Patient satisfaction is now even more of a focus for home health organizations as adjustment payments will soon place more emphasis on value. In doing so, Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) surveys will take on an entirely new level of importance.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released information through the final rule indicating how payment for services will change from a volume-based program to one based on the value of care provided. This is known as the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model.
With home health organizations looking to improve patient satisfaction scores, remote care monitoring (RCM) tools will add significant value.
What Will Be Measured in the Adjustment Payments?
There was an initial intent by CMS to introduce value-based purchasing (VBP) in 2022. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues were such an impediment that the start of VBP will have the first “performance year” of data to be measured in 2023, while 2025 will mark the first payment adjustment year.
These adjustments are based on the organization’s performance in a particular year on quality measures relative to similar organizations. A -5% to +5% of the fee-for-service payments will be adjusted based on specific outcomes.
Adjustments allocated in the organization’s total performance score (TPS) within a performance year include collected data extrapolated from:
- OASIS: Outcome and Assessment Information Set
- HHCAHPS: Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
- Claims-based measures (e.g., acute care or ER hospitalizations during the first 60 days of HHA use)
The Link Between Remote Care Monitoring and Patient Satisfaction
In 2023, HHCAHPS will become a major driver of value when calculated in total performance scores. Those patient survey items include:
HHCAHPS Survey Measures
- Care of patients
- Communications between providers and patients
- Specific care issues
- Overall rating of home healthcare
- Willingness to recommend the organization
Because HHCAHPS scores patient satisfaction, many organizations are hurrying to review and improve current procedures and searching for tools to help.
Based on multiple studies, patient satisfaction is closely related to patient use of remote care monitoring. The most satisfaction is found when the experience is delivered through videoconferencing as opposed to telephone (no visual) contact.
Using a robust RCM system, an organization can improve HHCAHPS scores significantly. A close connection with patients is critical. While there is nothing that can replace a physical connection with patients, communication is the next best thing.
Telephone communication can be of some help but being able to actually see the person and having the ability to see the professional is key to a successful interaction.
Telehealth is quickly evolving, and CMS is closer than ever to reimbursing for telehealth services. Organizations should use this year of VBP “implementation” to do the research necessary to explore the best RCM available. Those who do will find improved satisfaction rates, improved reporting to CMS through HHCAHPS and the best possible patient outcomes.
Axxess Home Health, a cloud-based home healthcare software, provides convenient integrations to accommodate virtual visits, as well as built-in documentation tools following HIPAA guidelines.