Home Health & Hospice Week
Massachusetts Investigates Its Medicaid Program HHAs
An 82 percent increase in Medicaid home health spending over two years has caused one state to initiate a fraud crack-down. MassHealth, the Medicaid program in Massachusetts, has referred a dozen home health agencies to the state’s Medicaid Fraud Division after reviewing internal data and fielding consumer complaints that pointed to possible fraud, according to press reports.
MassHealth is on track to spend more than $755 million on home health services in the fiscal year ending June 30, points out the Boston Globe.
More than 80 percent of the spending growth since 2013 has been driven by 62 companies that started doing business with the state during that time, the Globe says. Massachusetts works with 195 home health providers overall.
MassHealth has implemented prior authorization, is not taking new providers, and is auditing agencies, according to the newspaper. Apparently the program is suspending payments as well, since Compassionate Homecare Inc. of Worcester reportedly has filed a lawsuit alleging that Mass-Health has been withholding more than $3.2 million in reimbursement.
Home Health & Hospice Week
- Reimbursement:
CMS Proposes 5-State Prior Authorization Demonstration For Home Health
Don’t be surprised to see the program expand quickly. Expect to wait weeks for Medicare [...] - Fraud & Abuse:
CMS Should Use More Effective Fraud Prevention, Critics Say
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HHA Pay Cuts, Copays Feature In President's 2017 Budget
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Obama Budget Proposal Calls For Hospice Cuts
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Keep An Eye On These Proposed Budget Items
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Skilled Visits Vary At End Of Hospice, JAMA Study Says
Industry takes another popular press beating. Day of the week, service setting, location, and ethnicity [...] - Industry Note:
Massachusetts Investigates Its Medicaid Program HHAs
An 82 percent increase in Medicaid home health spending over two years has caused one [...] - HIPAA:
OCR Stresses Home Health Compliance In Lincare HIPAA Breach Case
Oxygen provider pays 6-figure HIPAA Civil Money Penalty. If you thumb your nose at HIPAA [...] - Industry Note:
Kindred Acquires Florida, South Carolina Providers
Kindred Healthcare Inc. is expending its home care and hospice presence after buying Gentiva last [...] - Industry Note:
Dallas-Based Regional Chain Makes Texas Buy
Regional chain Jordan Health Services has acquired Cooper Home Health in Cooper, Texas, Dallas-based Jordan [...] - Industry Note:
California Health System Makes Investment In Private Duty Home Care
A California health system is getting into the private duty home care business. Irvine, Calif.-based [...] - Industry Note:
Warning: HIPAA Requirements Don't Expire When The Patient Does
Don’t fall into HIPAA non-compliance due to a common myth. If a patient passes away, [...]
