threatening abuse from patients? Elara is far from the only c... Read more
Compliance:
Whistleblower To Net $672K In Elara FCA Settlement With The Feds
Patient ineligibility, missing election statements, ignored audit results feature in qui ... Read more
Labor Law:
Has Time Run Out For Non-Competes Now That The FTC Rule Is Final?
Determining whether the rule applies to your agency may be tricky. It may be time to fa... Read more
Regulations:
Read This Rule Rundown
Tip: Know the narrow exceptions. The new Federal Trade Commission final rule banning nea... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
UnitedHealth Plans Breach Notifications, Amedisys Divestitures
Congress calls CEO on the carpet. It's a busy time for UnitedHealth Care Group Inc. Aft... Read more
OASIS:
OASIS-E1 Manual Is Out
It's time to figure out COVID vaccination reporting. Five months after Medicare issued t... Read more
Industry Notes:
Hospice Survey Backlogs Are Improving, CMS Tells GAO
Is the oversight agency a day late and a dollar short in its latest report? A new report... Read more
Industry Notes:
Docs Push For Continuation Of Hospital-At Home Waiver
Hospitals really want Medicare to extend its Hospital at Home waiver. So says a commentary... Read more
Industry Notes:
Enhabit Resolves To Stay The Course
Dallas-based Enhabit Inc. is going to remain its own company after all. “The best way t... Read more
Industry Notes:
The Pre-Presidential Election Rule Rush Is In Full Flow
If you feel like federal regulations are raining down like never before, you're probably r... Read more
Reimbursement:
Physician Certification Edit Bumped To June
Q&As clear up some confusion. Despite what you might have read from Medicare or your ... Read more
Hospice:
Follow These 5 Tips To Survive And Thrive Under New Certifying Physician Edit
How far have you gotten in checking your physicians? Hospices have little time left to bu... Read more
Labor Law:
Feds Fine Elara Caring 6 Figures In Nurse Death Case
Suspect in case recently arrested on murder charges. Home health and hospice providers a... Read more
Compliance:
DOL, CDC Offer Guidance On Staff Safety
Panic buttons, escorts are among OSHA and NIOSH suggestions. The deaths of two home healt... Read more
HIPAA:
United Health-Change Healthcare Attack Underscores Your HIPAA Duties
OCR sharpens focus of HIPAA investigation. Even if your reimbursement and other operatio... Read more
Industry Notes:
Take A Look At Your Latest VBP Numbers From Medicare
Recalculation requests are due by May 15. The clock is ticking down to the time for your ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Take Note Of These Worksheet Changes In Newest Home Health Cost Report Form
Medicare has updated its home health agency cost report forms, again. The changes apply t... Read more
Industry Notes:
New Federal Legislation Takes Aim At 80-20 Bill
Home care providers opposed to the recently finalized 80-20 bill mandate are getting some ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Federal Court Dismisses NAHC's PDGM Lawsuit, But Trade Group Vows To Bounce Back
Home health agencies shouldn't expect a quick fix to reimbursement rates from NAHC's PDGM ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Non Discrimination Final Rule Could Pave Way For More Home Care
The HHS Office for Civil Rights and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have issu... Read more
Industry Notes:
Flagrant Hospice Fraud Scams Are Afoot, FBI Warns
The FBI is warning Houston residents about hospice scams, a local news outlet reports. Th... Read more
Industry Notes:
Chain Makes Utah Buy
The Pennant Group Inc. has acquired South Davis Home Health and South Davis Hospice in Uta... Read more
Industry Notes:
At Least One Area Will See Lighter Medical Review Load
The feds are scaling back CERT medical review a bit. The Centers for Medicare & Medic... Read more
Medicaid:
Dreaded 80-20 Rule Finalized Without Enough Changes
Medicaid rates are far too low to support the policy. The news about the Medicaid 80-20 ... Read more
Reimbursement:
The 80-20 Rule Could Have Been Worse
Extended timeline, potential exemptions for small and rural providers may lessen the damag... Read more
Regulations:
Feds Issue Rules On Non-Competes, Overtime Threshold
Don't be so sure that non-solicitation label will save you. Medicare doesn't have the m... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Nonprofit Hospices Align In Texas, Shed Staff In Ohio
Plus: National chain plans big buy in Florida. Add one more nonprofit hospice collabora... Read more
Finance:
Hospitals Leverage Care In The Home To Reduce Referrals, Improve Outcomes
Around the nation, hospitals look to provide care beyond their walls. Hospitals continue ... Read more
Health IT:
UnitedHealth-Change Healthcare Cyberattack Damage Continues, Even After Ransom Was Paid
Stay tuned for testimony at congressional hearing. If you were wondering whether UnitedH... Read more
Industry Notes:
Benchmark Your LOS Stats With New Billing Report
The data covers non-cancer conditions. Are you sticking out like a sore thumb to reviewe... Read more
Industry Notes:
Newest Quality Data Is Available On HH Compare
Now's the time to check your latest stats on Care Compare. The April 2024 quarterly refres... Read more
Industry Notes:
Texas HHA Target Of FBI Raid For Unnamed Reason
FBI agents conducted a raid the morning of April 22 at Angel Bright Home Health in Corpus ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Hospitals In California, Virginia Team Up With Hospices
Hospitals are partnering with hospices to make sure patients receive the care they need. ... Read more
Industry Notes:
West Coast Home Health Nurses Vote To Strike
The battle over pay and other compensation continues at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care... Read more
Oasis:
Don’t Believe Everything You’re Told About OASIS Coding
New quarterly Q&As shed light on tricky scenarios. Smart home health agencies will h... Read more
Hospice:
MedPAC Hospice Rec Could Wreck Future Reimbursement
The advisory body did finally back off one important area, however. Medicare has already... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Expect More Scrutiny In States With Surging Hospice Numbers
Hint: It isn't just California and Texas. You can bet your law- and policy-makers will be... Read more
Health IT:
Lawmakers Target UnitedHealth Group For Cyberattack Failings
Insurer reports some positive earnings news. If you're wondering whether it's worth it ... Read more
Compliance:
Find Another Piece To Your Compliance Puzzle With OIG's New Compliance Guidance
Get to work now. Can the latest General Compliance Program Guidance help strengthen your ... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Say Hello To 7 Familiar Facets
A strong compliance plan will address all of these important areas. Since the beginning, ... Read more
Industry Notes:
New Hospice Item Set Manual Debuts
Expiration date is now more current. Before you have to worry about HOPE, you still need ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Oversight Agencies Ask Congress For More Prepay RAC Reviews, Fraud-Fighting Funds
Watch out: The GAO wants RACs to have even more teeth. So says a Government Accountability... Read more
Industry Notes:
Keep A Wary Eye Out For Medicaid 80/20 Rule
Don't be surprised to see the so-called 80/20 rule for Medicaid come out any time now. Rec... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicare Will Get Serious About Requiring County Codes On HH Claims This Fall
Home health agencies that haven't been reporting required county codes will soon have to d... Read more
Hospice:
Medicare Hospice Rate Increase Gets Thumbs Down Across The Industry
Plus: Watch out for stealth payment provision. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid S... Read more
Quality:
Long Time-Coming HOPE Tool Nearly Cleared For Takeoff
What's the rush? After years of talking about it, hospices may soon be filling out the H... Read more
Compliance:
Clarifications On Physician Hospice Issues Welcome
CAHPS revisions, NOE/election statement clarifications addressed — but not the Special ... Read more
Regulations:
Review Choice Demonstration Hits 11th Hour With No Extension
Plus: VBP, Care Compare, CAHPS addressed in forum. The clock is ticking down to the Ma... Read more
Enrollment:
May 1 Deadline For Physician Enrollment Is Making Hospices Nervous
Get used to checking the ordering and referring data file often. When hospices got a sev... Read more
Health IT:
UnitedHealth-Change Healthcare Turmoil Continues
Get an ADR breather for 90 days. If you want an idea of how much trouble the UnitedHeal... Read more
Industry Notes:
Providers Fear Medicare Advantage Trickle-Down Rates
MA plans must pay providers fairly, trade group urges. While many home health providers a... Read more
Industry Notes:
Beware Electronic File Problems When It Comes To One HHH MAC's Billing
Don't let a payment system glitch delay your reimbursement. The problem: HHH Medicare Adm... Read more
Industry Notes:
Get Vital OASIS-E1 Data Details In Upcoming Educational Call For Vendors
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will hold an OASIS vendor call about OASI... Read more
Industry Notes:
NAHC-NHPCO Merger Proceeds To Next Step
The merger of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Hospic... Read more
Budget:
MedPAC Sharpens The Blade For HH, Hospice Reimbursement Rates
Pay attention to the all-payer profit margin, advocates urge. Just like clockwork, the of... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Critical Home Health Stats Continue To Sink
Profit margin is down — but still too high, MedPAC insists. Policy- and lawmakers use c... Read more
Health IT:
New Directions On NOA/NOE Delays, Medicaid Aim To Help Home Health, Hospice Providers Affected By Ransomware Attack
UnitedHealth Group continues to implement damage control. UnitedHealth Group may be on ... Read more
Compliance:
Be Prepared For DOJ/FTC Enforcement of New Merger Guidelines
Regulatory oversight is expected to get even more aggressive. New finalized merger guid... Read more
Regulations:
What To Know About The Final Merger Guidelines
Here are the 6 factors that will help shape your market. It is crucial that providers u... Read more
Industry Notes:
Home Health Surveyors Get Updated Marching Orders
Therapists finally get more leeway for medication reconciliation. Check out a new Medicar... Read more
Industry Notes:
Keep An Eye Peeled For New Primary Care ACO Model With Home Health Collab Potential
Keep an eye on a newly announced Accountable Care Organization model to provide home care-... Read more
Industry Notes:
Whether You Requested VBP Interim Performance Report Corrections Or Not, Take A Look At Final Version
You should be able to look at your finalized VBP Interim Performance Report any time now. ... Read more
Industry Notes:
UnitedHealth Group Acquisition Of Amedisys Draws Scrutiny On Multiple Fronts
UnitedHealth Group isn't in the crosshairs just for its Change Healthcare ransomware attac... Read more
Industry Notes:
Give National Trade Group Your 2 Cents On Medicare Advantage Particulars
If Medicare Advantage is a drag on your agency, you should take a few minutes to fill out ... Read more
Budget:
VBP For Home Health and Hospice Feature In Biden 2025 Budget
HHAs may say goodbye to payment model's temporary status. While lawmakers are still hamme... Read more
Surveys & Certification:
Watch Out For Survey, Medical Review Budget Priorities
Home health survey rate expected to bottom out at 65% this year. Oversight efforts are mu... Read more
Policy:
Biden Administration Continues Push To Expand HCBS
Budget proposal follows up on State of the Union remarks. The value-based purchasing and ... Read more
Health IT:
Feds Call UnitedHealth Group On The Carpet Over Cyberattack
MACs and other payers roll out reimbursement relief options as OCR launches investigation.... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Protect Yourself Against More Cybersecurity Threats
Take these steps to ward off HIPAA disaster. Many lucky home health and hospice providers... Read more
Labor Law:
Joint Employer Rule Not Taking Effect After All — At Least Not Yet
Federal court strikes down reg that's been causing anxiety for employers using contracted ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Private Equity In Health Care Undergoes Fresh Wave Of Scrutiny
FTC, DOJ, and HHS want your comments. Three regulating bodies are launching “a cross-go... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicare Brings Model Election Statement Up To Date
Check out the newly updated Model Example of Hospice Election Statement. Its changes “r... Read more
Industry Notes:
Delve Into Data Details Of MCCM With New Disclosure
You can now access participation data from the Medicare Care Choices Model. It joins “t... Read more
Industry Notes:
OIG Touts Home Health Spending Reduction
The HHS Office of Inspector General is looking for increased funding next year as well, an... Read more
Industry Notes:
Check Your Clinicians' Licenses Or Pay The Price
If you don't want to fork over a six-figure penalty, make sure you check your staff 's cre... Read more
Hospice:
Abrupt Wind-Down Of VBID Hospice Carve-In Is A Crowd Pleaser
Industry reps declare victory. Hospices are catching a break from Medicare for once. In ... Read more
Managed Care:
Why Can’t Home Health Shake Off MA Like Hospice Has?
Reducing a money-saving service was always a losing proposition for Medicare. Vociferous ... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Medicare Advantage-Focused Chain Makes Texas Buy
Plus: Ten-state hospice provider opens a new location. A private equity-backed provider ... Read more
Health IT:
Change Healthcare Cyberattack Continues To Disrupt Payment, Teach Cybersecurity Lessons
Accelerated payments may now be on the table. Whether your reimbursement is affected by... Read more
Labor Law:
Home Care Providers Fork Over Millions For Wage and Hour Violations
DOL is onto agencies' tricks such as misclassifying employees and neglecting to combine ho... Read more
Industry Notes:
Feds Lean Heavily On Whistleblowers For Record-Breaking Recoveries
Make sure your compliance plan is resolving complaints before they head to litigation. N... Read more
Industry Notes:
No Need For Goodbyes With Latest MAC Award
Home health and hospice agencies in 15 states won't have to worry about a MAC shift for a ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Some UPIC-Reviewed Providers Will Get A Small Break When Transitioning Back To RCD
If you're a home health agency in a Review Choice Demonstration state and also undergoing ... Read more
Industry Notes:
West Coast State Expands HCBS Offerings
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has given a green light to a new HCBS dem... Read more
Industry Notes:
Get The Skinny On Medicare Recoupment Procedures
Educating your billing staff on how recoupment requests of Medicare overpayments are handl... Read more
Industry Notes:
Arizona HHA Pays 5 Figures For Excluded Aide
No matter how tight your staffing situation, make sure you're running even your aides thro... Read more
Regulations:
Keep Your Eye On Moving Discharge Function Target
Plus: Don't forget CAHPS form is due this month. No news may be good news when it comes t... Read more
Hospice:
Report Your Administrator, Medical Director In PECOS Before It’s Too Late
Plus: Stay tuned for missing CAHPS data in preview reports. Failing to comply with a rece... Read more
Compliance:
Don't Let New Corporate Transparency Act Duties Sneak Up On You
Avoid getting tripped up by latest federal reporting requirement for beneficial owners. ... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Check Out These Exceptions To The CTA Rule
No taxes means no reporting. Don't assume you are off the hook for Corporate Transparency... Read more
Reimbursement:
Stay Flexible For Change Healthcare Cyberattack Response
NOE, NOA problems loom. Get ready for more work if any of your payments are linked to Cha... Read more
Industry Notes:
Accreditation Rule Aims To Cut Down On Conflicts Of Interest
Surveyor education is one focus. If you want to see Medicare tighten up requirements for ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicare Tries To Clear Up Hospice-VA Misconceptions
Confused about how the Medicare hospice and Veterans Administration benefits intersect? A ... Read more
Industry Notes:
A Few Days Late Can Mean A Month Of Delayed Payments With Cost Reports
Just because cost reports don't have direct reimbursement impacts doesn't mean you can sla... Read more
Industry Notes:
DOJ Reports Record-Breaking Enforcement Results For 2023
Though 2024 is looking like it's going to be a banner year for Medicare enforcement, the 2... Read more
Industry Notes:
Allegiance Healthcare Grows By 5 New HH, Hospice Locations
A Louisiana-based health system is expanding its home health and hospice operations. Boss... Read more
Industry Notes:
UnitedHealthcare Goes Under The Antitrust Microscope
Antitrust scrutiny from the feds may affect the home health market. The Department of Jus... Read more
Industry Notes:
Mainstream Movie Tackles An Unusual Subject — Hospice
Hospice care is getting the Hollywood treatment in a new movie. Suncoast, streaming on Hu... Read more
Industry Notes:
Beware AI Involvement When It Comes To Referrals
You may be thinking carefully about the use of artificial intelligence in your agency's op... Read more
Finance:
Take Advantage Of Extended PPP Loan Forgiveness By March 3
SBA will get aggressive about collections after the deadline. Home health and hospice ag... Read more
Hospice:
HIS, Program Integrity Updates Keep Hospices On Their Toes
Report your managing employees ASAP under new definition. Stay up to date with recent hos... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
PE Deal Heads Up Latest Crop Of Home Health, Hospice Transactions
Plus: Minnesota provider aims for therapy continuity. A seven-state chain is changing han... Read more
Review Choice Demonstration:
RCD Pushes On While End Date Remains Unclear
Avoid PTAN mix-ups or risk hefty penalty. Two states are getting ready to begin their nex... Read more
Billing:
1 Billing Problem Down, 1 To Go
Watch out for Type of Bill switcheroo. Keep an eye out for the latest reported billing er... Read more
Industry Notes:
Take A Peek At Latest VBP Reports
January IPRs are finally out. Home health agencies that thought they'd see the January In... Read more
Industry Notes:
Leap Year Gives Hospices An Extra Day To Submit Cap Reports
Hospices have their plates more than full, but they had better find room for cap reports, ... Read more
Industry Notes:
HH Final Rule Technical Corrections Make Changes
Nobody's perfect, and that certainly goes for CMS too. The Centers for Medicare & Med... Read more
Industry Notes:
Access Latest Care Compare Preview Reports Now
Take a look now at your quality data the public will see in May. The Centers for Medica... Read more
Industry Notes:
Equity Award Nominations Due Soon
Have you been working hard on health equity issues at your agency? If so, you might want t... Read more
Industry Notes:
Physician Bonus Payments Cost Provider Millions
A recent settlement with the OIG serves as a reminder to be careful how you structure comp... Read more
Industry Notes:
Cut Through EMR Vs. EHR Confusion
If you don't know the difference between an EMR and EHR, now's the time to learn — befor... Read more
Regulations:
Don’t Lose Sight Of These New Enrollment Changes
Take 36-month rule into account. With so much on their plates, it's easy for home health... Read more
Compliance:
Keep These Significant Enrollment Revisions For Hospices Front And Center
Watch out: Deactivation threshold now down to just 6 months. The 36-month rule isn't the ... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
2 More Nonprofit Hospices Merge
Plus: Hospice facilities open, close. The Hospice of North Central Ohio and Hospice of th... Read more
Medicare Advantage:
MA Plans Protest Rate Increase As Medicare Whittles Prior Auth Timeline
One Blues plan cuts prior auth requirement for hospitalized patients' home health. Home... Read more
Labor Law:
Add This DOL Resource To Your Compliance Toolkit
Keep in mind what the employment template is — and isn't. When the federal government is... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Consider AI When It Comes To Auditing Coding, Documentation
Find out where the technology can improve your workflows. When you think of artificial in... Read more
Industry Notes:
Worker Safety Troubles Home Health Agencies, Staff
How can providers keep their visiting staff safe? Patient screening questions about fire... Read more
Industry Notes:
More Scrutiny Lands On PE Investors
Private equity's involvement in home care continues to be in the spotlight. This time, no... Read more
Industry Notes:
Oregon Nurses Strike
Home care nurses in Oregon are set to strike. More than 90 registered nurses at PeaceHe... Read more
Industry Notes:
Minnesota Agency Changes Its Name
A Minnesota home health provider is changing its name. HealthStar Home Health became TRU... Read more
Industry Notes:
Get Up To Date On Latest MCReF Updates On Valentines Day
Get to know the updated electronic filing system for Medicare cost reports in a new educ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Cutting Kickback Checks Lands Woman With 7-Year Exclusion
Kickbacks have led to a seven-year exclusion for one California resident. Patricia Pere... Read more
Industry Notes:
SC Agency Pays Six Figures For Employing Excluded Manager
Employing an excluded individual has come with a big price tag for a South Carolina home... Read more
Medical Review:
MAC Flags Lack Of Responses To CERT Requests As A Problem
You're on the hook for securing documentation from other providers, MAC stresses. One HHH... Read more
Medicaid:
Keep An Eye Out For Medicaid 80/20 Final Rule
At least the change would be 4 years off, if it's adopted as proposed. Home care provider... Read more
New Q&As On Hospice MFTs, MHCs Shed Light On Some Questions, While Leaving Others Unanswered
MSWs will remain an important part of hospice, new guidance underscores. The ability for... Read more
Quality:
Policymakers Press Pause On PEPPERs
Home health and hospice agencies are on their own for benchmarking, at least until next fa... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Hospices Are Taking Yet Another Turn In The Fraud Hot Seat
Fraud problems in Western states are far from fixed, critics say. Just when hospices th... Read more
Health IT:
Check Out This Top 10 List That Impacts Your Health IT
Keep these agency acronyms straight. Don't flail in a sea of alphabet soup while trying ... Read more
Industry Notes:
HHA Owner Draws 9-Year Prison Sentence
DOJ heralds another Health Care Fraud Strike Force victory. After being convicted of Medi... Read more
Industry Notes:
Consult This Dashboard For Survey & Cert Data
Home health and hospice agencies now have pertinent data at their fingertips with the newl... Read more
Industry Notes:
Peruse New SDoH-Focused File
If you're interested in social determinants of health for Medicare beneficiaries, the Cent... Read more
Industry Notes:
Find Out More About Your Health Equity Reports
Home health agencies that haven't gotten much use out of those Health Equity Confidential ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Part B Therapy Threshold Inches Up
The new year also brought a new therapy threshold amount. For Part B therapy services — ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Arkansas Agency Faces Misclassification Lawsuit
An Arkansas-based home care provider is facing a lawsuit over how it classifies its employ... Read more
Industry Notes:
California Provider Faces 20-Year Exclusion
A California home health agency and owner have agreed to a 20-year exclusion from Medicare... Read more
Reimbursement:
MedPAC Finalizes Rec To Chop Home Health Rates Next Year
Commissioner zeroes in on falling visit utilization. As expected, an influential adviso... Read more
Hospice:
Advisory Body Pushes Hospice Rate Freeze
Non-hospice spending grabs MedPAC's attention. While everyone seems to agree that hospic... Read more
Oasis:
Get Familiar With OASIS-E1 Now To Avoid Last-Minute Mistakes Later
Now is not the time to panic, OASIS expert stresses. Just because the OASIS-E1 tool's ... Read more
Assessment:
Take These 10 Steps To Hit The Ground Running With OASIS-E1
Tip: Give collecting patients' vaccination info a trial run. Avoid year-end chaos by star... Read more
Labor Law:
Watch Out For New Duties Under Expanded Joint Employer Definition
  Don't let the sliding effective date fool you. Look out for an important effect... Read more
Compliance:
What To Do About The New Joint-Employer Regulation
Rev your compliance engine when it comes to this revised requirement. While the effective... Read more
Industry Notes:
Philly Agency Slapped With $1.6 Million in Back Wages, Fine
Are you documenting overtime payments properly? A federal court has ordered a Philadelphi... Read more
Industry Notes:
OASIS Q&As; Start Small This Year
Medicare's latest quarterly OASIS questions and answers are so brief they fit on one page.... Read more
Industry Notes:
Take Advantage Of Sneak Peek At Care Compare Stats
Home health agencies now can take a look at their new Preview Reports and Star Rating Prev... Read more
Industry Notes:
Texas-Based Hospice Chain Opens New Location
A two-state hospice chain has opened a new location in San Marcos. Magnolia Hospice and it... Read more
Industry Notes:
Nonprofits Ink Preferred Provider Arrangement
A Wisconsin hospice has snagged a preferred provider relationship with a nonprofit senior ... Read more
Industry Notes:
4-State Chain Expands
Chicago-based PurposeCare has acquired three new companies in four states, it says in a re... Read more
Industry Notes:
Private Equity-Backed Company Makes Indiana Buy
Grant Avenue Capital portfolio company Fortis Health has acquired PhysioCare Hospice, a Me... Read more
Regulations:
Watch For New VBP Report To Hit Any Time Now
TNC numbers appear on track for an update. VBP data just keeps rolling in. To keep from s... Read more
Quality:
Pay Attention To CAHPS Deadlines Rushing Up Soon
Are you one of the 68% of HHAs that have footnotes for your Care Compare CAHPS data? If y... Read more
Program Integrity:
36-Month Rule Start Date Causes Confusion
State official accuses hospice buyers and sellers of trying to find a loophole. If you th... Read more
Hospice:
More Details On Hospice MFT, MHC Usage On The Way
Watch for forthcoming Q&As to shed some light on the topic. Stay tuned for clarificat... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Home Health Whistleblower Rakes In $1.7 Million
Plus: Florida scam leads to fraud convictions. It's not always Medicare fraud that lands... Read more
Industry Notes:
Be Sure To Report Your Hospice Cap On Time
Don't risk 100% payment suspension, MACs warn. Now that the calendar page has turned to 2... Read more
Industry Notes:
Fulfill Your Reporting Period 6 Documentation Requirements By March
If you received COVID-19 Provider Relief Funds in the last half of 2022, the time has come... Read more
Industry Notes:
Don't Let VBID Hospice Patients Take You By Surprise
Hospices should be on the lookout for patients enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Value-Ba... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicare Ups Payments For More In-Home Vaccinations
You may be used to receiving a reimbursement bump for furnishing COVID-19 vaccinations in ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Electronic Visit Verification Takes Effect Across The Nation
Don't miss electronic visit verification (EVV) on your Medicaid compliance list for this y... Read more
Industry Notes:
LCDs For Home Health, Hospice See Updates
Two local coverage determinations (LCDs) for home health and hospice, respectively, are se... Read more
Industry Notes:
Do Your Due Diligence On Potential Employees
Check your staff 's credentials carefully, or you may end up in the headlines. Case in po... Read more
Industry Notes:
Colorado Closure Raises Access Concerns
Another health system is shuttering its home health and hospice business line, this time i... Read more
OASIS:
Get Your First Look At Updated OASIS-E1 Tool
Item for COVID vax quality measure is now on deck. For once, Medicare officials are givi... Read more
Hospice:
Third-Ever Hospice Topic Approved For RAC Review
Hot seat gets even toastier for feds' favorite fraud targets. Hospices should brace for... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Will Your State’s Error Rate Land You On Medicare’s ‘Most Wanted’ List For Medical Review?
Meet your CERT contractor before it's too late. Where your state falls on Medicare's pa... Read more
Medical Review:
Check Out CERT Details With This Resource
Keep tabs on your CERT-requested charts, for starters. If you're stumped by CERT updates ... Read more
Human Resources:
Heed This OSHA Requirement That Changed As Of Jan. 1
Large providers narrowly miss out on regulatory relief. Now that 2024 has arrived, make s... Read more
Compliance:
Follow 4 Key Tips To Sidestep Compliance Pitfalls Under Updated OSHA Reg
Keep close tabs on your employee count if you are anywhere close to the reporting threshol... Read more
HIPAA:
Consider Running A Phishing Simulation In Light Of Newly Settled Case
Feds set a punishing precedent for healthcare providers that fall victim to this common c... Read more
Industry Notes:
Stay Tuned To IQIES For Upcoming VBP Data
Plus: TEP mulls adding equity points, like in SNF VBP. The New Year brings new Value-Bas... Read more
Industry Notes:
Don't Forget: New Year Brings New dNPWT Billing Procedures
Don't let a post-holiday haze scramble your new billing for certain wound care supplies. ... Read more
Industry Notes:
NAHC-NHPCO Merger Advances
The potential merger between the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Brookdale Sells Remaining Home Health Interest
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. has sold “its remaining 20 percent equity interest in its H... Read more
Industry Notes:
Pennant Partners With Nonprofit
The Pennant Group Inc. has entered a home health joint venture with nonprofit John Muir He... Read more
Industry Notes:
Learn Health Equity Report Details
If you missed Medicare's November question-and-answer session about its new Health Equity ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Medicare Payment Error Rate Drops Sharply For Hospice, Home Health
But don't expect to get out of the investigative hot seat any time soon. Finally, home he... Read more
Human Resources:
Feds, States Search For Solutions To Home Care Staffing Crunch
If states build nursing registries, will workers come? Government officials, seniors, an... Read more
Lawsuits:
HHS Pushes Back On NAHC PDGM Lawsuit
Access fears are ‘irrelevant and incorrect,' government attorneys argue. As home health... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Michigan-Based Chain Makes Illinois Buy
Plus: Another county agency looks likely to close in Hawkeye State. A seven-state chain o... Read more
Technology:
Class Action Suits Challenge AI Coverage Decisions From Medicare Advantage Plans
MA plans now must make ‘determinations based on the circumstances of the specific indiv... Read more
Billing:
Mind Your dNPWT Billing Ps and Qs — Or Pay The Price
Prepare for the big shift, expert advises. You might want to ring in the new year with a... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicare Tucks Some VBP Educational Presents In HHAs’ Stockings
Don't fall behind on Value-Based Purchasing essentials for the new year. If you missed Me... Read more
Industry Notes:
Pay Attention To Important Deadline On New Year's Eve
Your time is almost up, if you want to file an exemption for size form for the hospice CAH... Read more
Industry Notes:
Check This Crucial List Twice To See If Your Employees Have Been Naughty Or Nice — Or Risk Paying Big
If you want to avoid a potential six-figure civil money penalty, you may want to learn fro... Read more
Industry Notes:
HH Fraud Convict Set To Cool Heels In Prison For Well Over A Decade
A Houston home health agency owner has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after ... Read more
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