Home Health & Hospice Week

If you feel like ripping your hair out when dealing with your physicians and face-to-face, some MACs are offering a helping hand.

HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor Palmetto GBA is hosting an in-person event July 30 in Columbia, S.C. The Organizational Process Improvement Coaching Project (OPICP) Conference focuses on an “F2F Pilot Program in Home Health Agencies.”

“Palmetto GBA’s Health Information Supply ChainSM approach to ‘getting it right the first time’ was used by five home health agencies to improve their operational and financial performance,” the MAC says on its website. “The improvements were the result of a 5 site collaborative project involving home health agencies within the AB MAC Jurisdiction 11.”

Presenters from the home health and physician organizations that implemented the Health Information Supply ChainSM approach will discuss topics such as “Physician Practice Template Implementation” and “Physician Education to Improve Documentation.” More information is about the free event is at www.palmettogba.com/event/pgbaevent.nsf/EventDetails.xsp?EventID=9XQPXV7785.

More: MAC CGS is offering a replay of its June 10 webinar, “Eye To Eye on Home Health Face to Face.” Access the replay at www.cgsmedicare.com/hhh/education/Education.html.

And, MAC National Government Services has issued a letter from MAC Medical Directors to physicians ordering home health services. “The home health agency will provide medical records from the office or hospital setting describing the patient’s condition and supporting his/her eligibility for home care prior to your completion of the certification document,” the letter addressed “Dear Colleagues” says. “The agency may need progress notes from you or hospital records of the face-to-face visit if it was done in the hospital setting in order to substantiate the reason home health care is needed.” Access the letter at www.ngsmedicare.com/ngs/wcm/connect/aa29ab35-52a1-4298-9fc4-da87f9a9e9d5/Physician_Documentation_Requirements_Certification_Home_Health_Care_Letter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.