Home Health & Hospice Week

Problem #1: Recent CERT data have shown that home health agencies' biggest billing problem is "the plan of care and/or home health certification was not signed/dated by the physician prior to the billing of the claim," according to regional home health intermediary Cahaba GBA.

"Remember, all services must have a complete order (discipline, modalities, frequency and duration) prior to providing care," Cahaba says in a message to providers. "These orders must be signed and dated prior to billing the claim."

Problem #2: CERT data have shown the next-biggest problem to be "documentation does not support the medical necessity of the services provided." This is a catch-all for many documentation sins, but focuses on the medical chart showing medical necessity. CERT data show that often, documentation for physical therapy visits is missing.

To see examples of the recent home health and hospice errors the CERT program found, go to the "Summary of Common Errors Identified by the CERT Program" page at www.cahabagba.com/rhhi/education/cert/cert_errors.htm.