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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 12
CMS Shows Off New OASIS-C Form
Process measures, M0 item revisions will mean big changes for HHAs. Providers are one ...
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Training:
Want Accurate Case Mix? Correct These 3 Common Errors
Regular OASIS training could increase your case mix -- and your reimbursement. Accur...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Heads Up: Include These Changes In Your Pressure Ulcer Coding
Important: List only one staging code for ulcers of the same size. Your pressure ulcer co...
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Continuing Education:
get The Inside Scoop On Oasis's Big Changes
Register now for these tried-and-true strategies for all HHAs. • "What The N...
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PPS Correction Adjustments Are On The Way
But you'll have to do some legwork to get your due reimbursement. If you're waiting on mo...
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Education:
Use This Expert Advice To Boost Your Patients' Independence
Your agency's outcomes will benefit, as well. Just because a patient can't get her clothe...
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Assessment:
Repeated Case Mix Codes Won't Ruin Your Compliance
Doubling up on codes could lead to increased payment. You don't have to worry about repea...
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OASIS News:
Industry Group Urges CMS To Move Forward On ICD-10
Other groups still pushing for a postponed implementation. The American Health Informatio...
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Reader Question:
Look For First Billable PT Visit To Spot SOC Date
Here's how to coordinate your nurses' and therapists' assessments. Question: Our clinicia...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 11
OASIS:
New OASIS Tool Has Final Arrival Date
Field testing responses steered the final version of OASIS-C. A whole new OASIS world ...
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Assessment:
Use Community Care To Cut Down On Chronic Transfers
Decrease OASIS paperwork and hospitalizations with this advice. Just because your chronic...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Use M0246 To Increase Case Mix Points For Fracture Care
Resolved conditions coding rule doesn't apply to M0246. You know that it's not appropriat...
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Continuing Education:
Learn Everything You Need To Know About OaSis-C
Register now for these insider secrets on OASIS-C, PPS refinements, and new the new hosp...
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Lawsuits:
Case Mix Creep Adjustment Rule Lands In Court
NAHC wants to send the rule back to the drawing board If you're worried about losing mone...
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Education:
Closely Monitor Patients' Movements To Answer M0390
You can answer M0390 even when your patients can't. Scenario: During her assessment, a cl...
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Regulations:
PPS Adjustments Are On The Way
Expect reimbursement corrections by the end of the year. Home health agencies can breathe...
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OASIS News:
FL Suit Pushes For More Home Care Funding
Plus: Discharging all of your Medicare patients will ruin your business. Your state...
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Reader Question:
Clear Up Any Scab Confusion With This Advice
Scabs don't always indicate non-healing surgical wounds Question: Can we use non-healing ...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 10
Prospective Payment System; Use OASIS To Knock Your NRS Billing Out Of The Park
Save time and money with this expert advice. Get ready: Your claims for nonroutine sup...
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Diagnosis Coding; Accurate Coding Will Net You More NRS Points
Here's a sequencing secret that will add $139 to your NRS payment. Now that you're using ...
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Outcomes; Rely On ROC Assessments To Reflect Your Quality Of Care
Correct resumption of care codes could determine your future. If you answer your resumpti...
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Continuing Education; Lower Your Mileage Costs -- Today
Here’s insider information on mileage, DME and medication use. • "Mini...
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Regulations; CMS Abbreviates OASIS Requirements, Again
With suspended requirements, documentation is critical. Hurricane Ike cleared a path thro...
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Education; Here's How To Spot Fully Healed Wounds
Remember: Scabs no longer indicate a non-healing wound. All home health agencies mu...
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Training; Test your wound code Training
Can you conquer these surgical wound coding conundrums? Surgical wound coding can be comp...
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OASIS News; Expect 7 Million Health Tech Users By 2012
Self-service will drive the trend. While health technology is still in its infancy, more ...
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Reader Question; Update Onset & Exacerbation Before You Hit 'Send'
But that's the intermediaries' rule -- not CMS's. Question: We are confused about when to...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 9
Training:
Correct These PPS Problems -- Or Pay The Price
Make sure your training program addresses these top mistakes. Now that you’re en...
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Quality Improvement:
Get Ready: Another Quality Campaign Will Kick Off In 2010
9th Scope of Work will include home health. Home health agencies worried that they might ...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Ulcer, Diabetes Coding Changes Coming in 2009
Your coding will get more complex when new codes take effect Oct. 1. If you’ve g...
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Performance Improvement:
Tackle New ICD-9 Codes Before it's too late
Prepare for coding changes with this help. You have less than a month before you&rsquo...
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Reimbursement:
Check Homebound Status On Every Visit
Notice your patients' 'exhausting efforts.' If your patient drove his car to pick up his ...
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OASIS-C Update:
Watch For OASIS Extreme Makeover Proposal In October
New OASIS assessment seems likely to take more time. You get one chance to tell the fe...
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OASIS News:
M0110 Adjustments Are Delayed
Diagnosis coding guidance also discussed in CMS forum. You're going to have to wait a bit...
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Reader Question:
You Won't Get Full Episode Payment For MA Patients
And you may wind up handing money back to CMS. Question: I hope you can shed some additio...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 8
OASIS Update:
Wound Clarification Retracts Previous Answer
Retrain clinicians quickly on new guidance. Keep up with new "clarifications," or you'll ...
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Assessment:
Focus On Wound Assessment To Boost Your Bottom Line
Use these 4 tips to get the dollars you earned. If you don't correctly identify a wound o...
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Reimbursement:
Use These 5 Tips To Make Your
Here's how to get up to speed on crucial documentation strategies. Wound care is expensiv...
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Performance Improvement:
It's Time For A New Batch Of ICD-9 CM Codes -- Again
Tune in and improve wound care outcomes. Get ready to be deluged with coding changes a...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Keep Plan of Care In Mind When Choosing Primary Diagnosis
Avoid reimbursement considerations to enhance coding accuracy. You may think you have fou...
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Education:
M0520 Clarification Pinpoints Urinary Diversion Distinctions
Here's one more reason you should keep up with the latest Q&As. If you are supposed t...
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OASIS News:
Don't Provide Free Care For Transfer Patients
Document all transfer details to get paid. Here's one more thing to include in your admis...
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Reader Question:
Learn What To Do When Payers Split An Episode
Good clinician notes can save the day. Question: When a patient switches from traditional...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 7
Reimbursement:
Why Certified Coders Could Save Your Bottom Line
7 strategies for PPS success. You could be losing money under the revised home health pro...
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Quality Improvement:
Follow These 8 Steps To Discharge OASIS Accuracy
Discharge assessments are not just a formality. If your agency has a high average case mi...
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Performance Improvement:
The Year Is Half Over -- Will Your Agency Be A Winner?
Tune in and improve wound care outcomes. You'll be deluged with coding changes and non-ro...
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Compliance:
Avoid Losing Thousands In These Scenarios
Be especially cautious when episodes fit these three edit categories. Your intermediary's...
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Clip & Save:
Identify Which M0 Items Affect Reimbursement Under The 2008 Home Health PPS Refinements
Don't hand money back to the feds because of OASIS inaccuracies. More than ever befo...
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PPS Update:
Get Ready For New ICD-9 Codes
...
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Education:
Which M0090 Date Is Correct?
Scenario: During her assessment visit, the nurse predicts three visits in M0826 (Ther-apy...
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OASIS News:
Home Health Coding Training Goes Online
If you're looking for an easy -- and free -- way to introduce ICD-9 coding to more of your...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 6
PPS Update:
Use Secondary Diagnoses For Accurate Reimbursement
Higher payments bypass many agencies. Would you like to have a snapshot of how some other...
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Reimbursement:
NRS Will Be Positive Once Agencies Adjust
OASIS answers determine nonroutine medical supplies payment. You have a new source of ...
Read more
Inservice:
Here's How Your Agency Can Thrive In 2008 And Beyond
Plan now for immediate staff training. Get the latest information on how to survive th...
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Assessment:
Prevent Financial Losses By Understanding Ulcer Definitions
Use these resources to improve your OASIS assessment accuracy. How accurate is your staff...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Create A Coding Policy That Saves Time And Money
Inaccurate coding creates a flawed OASIS. If your agency's coding policy is inadequate --...
Read more
Education:
Update Your Staff On This M0800 Clarification
Question: In answering M0800 (Man-agement of injectable medications), does it matter whet...
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OASIS Clarification:
Expect M0110 CWF Changes
Fully denied episodes cause M0110 confusion. You can't count on the common working file t...
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OASIS News:
Get Your 2008 PPS Questions Answered
Delve into the details underlying the dreaded 'case mix creep.' If you like charts and nu...
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Reader Question:
Discharge Followed By Readmit Can Create Problems
Without a SCIC, can you change the HHRG? Question: A new patient had a large contusi...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 5
Assessment:
Keep Focusing On OASIS Basics
Capture the case mix points you deserve using these 7 expert tips. When was the last time...
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Quality Improvement:
Use These Falls Prevention Models To Improve Outcomes
Learn from these 3 successful HHA programs. Falls are a primary reason for emergent care ...
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Therapy:
Don't Miss Clarification On Answering M0826
Know your options before answering M0826 on the ROC OASIS. A resumption-of-care OASIS can...
Read more
PPS Update:
More Cuts Loom As Case Mix Numbers Improve
Pilot testing of new OASIS assessment begins. Agencies are caught in a catch 22: If you i...
Read more
Inservice:
You Can't Afford to Miss Out On Reimbursement You Deserve
Get targeted up-to-date information to improve your agency's performance without hiring y...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Poor Coding Choices Cause Denied Claims
Find out the first rule for diagnosis coding. Faulty ICD-9 coding can derail your claims ...
Read more
Education:
What Defines Emergent Care?
M0830's definition of emergent care may not match yours. Question: When your patient goes...
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Reimbursement:
HHAs Still Waiting for RHHI Fix For M0110 Problem
Volunteers needed for next phase as post-acute demo begins. If you don't understand risk ...
Read more
OASIS News:
Report Further Dissects Home Health Compare Data
In an annual report released in March, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality rank...
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Reader Question:
Don't Confuse Rules For Injections And Infusions
Question: Our patient is getting cortisone injections at a doctor's office. When answerin...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 4
Therapy:
M0826 Clarification Addresses
More OASIS Q&As due out in April. Now you'll see why the question for M0826 is so lon...
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Reimbursement:
Coding Accuracy Adds Hundreds
Wound staging is not optional if you want proper payment. Your supplies reimbursement may...
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Assessment:
Use OASIS M0 Items To Look For
Give med accuracy the attention it deserves. When you admit a patient from another health...
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Outcomes:
Don't Just Review Medications -- Take Action
Use this tool to protect your patient and your agency. If you don't do a complete medicat...
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Inservice:
Here's How To Stay Compliant And Improve Reimbursement
Get targeted up-to-date information to improve your agency’s performance without h...
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Clip & Save:
MEDICATION DISCREPANCY TOOL (MDT)
MDT is designed to facilitate reconciliation of a medication regimen across settings and ...
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Education:
Heed The Latest Word On M0440 And Ostomies
You thought you knew the answers, but are you sure? Questions: A) When answering M0440 (D...
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OASIS News:
QIOs' Focus Shifts From Agencies To Communities
Care transitions are the next big thing. If you've figured out effective ways to communic...
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Diagnosis Coding:
There's More To V Codes Than Aftercare
Hunting for V codes in the alphabetic index of your ICD-9 manual can be frustrating. They'...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 3
Reimbursement:
Ease Your M0110 Struggles With These Clarifications
Choosing 'unknown' is acceptable practice, but it costs you. Now that the 2008 OASIS asse...
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Survey & Certification:
4 Ways OASIS Assessments Can Point Surveyors To Deficiencies
Don't let inconsistent medical records put your agency in jeopardy Your home health agenc...
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Compliance:
Here's How To Avoid Unpleasant Survey Surprises
Unnecessary agency policies and procedures can blow your survey. Use these basic practice...
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Inservice:
5 New Opportunities to Learn How to Thrive Under PPS
Get targeted up-to-date information to improve your agency’s performance without h...
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Assessment:
OASIS Can Be Key To Detecting Patient Abuse And Neglect
Most elder abuse takes place at home -- not in nursing homes. Add a Sherlock Holmes deer...
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Clip & Save:
Learn Elder Abuse Basics
You may be the patient's last hope. Home health agency clinicians working with the elderl...
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Education:
Get The Latest Scoop On M0800
Update your staff on the latest changes in Q&A guidance. True or False: When a patien...
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OASIS News:
Wage And Hour Issues May Accompany OASIS Changes
On-call pay could put you at risk of FLSA fines and penalties. Are you paying staff to at...
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Reader Question:
Episode Chain Breaks At 61 Days
M0110 definition of 'adjacent' is a crucial concept for payment. Question: When you are c...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 2
Assessment:
An Early Or A Later Episode -- Only The Feds Know For Sure
Follow these 7 steps to M0110 success. If you understand these basic guidelines, your M01...
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Quality Improvement:
Focus On Infections To Improve Pressure Ulcer Outcomes
Do you know when an infection requires an orthopedic consult? Besides improving survey an...
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Diagnosis Coding Outcomes:
Watch Out For Necrotic Wounds In Disguise
Your OASIS assessment may help you catch MRSA early. When you're assessing a patient's wo...
Read more
Inservice:
We're Here To Help You Find Your Way Through The PPS Maze
When you’re trying to absorb as much information as possible about the new prospec...
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New PPS Multiplies The Value Of Sequencing Diagnoses
Co-morbidities are vital to accurate reimbursement. Your biggest OASIS challenge for 200...
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Compliance:
OASIS Documentation, Primary Diagnosis Top AHS Denial List
Don't lose sight of the basics while you're busy with PPS changes -- your intermediary is ...
Read more
Education:
Master The Intricacies Of Start Of Care Assessment Timing
2 scenarios to help clear up your questions. True or False: When a home health agency's p...
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OASIS News:
PPS Glitches Stall RAP Payment
Proposed post-acute assessment tool is now in pilot program. Struggling to get your OASI...
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Reader Question:
Can You Call A Medical Device 'Clothing' For M0660?
Make sure your clinician understands the majority rule. Question: When we are answering M...
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OASIS Alert - 2008; Volume 9, Number 1
Reimbursement:
Brief Staff On These Top 7 OASIS Issues For 2008
5 expert tips will get you started. Between OASIS clarifications and PPS refinements, hom...
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Test Your OASIS Savvy ...
Scenario #1: On the start of care OASIS, you answered M0110 ("Episode Timing: Is the Medi...
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Outcomes:
Home Health Compare Web Site Shows 2 New Measures
Prepare for questions about wound outcomes. Are you pulling ahead or falling behind? Trac...
Read more
Quality Improvement:
Check Out The New Home Health Compare Measures
Patient satisfaction comparisons may be next. Your agency may be part of the problem. An ...
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Assessment:
Manage Pressure Ulcer Healing The NPUAP Way
Here's your early warning system for pressure ulcer deterioration. With two new wound car...
Read more
Inservice:
Get Help From These New Educational Opportunities
If you're looking for help shouldering your PPS overload, check out these three new audioc...
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Clip And Save:
The PUSH Tool Can Identify A Pressure Ulcer Headed In The Wrong Direction
Assessment parameters help you quantify an ulcer's progress. Quantify pressure ulcer heal...
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Education:
Let Your Intermediary Do Some Of The Work Correcting RAPs
Scenario #1: On the start of care OASIS, you answered M0110 ("Episode Timing: Is the Medi...
Read more
OASIS News:
Free Video Is Not A Kickback
Watch out for more grouper payment errors. A new advisory opinion provides more guidance ...
Read more
Reader Question:
Medicare Advantage May Include Another Billing Disadvantage
MA patients excluded from quality measure. It may look like an episode and pay like an ep...
Read more
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