Home Health & Hospice Week
National Quality Forum Approves 14 End-Of Life, Palliative Care Quality Measures
You can get a sneak peek at hospice quality measures Medicare is likely to require in the future. The National Quality Forum has endorsed 14 quality measures on palliative and end-of-life care, it says. CMS tends to adopt NQF-endorsed quality measures unless it has a compelling reason not to, observers note. Twelve of the 14 measures are new, while NQF endorsed the other two previously, NQF notes in a release. The measures range from clinical issues like treating dyspnea to spiritual issues such as documenting a discussion regarding religious concerns. The measures are at www.qualityforum.org or e-mail editor Rebecca Johnson at rebeccaj@eliresearch.com with "NQF Hospice Measures" in the subject line.
Home Health & Hospice Week
- Audits:
RACs Drop Audit Bomb On HHAs
High therapy, multiple recerts top RAC's hit list. After a lengthy delay, Medicare's bounty hunters [...] - Contractors:
Get To Know Your Recovery Audit Contractor
RACs' contingency fees range from 9 to 12.5 percent. You may get a costly audit [...] - Reimbursement:
Take 6 Steps To Protect Against RAC Audits
Consider serious therapy changes. If you haven't received an audit request from your Recovery Audit [...] - Budget:
President Obama Proposes Home Health Copay -- Again
Plus: HHAs breathe sigh of relief over doc fix. Will home health agencies have the [...] - Hospice:
Address This Major Unmet Need For Hospice Patients In SNFs
Don't fall short in managing shortness of breath in terminally ill patients. Hospices serving large [...] - Industry Note:
The HEAT Is On Home Care Fraudsters
Nine Medicare fraud strike force teams contribute to record-setting fraud recoveries. Federal authorities have cracked [...] - Industry Note:
Medicare Wants Overpayments Back Within 2 Months
You'll have 60 days to report and return self-identified Medicare overpayments, if a new Centers [...] - Industry Note:
National Quality Forum Approves 14 End-Of Life, Palliative Care Quality Measures
You can get a sneak peek at hospice quality measures Medicare is likely to require [...] - Industry Note:
Hold Vendors Accountable For 5010 Transition
The April 1 enforcement deadline for using 5010 claim standards is fast approaching. "To ensure [...] - Industry Note:
National Chain Mulls Possible Sale
Don't be surprised to see publicly traded company LHC Group Inc. change hands. The national [...] - Industry Note:
Calif.-Based Regional Chain Makes Oregon Buy
A subsidiary of The Ensign Group Inc. has entered the Oregon market with its acquisition [...] - Industry Note:
LTC Co.'s Home Care Biz Grows Through Acquisitions
Acquisitions have helped grow the home health and hospice business of long-term care company Skilled [...] - Industry Note:
DEA, FBI Raid Penn. Hospice Physician's Office
It's not just hospices feeling the effects of a crackdown on the industry. The feds [...] - Industry Note:
HHA Owner Gets 8 Years In Jail For Medicare Fraud
The co-owner of a Los Angeles home health agency and durable medical equipment company has [...]
