Home Health & Hospice Week
New Hospice ABN Required By Jan. 1
Beginning Jan. 1, hospices must use the new 2011 version of their Advance Beneficiary Notice (form CMS-R-131). CMS originally set the implementation date for the new ABN form for Sept. 1, but the agency extended the deadline to Jan. 1 "to permit providers and suppliers with pre-printed stockpiles of ABNs time to exhaust their supplies," the agency says in a message to providers. The switch shouldn't bring any big changes to your organization. "The 2008 and 2011 ABN notices are identical except that the release date of '3/11' is printed in the lower left hand corner of the new version," CMS points out. What will happen? "ABNs issued after Sun. Jan 1 that are prepared using the 2008 version of the notice will be considered invalid by Medicare contractors," CMS warns. "2008 versions of the ABN that were issued prior to Sun. Jan 1 as longterm notification for repetitive services delivered for up to one year will remain effective for the length of time specified on the notice." A copy of the 2011 version of the ABN (form CMS-R-131) is online at www.CMS.gov/BNI, under the "FFS Revised ABN" link.
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 [...]
