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Hospice Insider

Regulations:
Hospices Wait On Details For New Quality Measures
But you can get some clues now. Hospices have less than half a year to prepare for dat... Read more
Enrollment:
Don't Overlook This Coming Enrollment Burden
Watch for final rule on sweeping changes to enrollment process. With so many reimburse... Read more
Compliance:
Proposed Enrollment Rule Riddled With Flaws, Commenters Told CMS
Lack of targeting and unreasonable lookback period head the list. A new proposed rule ... Read more
Compliance:
You Can't Afford To Ignore Moratoria Change
Medicare considering relief in moratoria procedures. With skyrocketing hospice statist... Read more
Enrollment:
Keep Tabs On Your Revalidation Date
Hospices aren’t in the high risk category — yet. The feds are happy that t... Read more
Hospice News:
New National Recovery Audit Contractor Has Hospice In Its Sights
Get to know the latest reviewer that will be looking over your shoulder. Hospices may ... Read more
Hospice News:
Watch Out For Claims Returned Incorrectly Due To CBSA Codes
Are your hospice claims returning to provider (RTP) in error for Core-Based Statistical ... Read more
Hospice News:
Your Medical Records Vendor Can't Hold Your Records Hostage, OCR Says
A financial fallout shouldn’t lead to you risking your HIPAA compliance record. ... Read more
Regulations:
New NOE Model Language On The Horizon
NOEs, certs under fire in OIG report. Hospices are having a hard time trying to shake ... Read more
Compliance:
Use These Tips For NOE, Cert Success
Do your NOE forms contain this often-overlooked detail? Will your NOEs and certificati... Read more
Reimbursement:
Hospices Wrestle With Routine Home Care Payment Errors
Thought these errors were fixed? Think again. Nearly a year into hospice payment refor... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Hospice Owners Pay Millions To Settle Charges
‘Hospice fraud has reached epidemic proportions,’ OIG agent declares. The ... Read more
HIPAA:
HHS Focuses Investigations On Small HIPAA Breaches
Reporting no breaches is also a red flag, though. If you thought being a small provide... Read more
Hospice News:
Avoid Unnecessary NOE Correction Burden
Follow this MAC’s advice. Are you costing yourself time and money by correcting ... Read more
Hospice News:
Check The Same Benchmarks The Feds Use
Find out if you are sticking out like a sore thumb to the feds by checking their Morator... Read more
Hospice News:
Medicare Widens Hospice Vaccine Billing Format
Hospices can get their newly updated vaccine billing instructions in a recently reissued... Read more
Hospice News:
Make Sure Your Emergency Preparedness Plan Addresses Terrorism, Cyber Attacks
Check out your new emergency planning requirements in a final rule published in the Sept... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospices Merge, Sell
Market consolidation in the hospice industry continues. In Las Vegas: Nathan Adelson H... Read more
Hospice News:
Prepare For New Medicare Cards With No SSNs
Your billing will be changing in a year-and-a-half thanks to the Medicare Access and CHI... Read more
Quality:
Follow 9 Expert Tips For Hospice Compare Success
Pointer: Look to other providers’ Compare sites for guidance. Are you ready to l... Read more
Quality:
Start Working On This Hospice Compare Shoe-In Now
Do you know your patients’ and families’ priorities? You may have a lot of... Read more
Compliance:
OIG Head Points Finger At Hospice As Fraud Risk
HIPAA is important, Inspector General emphasized. Expect the enforcement hits to keep ... Read more
Regulations:
Problems With Medicare Care Choices Model Persist
Plus: Final HIS data specs issued. Hospices hoping that Medicare would fix the problem... Read more
Reimbursement:
Use This New Billing Code For Late Certs Come January
Say hello to OSC code 85. You’ll have to learn a new billing code in a few month... Read more
Referrals:
Tip Off Your Nursing Home Partners To New Hospice Assessment Requirements
Make sure your SNFs didn’t miss an important MDS update on hospice. You can boos... Read more
Hospice News:
Take Note Of This Contractor Change
New QIC covers half of the country. A Qualified Independent Contractor transition effe... Read more
Hospice News:
Consult MAC's Disaster Relief Resource
Wondering what regulatory relief you are entitled to when a natural disaster or emergenc... Read more
Hospice News:
New Diagnosis Coding Tools Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted the General Equivalency Mapp... Read more
Hospice News:
Regional Chain Grows Hospice Presence With Texas Buy
Cornerstone Healthcare Inc., the Ensign Group’s home health and hospice portfolio ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Hospices' 2017 Pay Increase Improves Over Proposal -- But Only A Bit
Looking for big changes in the 2017 rule? You won’t find them. Hospices are slat... Read more
Regulations:
New Hospice Quality Measure To Focus On Visit Utilization In Last Days
The other newly adopted measure will serve as a star rating proxy. Gear up to start co... Read more
Quality:
9 Hospice Quality Measures
2 new measures hit next year. Get ready to increase your quality measure burden. The... Read more
Data:
Get A Sneak Peak At Hospice Compare
Quality comparison site on track for 2017 implementation. You’ll have to worry a... Read more
Hospice Item Set:
Hospice To Get Its Own Assessment Tool, Over Protests
How heavy will the assessment burden be? Get ready to add one more item to your worklo... Read more
Reimbursement:
Reach New HIS Benchmark Or Pay The Price
Timely reporting threshold jumps to 80% Jan. 1. If you don’t know what your Hosp... Read more
Billing:
Hospices Wait On Billing Fixes
Some payment reform glitches are finally resolved, at least. If trying to figure out w... Read more
Hospice News:
Cert/NOE Mix-Up Gets Billing Solution
The New Year holds good news for one billing hang-up. Erroneous claim rejections for l... Read more
Hospice News:
Minnesota-Based Hospice Chain Pays $18 Million To Settle Fraud Charges
Evercare Hospice and Palliative Care, now known as Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, wi... Read more
Hospice News:
Check Your New Directory Info
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has taken a step toward hospice quality... Read more
Coverage:
Protect Your Rightful GIP Reimbursement With These 8 Steps
Tip: Document GIP trigger. Both the feds and employees bringing whistleblower lawsuits... Read more
Documentation:
Plug Your GIP Documentation Holes With These Musts
Are you using items from this list suggested by one MAC? You can’t afford to sup... Read more
Medical Review:
Examine Your Own GIP Documentation Before It's Too Late
GIP is under fire, and you need to be prepared. If you want to keep your rightful Gene... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Head Off Fraud & Abuse Concerns With These 5 Pointers
Know your own data — before reviewers and whistleblowers do. The feds have their... Read more
Compliance:
Mark Your Calendars For New Nondiscrimination Notices
New notice requirements for language on deck. Add one more item to your to-do list for... Read more
Hospice News:
Service Intensity Add-On Errors Mean Delayed Payments
Here’s why your SIA reimbursement isn’t adding up. Hospice payment reform ... Read more
Hospice News:
No Data Compliance Equals Pay Cut
You should have received a letter this month informing you whether you’ll see a pa... Read more
Hospice News:
FBI Raid Of Lone Star State Hospice Draws More Negative Attention To Industry
On June 14, the FBI raided the Carrollton office of Plano-based Heart to Heart Hospice, ... Read more
Hospice News:
Justice Department Singles Out Hospice For Fraud Targeting
A nationwide sweep led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in 36 federal districts, resul... Read more
Hospice News:
Kindred Boosts Arkansas Presence
The chain that bought Gentiva is getting bigger. Kindred Healthcare Inc. has agreed to... Read more
Compliance:
Avoid These 6 Fraud Pitfalls CMS Is Looking For
How many diagnoses you include on your claims could single you out for scrutiny. Medic... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Key Hospice Indicators Fall, But CMS Still Plans To Ramp Up Scrutiny
Feds dispute hospice benefit’s cost-saving ability. If you want to know where yo... Read more
Regulations:
Payment Reform Billing Wrinkles Still Aren't Ironed Out
Plus: CAHPS to become part of Hospice Compare, but not right away. Under hospice payme... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Hospice Misdeeds Keep Industry In Feds' Crosshairs
OIG highlights case involving kickbacks. Hospices should brace for more, not less, fra... Read more
Billing:
New Edit Will Return NOEs Without Diagnosis Codes
Start double-checking your notices for this essential component. Starting this fall, a... Read more
Hospice News:
CMS Cuts Billing Red Tape For Vaccinations
Part B billing soon no longer necessary. Medicare is removing one billing hassle for h... Read more
Hospice News:
New Fire Safety Requirements Hit Hospices This Summer
Check Medicare’s latest fire safety requirements to see whether your hospice inpat... Read more
Hospice News:
Accrediting Body Launches Palliative Care Certification
Home care or other health care providers that furnish palliative care in the home, but t... Read more
Hospice News:
Health System Sheds Hospice Program, Closes Historic Inpatient Unit
Hospice Care of the Southwest and BSA Hospice in Amarillo, Texas, are merging to form BS... Read more
Hospice News:
Detroit-Area HHA Buys Hospice, Plans Growth
Royal Oak, Mich.-based Custom Home Health Inc. has acquired Troy-based Advanced Professi... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospice Provider Expands Post-Acute Presence
Pensacola, Fla.-based post-acute company Covenant Care has acquired Medicare-certified h... Read more
Hospice News:
Ensign Group Makes Hospice Buy In Iowa
The Ensign Group Inc.’s home health and hospice portfolio subsidiary, Cornerstone ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Medicare Payment Rates To Inch Up In 2017, According To Proposed Rule
Cap year switch to take place in 2017. A modest 2 percent pay increase could be coming... Read more
Quality:
2 New Quality Measures Proposed For Next Year
Medicare focus shifts from reimbursement to quality in 2017. Get ready to face the mus... Read more
Referrals:
Polish Your Processes In Preparation For Publicly Reported Ratings
Hospice Compare, 5-star ratings on deck in new proposed rule. You’ve had a lot o... Read more
Assessment:
CMS Proposes Assessment Tool For Hospice Similar To OASIS, MDS
Data tool will shift focus away from processes. If you’ve been wondering if and ... Read more
Education:
Spread The Word To Referring Physicians On ACP Billing Clarifications
CMS issues Advance Care Planning billing FAQ. Physicians who refer patients to your ho... Read more
Hospice News:
Measure Your HIS Benchmark Compliance With New QAO Report
Are you at the 70 percent mark or higher? Check your new quarterly Quality Assessment ... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospice Fraud Case Stokes Public's Fear Of End Of Life Service
The FBI investigation of a hospice owner is dealing a blow to the public’s trust i... Read more
Hospice News:
Florida-Based Hospice Provider Files Bankruptcy To Facilitate Sale
One hospice chain is facing the painful legacy of a whistleblower lawsuit. Jacksonville,... Read more
Hospice News:
Compassus Buy Extends Service Area To 30 States
Genesis HealthCare plans to sell the majority of its home health and hospice operations ... Read more
Payment:
Prepare For More Departures From Traditional Medicare Reimbursement
CMS pushes alternative payment models. As Medicare talks about ramping up hospice part... Read more
Reimbursement:
Notice Of Election Filing Problems Plague Hospice Reimbursement
Hospices hope for electronic filing solution from CMS. Your NOE deadline headaches may... Read more
Budget:
Declining Hospice Profit Margin Shouldn't Stop Rate Freeze, MedPAC Urges
Non-cancer diagnoses catch MedPAC’s eye. Flat spending and a decrease in live di... Read more
Billing:
Hospice Reform Gives Rise To More Billing Glitches
The timing of one fix will withhold some SIA payments until this summer. Medicare has ... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
OIG Accuses Hospices Of Overbilling For GIP
Watch out: Hospice-specific RAC in the works. Expect increased scrutiny of General Inp... Read more
Regulations:
Hospices' Reimbursement Rates On The Line For Data Reporting
Plus: Sequestration is not going anywhere. Your CAHPS and HIS reporting stats are abou... Read more
Lawsuits:
AseraCare Lawsuit Dismissal Gives Hope For Fighting Whistleblower Cases
Different medical opinions not enough to carry False Claims case, judge says. Whistleb... Read more
Hospice News:
Download Latest PEPPER Reports With New Benchmarks
Free training available from PEPPER contractor later this month. You can take a look a... Read more
Hospice News:
OIG Targets Hospice Patients In ALFs, Nursing Homes
The HHS Office of Inspector General would like to see some reimbursement-lowering mechan... Read more
Hospice News:
CMS Shirks Fraud-Fighting Duties, Providers Gripe
Medicare needs to do more to boot fraudsters out of the system, attendees of the Nationa... Read more
Payment:
Joint Replacement Bundling Includes Hospice Services
Controversy over what’s related and what’s not continues. Over provider pr... Read more
Benchmarks:
New PEPPER Benchmarking Reports Zero In On Hospice Fraud & Abuse Hot Spots
Discharges, GIP, CHC and diagnosis coding highlighted for the first time. You may be p... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
MedPAC Revisits Recommendation To Reduce Hospice Payment Rates For Nursing Home Residents
Advisory body to Congress will circle back to this hot-button issue later this year. T... Read more
Studies & Surveys:
Hospice Patients Switch Settings Too Much, Study Suggests
Florida ranks highest in post-admission care transitions. Add one more indicator to yo... Read more
Reimbursement:
Appeal Hospice Cap Inclusion Of Sequestration, Lawyer Urges
Warning: The cap calculation you turn in by March 31 isn’t the final word on 2015 ... Read more
Hospice News:
Frequency Of Skilled Visits Vary At End Of Hospice, JAMA Study Says
Industry takes another popular press beating. Day of the week, service setting, locati... Read more
Hospice News:
Beware Routine Home Care Payment Errors Under Reform
Hospice payment reform has given rise to another payment glitch — and this one cou... Read more
Hospice News:
Some Claims Suspensions Are OK, MAC Says
Don’t get worried if you see a suspended claim in FISS, HHH Medicare Administrativ... Read more
Hospice News:
Revised HHA-Based Hospice Cost Report Brings Methodology In Line With Freestanding Reports
Big hospice changes are now finalized for home health agency-based cost reports. The Cen... Read more
Hospice News:
Get Tougher On Hospice Fraud, CMS Urges Medicare Contractors
The HHS Office of Inspector General is keeping hospice fraud on its radar. “In t... Read more
Hospice News:
Use This New MAC Tool For Overlap Disputes
If patient overlap disputes with other hospices, hospitals or skilled nursing facilities... Read more
Hospice News:
Verify Your CAHPS Submissions
Be sure your vendor is submitting your data timely by accessing your data submission rep... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospice Owner Pleads Guilty To GIP-Related Fraud
The founder of now-shuttered Passages Hospice in Lisle, Ill., had pleaded guilty to Medi... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospice Access Shrinks
Heart of the Mountains Hospice in Hot Sulphur Springs, Co. is closing its doors, reports... Read more
Hospice News:
National Chain Makes Southeast Buy
National home care chain LHC Group has acquired the assets of Heartlite Hospice, a subsi... Read more
Hospice News:
Get Emergency Planning Help From New CDC Guidance
Want a boost to your emergency planning? You can consult a new resource from the Centers... Read more
Budget:
MedPAC Calls For Rate Freeze For Hospice Payment Rates Next Year
Advisory body to Congress casts suspicion on for-profits, nursing homes. As legislator... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Hospice Live Discharge Rates Decreased In 2014
Profit margins are also down, but that didn’t stop MedPAC from recommending a rate... Read more
Budget:
What Is Marginal Profit?
Get to know the new term that’s helping policymakers decide your fate. “Ma... Read more
Reimbursement:
Keep Your Eye On 2016 Claims As Reformed Payment Methodology Kicks Into Full Gear
SIA payment problems detected. You may just be getting used to the new hospice pay str... Read more
Payment:
Hit Your March 31 Cap Reporting Deadline
Don’t get blindsided by unexpected liabilities. If you haven’t yet done so... Read more
Budget:
Obama 2017 Budget Proposal Calls For Cuts, Further Reform
Hospice-specific market basket needed, according to proposal. Hospices would see susta... Read more
Hospice News:
QIES Blackout Leaves Hospices Worried About Compliance
Take a break from HIS data reporting during QIES break. Make plans now to avoid data r... Read more
Medical Review:
Hospice Claims Under Fire For Documentation Failing To Support Terminal Prognosis
Warning: Dementia patients at high risk. Hospice claims are subject to more scrutiny e... Read more
Assessment:
Document Decline With These 5 Steps To Avoid Denials
How often are you taking measurements? You can bulletproof your hospice patients&rsquo... Read more
Tools:
Consider These Measurement Tools To Beef Up Data Collection
Stock your toolbox to protect your claims. Your longer-stay patients’ records wi... Read more
Reimbursement:
MedPAC Pushes For Hospice Pay Cut
Commission’s 0% recommendation for 2017 illustrates cost reports’ importance... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Hospice Settles Charges Sparked By ZPIC Probe For $1.1 Million
Plus: Hospice physicians indicted in California scheme. If you think the worst you&rsq... Read more
Hospice Item Set:
Keep Tabs On HIS Submission Stats To Meet New Threshhold
CMS unveils HIS submission calculation. How are you doing on your Hospice Item Set sub... Read more
Hospice News:
Bump Up Claim Adjustments For Hospice Drugs On Your To-Do List
Industry’s profit margin figures hang in the balance. If hospices fail to submit... Read more
Hospice News:
Updated Star Rating On Deck -- Check It Now
You’ve only got a number of days to put the kibosh on your latest Quality of Patie... Read more
Hospice News:
Unexpected Liability For 2014 Caps May Loom
Just because you didn’t report a hospice cap liability back in March, doesn’... Read more
Hospice News:
CMS Unveils 11 New Hospice G-Codes
You may just be getting used to the new G-codes for nursing services, but other new hosp... Read more
Hospice News:
Medicare Administrative Contractor Spills Details On GIP Edits
Be prepared for extra scrutiny of your hospice claims containing General Inpatient care.... Read more
Hospice News:
New Face-To-Face Code Solves Hospice Billing Problems
Problem: Currently, if a hospice misses the F2F date and dates are denied, “the pa... Read more
Hospice News:
MAC Puts New Hospices Under Medical Review Microscope
Hospices new to the Medicare program aren’t exactly getting a warm welcome from on... Read more
Hospice News:
Share Code Timing Clarification For ACP With Your Docs
You can help your referring physicians figure out how to obtain additional reimbursement... Read more
Hospice:
Beware Stealth Underpayments When Hospice Payment Reform Launches
Ring in the New Year with tighter billing oversight. If you’re not paying attent... Read more
Reimbursement:
Prepare For Hospice Payment Reform Billing Now With These 7 Steps
Get friendly with HETS. You may feel you are ready for hospice payment reform taking e... Read more
Know Your Facts:
CMS To Eye Live Discharge Rates Under Payment Reform
Agency to examine effects of two-tiered system. If you think changes to your live disc... Read more
Billing:
New G-Codes For RNs, LPNs Don't Necessarily Affect These Old Nursing G-Codes
Plus: Unlike ICD-10, you can use old and new G-Codes on same claim. You may be saying ... Read more
Regulations:
Medicare Docks Hundreds Of Hospices For HIS Submission Problems
Polish your Hospice Item Set skills with new CMS tools. Make sure your Hospice Item Se... Read more
Reimbursement:
Stay Up To Date On Your NOTR, NOE Submissions, MAC Warns
Be a good billing friend to others — and yourself. You’d better get speedi... Read more
Audits:
Consider Legal Action For Unreasonable Recoupments
One hospice wins reprieve from ZPIC audit findings in federal court. Don’t give ... Read more
Hospice News:
GIP Remains Focus In Latest OIG Work Plan
The blueprint goes fairly easy on hospice, however. Hospice providers have a smaller t... Read more
Hospice News:
MAC Drops 2 Hospice Medical Review Topics And Adds 1
Hospices new to the Medicare program aren’t exactly getting a warm welcome from on... Read more
Hospice News:
Glean More Details From New Denial Codes For Hospice
You may soon be able to get more information about your denied claims. “The Center... Read more
Hospice News:
2 Nonprofits Affiliate In Michigan
Market consolidation continues for hospices. Arbor Hospice & Palliative Care in Ann ... Read more
Hospice News:
OIG's Exclusion List Changes Format
With the November 2015 update of the downloadable Exclusions files, OIG will begin a thr... Read more
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