The home care suction log is a simple document with extraordinary reach. At first glance, the suction log can seem like just a piece of paper with a client suction count, but it can be used for so much more.
When monitored, this valuable home care software record can help organizations... Keep Reading
Fee-for-service Medicare coverage for hospice care is no longer the only option for providers.
Starting on January 1, 2021, the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model took effect to test the impact of care delivery and quality of care for palliative and hospice care patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.
What’s Affected by... Keep Reading
A new episode of the Help Choose Home podcast welcomes Michelle Woodbrey, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors. Founded in 2011, 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors offers referral and coaching services to older adults and their families who are exploring aging care options.
Michelle and her co-founder sister,... Keep Reading
The coronavirus pandemic did not stop the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from making substantial billing changes for home health providers, including the Request for Anticipated Payment (RAP), cash upfront per Medicare patient, morphing into a no-pay RAP in 2021.
This elimination is consistent with a trend from Medicare.... Keep Reading
During most home care visits, caregivers are tasked with repetitive duties like administering medications and providing medical treatments. Since documentation of these tasks is mandatory and involves many tedious elements, caregivers often find themselves spending more time documenting an activity than performing it.
Selecting a home care software with built-in documentation... Keep Reading
The Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospice care require hospice organizations to assess patients and their families’ spiritual needs and provide spiritual counseling if the patient chooses to accept these services.
The State Operations Manual (SOM) Interpretive Guidelines instruct surveyors to determine through an interview, clinical record review and home... Keep Reading
The nation’s healthcare system was severely tested in 2020, leaving many providers exhausted and hopeful that the new year would bring with it some relief.
The Crystal Ball: 2021 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Outlook for Home-Based Care Agency Providers event presented clear industry predictions for providers by reflecting on the lessons... Keep Reading
Caregivers want to help others. They also want to have meaningful work, a reliable career path and adequate pay. Organizations want to retain caregivers and provide exceptional care to clients.
These ideas intersect with proper training. Training is the key to caregivers feeling confident and providing great care and organizations retaining... Keep Reading
The revised Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) took effect in 2021, with a new claims-based quality measure replacing the previous quality-based Section O measure pair.
While hospice organizations can continue to record Section O data, adapting to the new quality measure through documentation in a regulations-compliant hospice software is essential to... Keep Reading
Financial success in the home care industry was challenging in 2020. Many home care organizations were hit with an increase in expenses and a drop in revenue, with necessary operational expenses brought on by COVID-19 and many clients choosing to decline home care due to social distancing.
While unusual, the experience... Keep Reading
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a COVID-19 relief package months in the making, has passed and contains many benefits for hospice organizations. Still, it comes with significant changes that affect current business operations.
Establishing and Enforcing the HOSPICE Program
Negative findings from two 2019 reports by the Department of Health and... Keep Reading
Good news for home healthcare organizations – more COVID-19 relief is on the way.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 has been signed by President Trump and will offer organizations much-needed assistance by extending some elements of the CARES Act and providing additional stimulus money.
Home healthcare organizations will be directly impacted... Keep Reading