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Home Health & Hospice Week

OASIS:
Base Your Private-Pay OASIS Policy On The Written Word
CMS letter to surveyors fails to clear up confusion.  Should you or shouldn't you? Re... Read more
Documentation:
Get Doc Orders Quicker With New Signature Standard
But don't apply it to CMNs.  As you ring in the new year, you can also celebrate a ch... Read more
Documentation:
5 Tips For E-Signature Security
Stamped signatures aren't the only alternative to speed orders.  Home care provi... Read more
Reimbursement:
Prepare For Looming M0175 Adjustments
Have you increased your accuracy on this crucial OASIS item?  You'll soon find out ju... Read more
OASIS:
Use Branch ID Numbers Or Face Rejections
You'd better get hold of your M0016 number - fast.  Home health agencies, beware: OAS... Read more
Supplies:
Second Chance Comes For Supplies Charges
Gear up to accurately reflect your costs.  If you want to secure your fair share of M... Read more
Congress Puts A Cap In The Therapy Caps
Home health agencies that offer therapy under the Part B benefit got some good news when P... Read more
Managed Care Appeals Burden Gets Heavier Next Month
Your relationship with Medicare+Choice payors could be in for a shake-up in the new year. ... Read more
Reimbursement:
MedPAC Pegs HHA Profit Margin At 17%
Home care benefit drops chronically ill patients, research shows.  If the Medica... Read more
Legislation:
Providers Win Regulatory Relief In Medicare Bill
Ability to correct minor errors most helpful.  If you're drowning in Medicare's ... Read more
Appeals:
Regulatory Reform Carries Negatives
Not all of the items passed in the "Regulatory Reform" section of the newly enacted Medica... Read more
Regulations:
Suppliers Want CMS To Forget Anniversary Date Change
Tracking DME patients' hospital stays is nearly impossible.  A reimbursement change t... Read more
Regulations:
Instruction To Surveyors Should Confirm OASIS SInstruction To Surveyors Should Confirm OASIS Suspension Dateuspension Date
Call your CMS regional office if surveyors try to stick it to you on private-pay OASIS.The... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Beware Hiring Excluded Providers
The going remains tough for health care providers who rub Medicare and Medicaid fraud figh... Read more
Industry Notes:
Home Care No Place For For-Profits, Survey Says
Non-profits preferred by public  Most of the public doesn't think health care should ... Read more
Legislation:
HHA Payment Cut Slated For April
Newly passed Medicare bill a mixed bag for home health agencies.  It will take e... Read more
Competitive Bidding:
Suppliers Bid Farewell To Anti-Bidding Hopes
No good news for DME in newly passed legislation.  The new prescription drug benefit ... Read more
OASIS:
HHAs In Suspense Over Suspension Of Private-Pay Collection
States offer differing views on OASIS suspension.  Home health agencies eager both t... Read more
Reimbursement:
HHAs & Hospices Best, Not Worst, Billers
But are payment errors worse than CMS is saying?  The Centers for Medicare &... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Excessive Holiday Cheer Could Ring In A Humbug Of A New Year
Do you know the difference between a holiday gift and a kickback?  'Tis the seas... Read more
Enforcement:
Wheelchair Scrutiny Not Reserved For Lone Star State
DME suppliers across the country should take special pains with their wheelchair bill... Read more
Industry Notes:
New Year Brings New Bundled Codes
Trach, wound care codes most affected.  A plethora of new codes will be added to and ... Read more
OASIS:
Don't Let OASIS Shut The Door On Medicare Payments
Make collection decisions quick and easy with M0150.  If you're revamping your OASIS ... Read more
Legislation:
DME Industry Headed For Meltdown
Compromise over Medicare legislation harsh on suppliers.  All suppliers' worst nightm... Read more
Legislation:
Cuts To Inflation Updates Could Cripple HHAs
Rural add-on falls short of hopes.  Home health agencies may have celebrated their po... Read more
Studies & Surveys:
Home Care Providers Top List Of Problem Billers
Home care providers can brace for more scrutiny of their Medicare billings in light of new... Read more
Therapy:
Get Your Christmas Presents Early With Therapy Rebilling
Don't miss this crucial billing deadline.  Would you like to receive an extra $1,800 ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Can One HHA Have A Home Office?
More than $60,000 rides on the answer.  A Utah home health agency owned by an Il... Read more
Industry Notes:
M0175 Takebacks Pegged At $4,000 A Piece
How accurate is your OASIS data on patients' prior hospital stays?  Are you ready to... Read more
OASIS:
HHAs Scrap Collection Of Private-Pay OASIS
Lack of official instruction stalls action for some agencies.  If it sounds too good ... Read more
OASIS:
Decision To Drop Private-Pay OASIS Not A Simple One
Even if home health agencies are sure that dropping private-pay OASIS data collection is o... Read more
Enrollment:
Supplier Number Process Sputters Back To Life
A select few will begin receiving their supplier numbers soon.  "Don't call us, ... Read more
Inherent Reasonableness:
IR Is On Its Way For Power Wheelchairs
Large slashes to Medicare payment rates are suppliers' worst nightmare - and they could be... Read more
Reimbursement:
M0175 Corrections Might Work For You As Well As Against You
CMS mulls adding positive corrections for prior SNF and rehab stays.  Takebacks for i... Read more
Regulations:
New England Providers' M0175 Reprieve A Short One
Home health agencies served by Associated Hospital Service of Maine will get a break from ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Rules For Terminated HHAs Brought In Line With PPS
PEPs come into play.  Payments for Medicare patients don't necessarily stop when a pr... Read more
OASIS:
OASIS Collection Suspended For Private-Pay Patients
In a surprise move, Medicare officials called off the collection of OASIS data for patient... Read more
Quality:
Ready Or Not, Your Outcomes Are Here
Your numbers have debuted on the Web and in newspapers.  Chances are more peopl... Read more
Marketing:
Capitalize On Outcomes With 10 Tips For Savvy Marketing
Knowing your audience is a crucial step.  If you're not using the newly unveiled pati... Read more
OASIS:
HHAs Served By New England RHHI Won't See M0175 Edits
Information on prior hospital stays not easy to come by.  The list of complaints abou... Read more
Reimbursement:
These M0175 Problems Stick In HHAs' Craws
Difficulty obtaining accurate M0175 information isn't the only problem the home care indus... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
FBI Probe Hits Scooter Store
FBI questions dozens of employees of the national wheelchair provider.The campaign against... Read more
Legislation:
Progress Slows On Medicare Legislation Negotiations
Bidding remains biggest home care specter.Home care industry members are congratulating on... Read more
Industry Notes:
Gentiva, Amedisys See Strong Medicare Growth
Gentiva's Medicare revenue increase outstrips other business lines.  Gentiva Health S... Read more
Reimbursement:
Prepare For M0175 Recoupments This Spring
Millions of dollars in takebacks based on patient hospital stays are on agencies' horizons... Read more
OASIS:
3 Tips To Nip M0175 Errors In The Bud - Before CMS Nips You
A cheat sheet can keep you off your intermediary's bad list.  Come Spring you may hav... Read more
Legislation:
Bidding In, Copays Out In Latest Medicare Legislation
Home care provisions in flux.  Congressional leaders are stepping up the intensi... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Power Wheelchair Probe Slams Houston Suppliers
Supplier number suspensions rising.  The feds promised to come down on fraudulent pow... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
Too-Fast PEP Takebacks Wreak Havoc With Cash Flow
Recoupments not as gradual as promised.  You could be the next home health agency hit... Read more
Quality:
Nov. 3 New Date For HHQI Launch
Are your patient outcomes good enough to share with the world?  Home health agencies ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Apria Posts Double-Digit Revenue Increase
An 11 percent increase to revenues and a 9 percent increase to net income were a few of th... Read more
Quality:
Don't Let HHQI Come Back To Haunt You
Follow these four steps to make HHQI a boon rather than a burden.  You might not want... Read more
Legislation:
Copay Threat Persists As Industry Strikes Back
Medicare home care funding is more vulnerable to cuts than ever as negotiations continue o... Read more
Education:
Jump On Recruitment, Referral Opportunities During National Home Care Month
Set aside time in Novembr to honor your staff and educate referral sources. It's that time... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Give Feds A Taste Of Their Own Medicine To Beat False Claims Charges
How faulty advice from the government cleared one supplier.  Documenting the billing ... Read more
Recruitment & Retention:
7 Tips For Better Recruitment, Retention
Recruitment and retention of home care workers is a huge challenge in today's job market,... Read more
Settlements:
TLC Settles Medicaid Allegations For $1.3 Million
Tender Loving Care Health Care Services Inc. is trying to put behind it allegations that ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Lincare Locations Top 700 Mark
Respiratory giant's revenues jump 21 percent this quarter.  A balanced approach incl... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
HHAs Back In The Fraud Crosshairs
Quality, therapy, ALFs top OIG hit list  Don't be surprised if federal investigators ... Read more
Compliance:
4 Tips For Updating Your Compliance Plan To Avoid OIG Probes
Overlooking this element of compliance could put you at greater risk than you imagine. Whe... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
OIG Gets Back To Basics In DME Plans
Inherent reasonableness cuts might not be far behind OIG studies.  The OIG might not ... Read more
Finance:
Home Respiratory Market Maintains Momentum
Consolidation opportunitites "significant" If you're looking for a profitable Medicare mar... Read more
Settlements:
Amedisys Settles Fraud Charges For $1.1 Million
Voluntary disclosure minimizes the penalty.  Home care company Amedisys Inc. may have... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Are You an Appealing Acquisition Target?
The home respiratory market is ripe for consolidation, and you could be the one to benefit... Read more
Industry Notes:
Copay Looms In Medicare Legislation
A copayment for home health is looking more and more likely. Lawmakers negotiating the co... Read more
Quality:
Brace For Scrutiny Of Your Patient Outcomes
Bathing, ambulation, oral meds in the national spotlight.  The Oct. 21 deadline for ... Read more
OASIS:
OASIS Rules Your World, So Get It Right
Take advantage of free OASIS training.  What do efficient billing, successful qualit... Read more
Referrals:
Maximize Home Health Compare Referrals With Accurate OASIS Data
M0060 key to Web site search. When potential patients use the new Home Health Compare nat... Read more
Enrollment:
Supplier Number Freeze Devastates Providers
Earliest issueances slated for Nov. 1, for lucky few.  If you're waiting on a supplie... Read more
Therapy:
Part B Therapy Cap Here, But Maybe Not To Stay
HHAs that furnish Part B therapy should start counting their therapy pennies.  Unless... Read more
Medicaid:
State Home Care Budgets Squeezed
Lawsuits fight to preserve access to Medicaid home care.  Medicaid home care programs... Read more
Industry Notes:
HIPAA Privacy Complaints Pour In By The Hundreds
Are your privacy practices enough to satisfy  your patients? Just because HIPAA priva... Read more
OASIS:
V Code Meltdown Looms, Experts Fear
Is incorrect diagnosis coding costing you $750 per episode?  Home health agencie... Read more
Education:
Know Your Facts: Coding Resources
To find out all you can about critical V codes, check out these online resources: http:... Read more
Regulations:
Beware These Other Oct. 1 Changes
V codes are not the only change taking place this month. In addition to payment increases ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Congratulations - Your Payment Rates Just Increased
Hospice billing trickier for new rates.Oct. 1 ushered in a new fiscal year for the governm... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Punishing Supplier Number Freeze Lifted - For A Few
There's good news if you're reactivating your number.Operation Wheeler Dealer's watch on p... Read more
Enforcement:
Diagnosis Fraud Leads To Stiff Jail Sentence
DME supplier hit hard for lymphedema pump, pressure mattress billing.A steep jail term for... Read more
Legislation:
Will Congress Improve Your Reimbursement This Year?
Congressional leaders set Oct. 17 deadline for Medicare legislation.The final word on Medi... Read more
Industry Notes:
Expect Faster Coverage Decisions From Medicare
Beneficiaries receive separate process.An overhauled method of issuing national coverage d... Read more
Finance:
HHA Market Stabilized Under PPS, Feds Say
Worker shortage, tech costs still limiting factors.  If lawmakers are looking for an ... Read more
Statistics:
Know Your Facts: Home Health Market Update
Aides largest part of HHA workforce. If you're a freestanding home health agency, you are ... Read more
Enforcement:
Wheelchair Fraud Campaign Reels In DME Suppliers
Operation Wheeler Dealer scores first hits in Lone Star state.  Aggressive enforcemen... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Beef Up Documentation To Ward Off Wheelchair Charges
Waiving copays, furnishing free equipment are red flags.  You may not be able to... Read more
HIPAA:
Hip Hip Hooray For HIPAA Delay
Medicare contingency plan will permit non-compliant claims.  Home care providers who ... Read more
Compliance:
Watch Out For Fraud Hot Spots
Care quality, upcoding top fraud hit list.  Have you been so preoccupied with reimbur... Read more
Industry Notes:
Home Care CEOs See Higher Salaries In 2003
A better year for home health agencies meant a better year for HHA executives, shows a new... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Your Outcomes Debut On The Web Next Month
Hear the deatils in an Oct. 3 satellite broadcast.The home health quality initiative will... Read more
OASIS:
6 Steps To HHQI Rollout Preparation
Pick your point person now to deal with tricky questions later.Before you know it, you ma... Read more
HIPAA:
Medicare Considers Relenting On HIPAA Deadline
Delay to transactions rule compliance could give providers a much-needed breather.Are you... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
IR Review A Certainty For Operation Wheeler Dealer
Power wheelchair use should be on the rise, disability advocates say.The double threat of ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Fraud Watchdog Charges Ahead On Excessive Charges Guidance
Durable medical equipment suppliers confused about how much is too much when it comes to c... Read more
Regulations:
Say Goodbye To HIM 11
Multitude of Internet-only manuals take its place.It appears the trusty Medicare Home Heal... Read more
Reimbursement:
PRRB Decision Provides Ammo For Rural-Add-On
Remote HHA qualifies for cost limit exception. Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to cov... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
'Operation Wheeler Dealer' Targets Power Wheelchairs, Scooters
Will the initiative harm innocent DME bystanders? A sharp increase in power wheelchair spe... Read more
Enforcement:
Fraud-Fighting Plan Requires Docs To See Patients Before Prescribing Wheelchairs
Supplier number freeze, inherent reasonableness also included. The feds are on the warpat... Read more
Legislation:
Don't Hold Your Breath For Medicare Legislation
House reps insist on home health copay.  Congressional leaders have returned to thei... Read more
Reimbursement:
Cutting Supplies From Home Office Costs Doesn't Fly
Intermediaries have to play by the rules, and one of those rules is not switching cost al... Read more
Cost Reports:
Other PRRB News
Meanwhile, the Provider Reimbursement Review Board ruled against another home health agen... Read more
Industry Notes:
National Rollout of Home Health Compare Imminent
Tenative implementation date next month. If you weren't in one of the eight Phase I state... Read more
Recruitment & Retention:
Survey Your Way To Successful Recruitment, Retention
The Department of Labor targets health care worker shortage. If high staff turnover rates ... Read more
Compensation:
Are You Paying Your Staff Enough?
A little sleuthing could mean more satisfied employees. If your pay rate is making it hard... Read more
Reimbursement:
Medicare Must Add Service To RADs Or Risk Harming Patients
Payment switch is 'a sledgehammer approach to killing a fly,' one expert says. The controv... Read more
Survey & Certification:
Prepare For Quicker Responses To Complaints
Big Brother is watching, and that could mean more survey hassles for Medicare providers. T... Read more
Compliance:
Think You're Exempt From HIPAA? Think Again.
Don't let this common HIPAA myth fool you into non-compliance with the transaction standar... Read more
HIPAA:
9 Steps To HIPAA Privacy Success
With HIPAA's electronic transaction standard deadline fast approaching, some providers may... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Medicaid Probe Costs Supplier $400,000
Failing to use manufacturer discounts a pricey mistake for one New York supplier. Medicaid... Read more
Industry Notes:
Implementation Of Rulings First Among Contractors' Appeals Priorities
The double standard for Medicare contractors versus Medicare providers is evident once aga... Read more
V Codes Loom Over Industry
Seize your last chance for training before V codes take effect.If you're not up to speed w... Read more
Take Advantage Of Reduced OASIS, Expert Advises
New HAVEN software due in mid-SeptemberBeginning Oct. 1, home health agencies must make th... Read more
Respiratory DME Knocked Down To Capped Rental Category
Switch will take $11.5 million out of suppliers' pockets annually.Almost four years after ... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Respiratory Assist Devices
A proposed change to the payment category for certain respiratory equipment could mean $30... Read more
Follow These Instructions To Restore Supplies Charges
Cost data will determine future payment rates, bundling.Billing for supplies might not mak... Read more
Capped Rental Billing To Adjust For Inpatient Stays
Anniversary date change not allowed.It should become easier in the New Year to secure reim... Read more
Don't Trust Vendors With Your HIPAA Compliance
Talk to software, billing partners to make sure you'll be ready.You can't afford to assume... Read more
Hospices Must Submit Electronic Cost Reports
2004 first year for new requirement.Hospices soon will have to adhere to a cost reporting ... Read more
Trainee Services Don't Qualify For Medicare Payment
Your home health aide trainee's skills don't have to be wasted, but they won't directly ad... Read more
Bundling:
HHAs Caught In The Middle On Supplies Bundling
Home health agencies' failure to report medical supply costs under the prospective payment... Read more
Supplies:
Ostomy Supplies Ripe For Unbundling, Advocates Argue
 GAO urges CMS to take a close look One of the hardest bundling situations for home h... Read more
Drug Pricing:
Medicare Hatches Plans To Slash DME Drug Payments
 Trade Group warns of access problems if no service component is added. Durable medic... Read more
Statistics:
Know Your Facts: DME Drugs
The feds have been sharpening their knives for durable medical equipment drug pricing cut... Read more
Regulations:
4 Approaches to Medicare Drug Pricing Reform
Ipratropium bromide reduced to 34 percent of current AWP under the proposal.Medicare must... Read more
Reimbursement:
Missing Contract Costs HHA $84,000
 PRRB sides with intermediary over interpreter disallowance. Home health agencies tha... Read more
Referrals:
Physician Home Care Payments Cut 10 Percent
Physicians may be more apt to rely on home care companies to do home visits now that Medi... Read more
HIPAA:
Electronic Claims Exceptions Few And Far Between
More than 10 employees could prevent you from qualifying for a HIPAA exception. If you're... Read more
Industry Notes:
Olmstead Home Care Far From Reality, Federal Report Says
States have a long way to go to comply with the Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead v L.C. decis... Read more
Benchmarking:
Private Pay Rates Increase 3 Percent In 2003
Connecticut, Colorado charge most for aide services, new survey says. Are you charging eno... Read more
Survey & Certification:
Indiana Providers Have Right To Survey Review, Court Says
 State sureryors not above the law, recent decision shows Home health agencies frustr... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Medicaid Probe Drives Supplier Out Of Business
 DME suppliers should repeat this mantra:  documentation, documentation, docume... Read more
Finance:
Home Care Players See Smaller Profits
 Gentiva's revenues are up while Amediss' are down for this quarter Medicare cuts ar... Read more
Industry Notes:
Medicaid Sets Its Sights On Drugs
Big changes in Medicaid fraud scrutiny could mean big changes in drug pricing. Medicaid re... Read more
Post-Acute Care:
More Hospital DRGs Subject To Post-Acute Transfer Proration
  Hospitals now will have 29 rather than 10 diagnosis related groups that Medicare w... Read more
OASIS:
Brace For Expanded Medical Review In Wake of M0175 Probe
One intermediary overpaid HHAs by $2 million in 2001 alone, based on incorrect OASIS respo... Read more
Reimbursement:
Increase M0175 Accuracy With These Steps - Before It's Too Late
If you fail to tighten up your procedures for the newest hot button OASIS item, you could ... Read more
Medicaid:
CMS Urges States To Cover HME Before Discharge
HME keeps beneficiaries in their homes and out of institutions. More Medicaid business cou... Read more
Recruitment & Retention:
Boost Recognition To Reduce Turnover
To improve worker commitment and cut turnover costs, your company should have more ambassa... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
DME Sting Snares $600M Enteral Nutrition Settlement
Federal agents pose as DME suppliers A massive settlement based on misdeeds surrounding sa... Read more
Enforcement:
7-Year Prison Terms Upheld For HHA Owners
Treating a company pension fund like a personal bank account is asking for serious trouble... Read more
Industry Notes:
Final Data Specs Out For OASIS 1.40
If you don't start submitting OASIS data in a new format by Oct. 1, you'll see rejected OA... Read more
HIPAA:
4 Tips For Successfully Handling HIPAA Complaints
Even if you have a top-notch privacy compliance program in place, you're bound to be conf... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
PEP Onslaught Starts Now - Are You Ready?
LUPA PEPs safe from recoveries.  By the time you read this, it may be too late to see... Read more
Statistics:
Know Your Facts: PEP Recoveries
If you bury your head in the sand on partial episode payment adjustments, you could find y... Read more
Upgrades:
ABNs Vital To DME Upgrade Payments
If you're passing up the opportunity to use newly sanctioned durable medical equipment upg... Read more
Reimbursement:
5 Steps To Better Upgrade Billing
Know your modifiers. Knowing is half the battle, and that's especially true for Medicare r... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
When Is It OK To Give A Free Upgrade?
It's more often than you might think. Some suppliers might be scared off from furnishing s... Read more
Supplies:
Supplies Glitch Fixed - But Former Claims Aren't
HHAs must plow through mountains of corrections to ensure fair rates in the future.  ... Read more
Finance:
HME Companies Tout Increased Earnings
Profits not so rosy. Double-digit increases to revenues appeared to be the norm for major ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Lawmakers Could Target Home Care For Cuts
It just may have become more difficult to get negative home care provisions out of - and g... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
PEP Takebacks Back On For July
Unfortunately for home health agencies, partial episode payment (PEP) adjustments look lik... Read more
Reimbursement:
CMN No Longer Required For DME Repairs
Good news on diagnosis coding trickles down to DMERCs as well.Suppliers can cross at least... Read more
Medicaid:
Batten Down The Hatches For A Waiver Crackdown
Waiver providers should expect regulatory goodies ranging from more audit to fraud charges... Read more
HIPAA:
HIPAA Help For The Little Guy
Small, paper-billing providers can escape the HIPAA transaction rule quagmire.While health... Read more
Statistics:
Know The Facts: Waivers
Americans' desire to stay at home and out of nursing homes is reflected in the boom in usa... Read more
Regulations:
Thousands Per Week Visit Home Health Compare Site
Make sure your contact information is correct to reap the benefits.If they're not there al... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Are You Ready For New
If your coders aren't using the newest ICD-9 codes come Oct. 1, it could cost you big in t... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Don't Forget V Codes
Conscientious providers shouldn't leave V codes out of their training plans for diagnosis ... Read more
Industry Notes:
Home Care Now, Prescription Drugs Later
Lawmakers start ironing out differences in House, Senate Medicare bills.Despite a long roa... Read more
Reimbursement:
Medicare Bumps Up HHA Rates 3.3% In 2004
Home health agencies will see a nice little increase in Medicare payment rates come Octobe... Read more
Reimbursement:
Calculate Your Rates
 Wage Index Makes a Big Difference Depending on changes to your local wage index, you... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
PEP Takebacks Pushed Off A Bit
HHAs Can Check Their Impending PEP Recoupments 'Any Day,' RHHI SaysAround $250 million in ... Read more
Policy:
Home Care Reps Cry Foul Over Doc Relief Disparity
Why should home health agencies have to pay for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Se... Read more
Billing:
Check PEPs Before RHHIs
Regional home health intermediaries will give you a one-week grace period to figure out if... Read more
Hospice:
Increased Medicare Rates On Deck For Hospice
Community Networking, Fundraising Key to Staying in the BlackIf the payment increase offer... Read more
Legislation:
Lawmakers Dig In For Long Haul On Medicare Bill
Background Check Proposal Catches HHAs By SurpriseThe Medicare bills passed by the House a... Read more
Industry Notes:
YOUR QUALITY REVIEWS JUST GOT LESS PRIVATE
QIOs To Disclose More to PatientsHealth care providers should be aware that patients will ... Read more
Regulations:
Enrollment Changes May Bring Nasty Billing Surprises
Keep Your Enrollment Info Updated Or Lose Billing PrivilegesHome health agencies that fur... Read more
Billing:
1,500 DME Billing Numbers Deactivated
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services already has conducted a test run of some ... Read more
Legislation:
Senate, House To Square Off Over Medicare Legislation
The outcome of Medicare legislation - and particularly its home care provisions - could de... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Fraud Spotlight Dims For HHAs
Physicians will have to examine every single patient before certifying them for home care,... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
HHAs Have Lost Their Appeal As Fraud Targets
Top reasons the feds have let home health agencies slip out of the crosshairs include: 1)... Read more
Compliance:
Physician Orders, Kickbacks Dog Suppliers
If the fraud enforcement heat seems to be off home health agencies, it's still strong on d... Read more
Hospice:
NPs Can Write Orders, See Hospice Patients
Hospices can make sure they're using nurse practitioners to the best of their abilities by... Read more
Industry Notes:
MSA Shuffle Could Boost Your Payments
You may want to re-check your metropolitan statistical area designation to see if your wag... Read more
Studies & Surveys:
PROFIT STUDY, MEDPAC REPORT COULD LOWER BARRIERS TO RELIEF
The effort to win more Medicare reimbursement for home health agencies has received a stro... Read more
Legislation:
See Your Future In Current Legislation
Lawmakers in Washington DC have your fate in their hands, but the final legislation is sti... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Follow The Drug Money, Feds Say
Perhaps the top activity for state and federal fraud busters these days is following pharm... Read more
Cost Reports:
No Cost Report, No Money
If you get behind on your Medicare cost reporting duties, you can expect a cash flow emerg... Read more
Utilization:
Michigan Tops UGS States In Therapy Utilization
If your utilization data is remarkably different from your peers' numbers, you might as we... Read more
Telemedicine:
Telemedicine, Regular Medicine Both Have Same Result
What's the difference between counseling someone on managing her diabetes via video and in... Read more
Industry Notes:
Quality Of Care Could Shape Medicare Reimbursement
Home care providers' Medicare reimbursement will directly depend on the quality of the ser... Read more
Reimbursement:
CMS Waits To Pounce On $250 Million In PEP Recoupments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services still plans to reach into your pocket for... Read more
Billing:
Brace For PEP Takebacks With These 3 Steps
Even with an extended recovery period, home health agencies are likely to see a heavy fina... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
HIPAA Enforcement Will Include V Codes
If you haven't set your training schedule for V and E diagnosis codes yet, now is the time... Read more
Billing:
Wheel Out Those Denied Wheelchair Claims Again
There's good reimbursement news for DME suppliers that have seen claims denials for manual... Read more
Regulations:
Other Open Door Forum Highlights
Other topics covered in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' June 4 Open Door... Read more
Referrals:
Hospital Stats Could Change Your Referral Stream
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is pushing ahead with plans to publish ho... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Messing With Docs' Numbers Brings DME Supplier Prison Time
Providers and billing companies should take pains to recognize the sanctity of physicians'... Read more
Industry Notes:
Hold Off On HIPAA Agreements With Intermediaries, Carriers
You might not have as many Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act business as... Read more
Appeals:
HHAs MUST TAKE ON MANAGED CARE APPEALS BURDEN
If you contract with Medicare managed care organizations, brace yourself for a whole new l... Read more
Regulations:
MASTER THESE MANAGED CARE APPEALS BASICS
If you do any business with Medicare managed care providers, you'd better get to know your... Read more
Coding:
SWITCHING FROM CAPPED RENTAL TO PURCHASE MAY GET EASIER
Changing tilting wheelchairs from a capped rental to routinely purchased category might no... Read more
Legislation:
RURAL ADD-ON SHELVED UNTIL MEDICARE BILL DEVELOPS
Hopes for a quick fix to rural home health agencies' payment woes died as lawmakers stripp... Read more
Reimbursement:
GETTING CREATIVE WITH BONUSES UNDER IPS DOESN'T PAY OFF
An attempt to classify employee salaries as bonuses under the previous year fell flat in f... Read more
Industry Notes:
HOSPITALS GOOFING UP HOME CARE TRANSFERS
Hospitals could take steps to alter their home care transfer policies if they're forced to... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
PEP REPRIEVE PUTS OFF COSTLY TAKEBACKS A BIT LONGER
Can your agency afford to lose $40,000? That's the typical amount withheld from home healt... Read more
Billing:
AVOID PEP DISASTER IN 4 EASY STEPS
If you fail to check each and every PEP adjustment you see under the imminent recovery pro... Read more
Reimbursement:
MORE CLAIMS REJECTIONS LIKELY FOR DIALYSIS SUPPLIES
Suppliers of home dialysis equipment should make sure their Medicare clients' method selec... Read more
Legislation:
LEGISLATORS PROPOSE HHA HELP AT DME EXPENSE
Lawmakers got a jump on Medicare legislation by unexpectedly adding Medicare provisions to... Read more
Coverage:
NATIONAL COVERAGE POLICIES SHOULD RULE, REPORT SAYS
Confused by your Medicare contractor's local coverage policies? If the General Accounting ... Read more
Survey & Certification:
HHA BEARS BRUNT OF SURVEY DELAYS
If your state survey agency is slow to survey you for initial certification, you may be st... Read more
Industry Notes:
AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT BANKRUPTCY PLAN APPROVED
American HomePatient Inc. and its stockholders may be happy with a recent plan to emerge ... Read more
Utilization:
NEW YORK LEADS, OREGON LAGS IN VISITS PER EPISODE
Step right up to compare yourself to the norm if you're a home health agency served by reg... Read more
Regulations:
PEP TAKEBACKS COST ONE HHA $400,000 - YOU COULD BE NEXT
If the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services doesn't steer home health agencies cle... Read more
Coding:
SECURE WHEELCHAIR PAYMENT UNDER NEW CATEGORY
A new fix for tilting wheelchair billing appears to solve one problem, but it also brings ... Read more
Studies & Surveys:
PPS ISN'T KIND TO RURAL HHAs, STUDY FINDS
Findings for one state's rural home health agencies point to a problem the whole nation's ... Read more
Whistleblowers:
HOME HEALTH AFFILIATION MAKES WHISTLEBLOWER CASE
Hospital-based home health agencies might want to make sure their parent organizations are... Read more
Finance:
DROP IN PROFITS DOESN'T BAR ACQUISITIONS FOR AMEDISYS
After two Medicare reimbursement cuts in six months, Amedisys Inc. has kept its head above... Read more
Reimbursement:
THINK TIME SHEETS PROTECT YOU? THINK AGAIN
Just having time sheets isn't enough to guarantee a community education coordinator's sala... Read more
Industry Notes:
SURVEYORS TO SEARCH FOR FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS THIS FALL
Hospices with inpatient facilities had better make sure their fire safety measures are up ... Read more
Referrals:
HHA FILES ANTI-TRUST SUIT AGAINST HEALTH SYSTEM OVER REFERRALS
One Washington home health agency is reaching deep into a legal bag of tricks to stop what... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
OIG MAY DISLOCATE YOUR JOINT VENTURE
Durable medical equipment companies have won a starring role in the HHS Office of Inspecto... Read more
Outcomes:
INDUSTRY USES HHQI TO SPREAD WORD ON HOME CARE
More than 1,200 home health agencies in eight states now have eleven patient outcomes post... Read more
Compliance:
HEED DRUGMAKER COMPLIANCE GUIDANCE
If your nebulizer or infusion pharmacy provides free services to referral sources, you cou... Read more
Reimbursement:
HHAs WIN BREATHING ROOM ON PEPs
Home health agencies have received another reprieve from the recoupments of tens of thousa... Read more
Investigations:
FBI RAIDS ROTECH
Despite a $17 million Medicare fraud settlement last year, durable medical equipment suppl... Read more
Hospice:
HOSPICE BECOMES BIG BUSINESS
Explosive earnings for two publicly traded hospice companies have sparked keen interest fr... Read more
OASIS:
SENATOR OPPOSES OASIS SUSPENSION FOR PRIVATE PAY
Home health agencies will continue to collect Outcome Assessment and Information Set data ... Read more
Industry Notes:
DOC-FURNISHED THERAPY NOT HHAs' RESPONSIBILITY
Starting this fall, physicians won't be knocking on your door asking for therapy payment. ... Read more
Survey & Certification:
SURVEYORS CITE HOSPITAL FOR HOME HEALTH REFERRALS
Hospitals that steer patients to their own home health subsidiaries could be driving thems... Read more
Referrals:
FREESTANDING HHAs GAIN WEAPON IN HOSPITAL CITATIONS
Recent survey deficiencies against an Indiana hospital may give freestanding home health a... Read more
Compliance:
APPROACH COMPLAINTS WISELY, EXPERTS ADVISE
Home health agencies facing referral discrimination from a hospital should carefully weigh... Read more
Medical Review:
BRING FOCUSED MEDICAL REVIEW INTO GREATER FOCUS
Why are they picking on you? It may seem random, but there's usually a reason. If your dur... Read more
Outcomes:
SMALLEST HHAs SLIP THROUGH HHQI NET
The media blitz for home health outcomes may leave your agency unscathed - but that doesn'... Read more
Reimbursement:
PEP ADJUSTMENTS BACK ON -NO, REALLY THIS TIME
It looks like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to gradually nibble a... Read more
Finance:
COMPANIES SWEAR BY OXYGEN
Apria Healthcare Group appears to be leading the pack of respiratory therapy companies re... Read more
Regulations:
NEW ENROLLMENT STANDARDS TOUGHEN UP
More site visits and more paperwork could be ahead for home care organizations. A wider ra... Read more
Industry Notes:
OBQI RISK ADJUSTMENT ADJUSTED
No, it's not your fuzzy math that's making your OBQI numbers jump around - they really mig... Read more
Outcomes:
READY OR NOT, HERE COMES 'HOME HEALTH COMPARE'
Widespread errors with administrative data on the soon-to-be-unveiled Home Health Compare ... Read more
Benchmarking:
A BENCHMARK A DAY KEEPS THE REVIEWER AWAY
If you can't explain why your utilization differs from that of home health agencies in you... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
CMN DOESN'T NEED TO JUSTIFY DIAGNOSIS CODE, CMS SAYS
You may still be in the dark as to which ICD-9 code to put on a claim in cases where Medic... Read more
Survey & Certification:
OBQI TRAINING NOT RISKY, QIOs INSIST
Quality Improvement Organizations swear they aren't tattletales for surveyors, but home he... Read more
Infusion:
AT YOUR SERVICE, IV PROVIDERS TELL MEDICARE
Instead of paying per widget, the home infusion industry wants Medicare to pay per diem fo... Read more
HIPAA:
FEDS PROPOSE HIPAA CONSEQUENCES
With the deadline for the HIPAA privacy regulation past, the penalties for non-compliance ... Read more
Compliance:
OIG SHEDS LIGHT ON CORPORATE COMPLIANCE IN HEALTH CARE
If your home care organization fails to implement and maintain a compliance plan, it's you... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
CMS BACKTRACKS ON DIAGNOSIS CODING INSTRUCTIONS
Home health agencies can breathe a sigh of relief that they won't have to take on onerous ... Read more
Industry Notes:
DRAFT SPECS FOR NEXT OASIS VERSION RELEASED
The home health industry is one step closer to V code implementation with new data OASIS s... Read more
OASIS:
HHAs MIGHT HAVE TO PLAY 'DOCTOR, MAY I?' FOR CODING
Everyone knows it's the physician and not the home health agency that officially diagnoses... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
ADD 'V' AND 'E' TO YOUR CODING ALPHABET
Home health agencies must start using V and E diagnosis codes this fall, and you'd better ... Read more
Marketing:
REACHING CHRONIC PATIENTS REQUIRES PERSISTENCE
They're not new to this, they may know their diseases as well as you do, and they're not s... Read more
Referrals:
WHAT A REFERRAL SOURCE WANTS, WHAT A REFERRAL SOURCE NEEDS
Do you have the same approach whether you're marketing to physicians, potential patients' ... Read more
Disability Products:
REACH YOUNGER DISABLED PEOPLE WITH AIDES, EQUIPMENT
Think you know all about disabilities and the disabled? You're only getting part of the pi... Read more
Therapy:
THERAPY REBILLING TO BECOME SIMPLER
Regional home health intermediaries appear to be coming around to an easier way of billing... Read more
Reimbursement:
CMS SHOOTS DOWN PRRB REVERSAL OF PTs' SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
Despite numerous Provider Reimbursement Review Board and federal court decisions decreeing... Read more
Industry Notes:
DME WHISTLEBLOWER STRIKES OUT
Not every whistleblower case against a home care provider is successful, no matter what it... Read more
Utilization:
OKLAHOMA LEADS, SOUTH CAROLINA TRAILS IN VISITS PER EPISODE
How do you stack up to other home health agencies in your state? If you're served by regio... Read more
Survey & Certification:
SCOUR THESE 5 OASIS REPORTS -BEFORE YOUR SURVEYOR DOES
A radically new blueprint for surveyor action goes into effect May 1, but you can use it t... Read more
OASIS:
DAVE COULD BE LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER
No, DAVE isn't the new guy in billing -it's a new measure designed to increase OASIS data ... Read more
Competitive Bidding:
ALTERNATIVE TO BIDDING GETS OFF TO SLOW START
A project that gives Medicare beneficiaries control over how Medicare spends their allotte... Read more
Accreditation:
JCAHO PLANS SURPRISE SURVEYS
The latest move by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is li... Read more
Coding:
SUPPLIERS DIVIDE AND CONQUER DISPUTED CODE
Want to write your own codes? Build a big tent and invite everyone in. That's the approach... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
V IS FOR VICTORY IN GAINING CORRECT REIMBURSEMENT
Remember way back last summer when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said i... Read more
Appeals:
DMERC REPS GET CUSTOMER-SERVICE SPIRIT
The next time you call your durable medical equipment regional carrier, you may be on hold... Read more
Reimbursement:
CAP-RELATED BONUSES A NO-NO, PRRB AFFIRMS
In the murky world of owners' compensation, at least one thing seems clear; if you gave yo... Read more
Industry Notes:
HOME HEALTH AMENDMENT SPARKS PARTISAN BICKERING
The full House Ways & Means Committee has passed legislation calling for Medicare regu... Read more
Quality Improvement:
NEWSPAPER ADS COMPARING OUTCOMES WEEKS AWAY
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will trumpet home health agency patient o... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
DME DIAGNOSIS CODING EDITS BACK IN PLACE DESPITE QUESTIONS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has given suppliers advice that should ge... Read more
Regulations:
HHA SUPPLIES BILLING GLITCH LIMITED TO PEPs, SCICs
Home health agencies can stop stripping supplies costs out of every claim they submit now ... Read more
OASIS:
OASIS COORDINATORS CONVERGE ON THE BIG EASY
Even though the new OASIS data set now has received approval from the Office of Management... Read more
Reimbursement:
5 MISTAKES THAT DOOM DME BILLING
Ever feel like you can't catch a break? According to one durable medical equipment regiona... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
UNTANGLING TRANSFER PROBLEMS AS EASY AS 1-2-3, RHHI SAYS
If you want to protect your reimbursement for patients who transfer from another home heal... Read more
Legislation:
MEDICAID CUTS HANG IN THE BALANCE
The House and Senate are duking it out over $93 billion in Medicaid cuts, and home care pr... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
SUPPLIERS SHOULD HOLD THE PHONE ON TELEMARKETING
Durable medical equipment suppliers who fail to heed the HHS Office of Inspector General's... Read more
Industry Notes:
MEDICARE CONTRACTORS TO EXPRESS PRO-HOSPICE SENTIMENTS
Physicians, nursing homes and hospitals soon will receive messages from their carriers and... Read more
Quality Improvement:
AMBULATION, ORAL MEDS & BATHING SHOWCASED IN HHQI COMPARISON
If your home health agency's patient outcomes for improvement in bathing, ambulation and m... Read more
Compliance:
DON'T BE TOO FORWARD WITH YOUR ADVANCES, OIG TELLS DMERCs
The check may be in the mail - but you might never see it anyway. A mix-up with the addres... Read more
Spending:
INDUSTRY GRAPPLES WITH SPENDING GROWTH FIGURES
Home care providers' efforts to secure reimbursement relief from Congress may have taken a... Read more
Legislation:
HOUSE COMMITTEE AIMS TO INSULATE ALJs FROM CMS
The Medicare program has made a narrow escape from huge budget cuts proposed by Republican... Read more
Drug Pricing:
CMS SEEKS ALTERNATIVE TO INHERENT REASONABLENESS
The trouble with bluffs is they wear off eventually. The Centers for Medicare & Medica... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
LINCARE CONTAMINATION LEADS TO INVESTIGATION
To err may be human, but to track errors is the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA want... Read more
Finance:
AMEDISYS' OIG SETTLEMENT MORE THAN BARGAINED FOR
Self-reporting billing problems to the HHS Office of Inspector General might not be as ben... Read more
Industry Notes:
RESEARCHERS CRAFT STANDARD OASIS INTERVIEW PROTOCOLS
The National Association for Home Care and Hospice and Fazzi Associates will work together... Read more
Medical Review:
MAKE ADRs A PRIORITY OR LOSE CASH
If additional development requests for claims under medical review get lost in the shuffle... Read more
Bundling:
CALL CARRIERS TO AVOID BUNDLING SHORTFALLS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is offering suppliers a stop-gap solution... Read more
Marketing:
USE DOC RATE INCREASE TO BUILD REFERRAL SOURCE TIES
Don't pass up a golden opportunity to lend a helping hand to physician referral sources an... Read more
Utilization:
LARGER HHAs FURNISH MORE THERAPY, REPORT SAYS
If you're wondering how you stack up to your peers, you're not alone. Thousands of home he... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
POWER WHEELCHAIRS TRIGGER DME BUSTS
Power wheelchairs add up to a powerful compliance problem for suppliers. Recent crack-down... Read more
Disease Management:
MEDICARE EXPLORES CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Will disease management find a happy home in Medicare? A three-year demonstration project ... Read more
Medicaid:
STATE BUDGET DEFICITS CUT DEEPER INTO HOME CARE SERVICES
The onslaught against state-funded home care programs continues as lawmakers look to balan... Read more
Industry Notes:
APRIA PINCHES FUEL PENNIES
Apria Healthcare Group Inc. is exploring ways to reduce its fuel costs as oil prices soar... Read more
Reimbursement:
SUPPLY BILLING GLITCH DELAYS HHAs' REIMBURSEMENT
Home health agencies' efforts to make sure they receive fair payment for supplies in the f... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
WAKE-UP CALL COMES FOR TELEMARKETERS
Disturbing people during dinner could be the least risky problem in telemarketing to home ... Read more
Quality Improvement:
LOOK THE QIO GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH
Before you get too grateful for the help Quality Improvement Organizations are offering ho... Read more
Survey & Certification:
TREAT QIOs AS SURVEYORS
Despite potential regulatory problems a relationship with a Quality Improvement Organizati... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
SUPPLIERS FIDGET OVER ADDED DIGITS
The requirement to use longer diagnosis codes where applicable has softened a bit, but the... Read more
Hospice:
OVERLAPPING HOURS COUNT FOR CONTINUOUS HOSPICE CARE
Deciding if hospice care reaches the much-higher continuous home care billing level may ha... Read more
Legislation:
MEDPAC'S DAMNING FIGURES RELEASED
The data that was so instrumental in killing off any chance of improving home health Medic... Read more
HIPAA:
ISSUE PRIVACY NOTICES NEXT MONTH OR INVITE PENALTIES
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy regulation deadline will b... Read more
Industry Notes:
MISSED DEADLINE COSTS INFUSION PROVIDER $185,000
A deadline is a deadline, and infusion provider Caremark Therapeutic Services wasn't able ... Read more
OASIS:
POLISH THESE 11 OUTCOMES 'TIL THEY SHINE
The fate of your home health agency could depend on the 11 outcomes the Centers for Medica... Read more
Referrals:
DON'T LET BOGUS MEDICAL REVIEW POLICIES LIMIT YOUR REFERRALS
Three Medicare carriers are pressuring physicians to choke off home care visits for patien... Read more
Available Years:  2003