Home Health Line
12/15/2014
by: Strategic Health Programs
During the first three months of the Hospice Item Set (HIS), Strategic Health Programs’ (SHP) clients improved on six quality measures but worsened when it comes to pain assessment, data show. Hospices scored the best on treatment preferences.
12/15/2014
by: Simione Healthcare Consultants
Use this sample letter as an example of what to say to a MAC in response to an ADR.
12/08/2014

Agencies and physicians should answer four simple questions to successfully communicate the clinical rationale that a patient is homebound and in need of skilled care.

 
12/08/2014

When it comes to episodes with physical therapy, agencies that bill Medicare administrative contractor (MAC) Palmetto GBA may be in for a surprise: Claims can be denied when documentation fails to show both short-term and long-term goals for the patient. A number of agencies recently learned the hard way that without both, they wouldn’t be reimbursed and that appealing such denials could land them in the more than three-year wait for an administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing. Adding to the uncertainty is a Palmetto article, released Oct. 30, that states short-term and long-term goals aren’t always necessary.

 
12/08/2014

Avoid undue CMS surveyor scrutiny by using a standardized form to notify physicians of a missed visit.

 
12/08/2014

Some of the most profitable primary home health diagnoses will be affected by regulatory changes in 2015 — including depression, which will drop off the case-mix table as a payment diagnosis beginning in January 2015. 

 
12/08/2014

CMS is providing the public with 30 additional days to comment on proposed changes to the home health conditions of participation (CoPs). Agencies will have until 5 p.m. EST Jan. 7, 2015, to comment.

 
12/08/2014

In certain circumstances, for some patients, CMS might grant Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) a waiver that would allow home health agencies to provide care to patients who aren’t homebound.

 
12/08/2014

CMS’ latest ICD-10 testing week drew far less response — and a lower acceptance rate — than a similar testing week held in March.

 
12/08/2014

Diagnoses involving V57 (Rehab procedures) were the most profitable in home health in 2013. That’s according to data from Seattle-based National Research Corporation showing the industry’s five most profitable diagnoses. 

Login

User Name:
Password: