Home Health & Hospice Week
Don't Substitute Therapy Asst. For Home Health Aides
Don't be so quick to substitute a therapist assistant for a home health aide when your scheduling calls for it. CMS "has had a longstanding policy that states registered nurses and licensed practical (vocational) nurses are permitted to perform duties of a home health aide without having to meet aide training and/or testing requirements," the National Association for Home Care & Hospice says in its member newsletter. But now CMS has told NAHC that the same doesn't go for physical and occupational therapists and therapy assistants. "Since a licensed therapist or therapy assistant is not a 'nursing personnel,' therapy personnel must [meet] all of the qualifications for a home health aide -- training and/or competency," CMS has told NAHC. Also, "supervision for aide (every 2 weeks) would apply assuming the person meets the qualifications."
Home Health & Hospice Week
- Survey & Certification:
Top Survey Changes You Can't Afford To Miss
Appendix B may not be on the CMS SOM website, but it's still in effect. [...] - Training:
9 Tips To Ace The New Survey Interview Requirement
Get out of the office to practice your employees' survey interviews. If interviews of your [...] - Hospice:
Ready, Set, Elect Your Hospice Cap Method
Choices differ for this year versus next year. At least one HHH MAC is ready [...] - Human Resources:
Run A Successful Suggestion Program
You know your workers have good ideas, but the suggestion box is always empty. Get [...] - Industry Note:
Keep Your Eye On The Congressional Super Committee
Fate for home care copay may be close at hand. Influential legislation to cut your [...] - Industry Note:
Incorrect G Code Adjustments, National Provider Identifier Suspensions Hound Home Care Providers
A few different claims system glitches might have held up your claims, but those problems [...] - Industry Note:
Obama Administration Drops Long-Term Care Insurance Initiative
Don't count on the CLASS Act to increase your home care census any time soon. [...] - Industry Note:
New Hospice ABN Required By Jan. 1
Beginning Jan. 1, hospices must use the new 2011 version of their Advance Beneficiary Notice [...] - Industry Note:
Grouper, HAVEN Updates Due To ICD-9 Codes Posted
You should have begun using updated ICD-9 diagnosis codes this month, and your grouper software [...] - Industry Note:
OIG Shines Spotlight On $1.2M Hospice Was Overpaid
More evidence that the feds are putting hospices in their oversight crosshairs: a new report [...] - Industry Note:
Don't Substitute Therapy Asst. For Home Health Aides
Don't be so quick to substitute a therapist assistant for a home health aide when [...] - Industry Note:
Long-Term Care Giant Makes Home Care Buy
Long-term care giant Kindred Healthcare Inc. has made another home care acquisition, this time in [...] - Industry Note:
Reimbursement, Regulatory Woes Cause HH Closures
Tighter Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement is causing some home care providers to close, and the [...]
