Home Health & Hospice Week

Have you looked at the F2F manual revisions yet?

Were you hoping you could duck your head and avoid the complicated new face-to-face physician encounter requirements that took effect Jan. 1? That hope could kill your agency when new medical review kicks in for episodes beginning Aug. 1.

Use these resources to help make sure you’re in compliance with the mandate contained in the 2015 Home Health Prospective Payment System final rule:

• The final rule containing the regulation is at https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-26057.

• CMS’s voluntary F2F form is at www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Computer-Data-and-Systems/Electronic-Clinical-Templates/HomeHealthHHElectronicClinicalTemplate.html.

• April Medicare Manual updates related to the new F2F requirements are at www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R92GI.pdf  and www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R208BP.pdf.

• Materials from CMS’s December National Provider Call on the topic, including an audio recording, written transcript, and slides, are at at www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/NPC/National-Provider-Calls-and-Events-Items/2014-12-16-Home-Health-Benefit.html.

• A Jan. 8 MLN Matters article on the new requirements is at www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1436.pdf.

• CMS’s announcement of the “Probe and Educate” reviews for F2F is at www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Monitoring-Programs/Medicare-FFS-Compliance-Programs/Medical-Review/Home_Health_Medical_Review_Update.html.

• For more F2F information, tips and strategies, purchase Eli’s 2015 Face-To-Face Documentation Handbook at www.codinginstitute.com/books/face-to-face-documentation-handbook.html.