Home Health & Hospice Week

Greater workload won't clinch increased CoP compliance.

Home health agencies overwhelmed with their new duties under the Home Health Conditions of

Participation that take effect next month may feel like throwing a lot of new processes and forms at the issue, in hopes of achieving compliance. That would be a mistake, experts warn.

HHAs are already overburdened as it is, observes attorney Elizabeth Hogue. Agencies must "resist the temptation to develop new forms," Hogue exhorts. "Agencies have enough already," she stresses.

"My concern is that agencies will create more work for themselves by trying to make sweeping changes when it is not always necessary," says consultant Karen Vance with BKD in Springfield, Missouri. Agencies may "create a frenzied atmosphere around making major changes."

Instead: "Agencies should be thoughtful about ways to meet applicable requirements without the need for more forms," Hogue advises.

"Tweak or optimize what you already have in place," Vance urges.

For example: Utilize "case conference for true care coordination among the disciplines rather than [making] a major change in your clinical management model," Vance offers.