Recent studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and Medical Care (JAMA) analyzed timestamp data from electronic medical records (EMRs) to examine how much time U.S. clinicians spend on EMR documentation and how it affects patient care. This concern has been around for years, and it still remains relevant today because…
It’s 2021, so it’s no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly growing in the healthcare industry. A recently published survey on home health care revealed meaningful insights into many agencies’ challenges and areas of growth. The 2021 Home Health Care News Outlook Survey and Report showed that one of the top three takeaways…
The extended participation of the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for Home Health Agencies in Florida and North Carolina is ending on March 31, 2021. Home health agencies in these states will now be required to process their claims under their selected review option. If your agency has chosen the Pre-Claim Review, here are some…
With the Patient-Driven Grouping Model (PDGM) ruling out therapy volume as a driving factor for reimbursements, home health agencies are challenged to explore ways to optimize utilization and revenue base. The new Medicare Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) benefit, which took effect on January 1st, 2021, holds the potential for home health agencies to offer…
A recent survey covering the home health industry reveals the greatest challenges in the year ahead, areas of expense specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic, technology adoption, and areas of growth and efficiency, among other findings. Key takeaway Staffing remains the single most challenging aspect of home health. It’s been a top concern for…
The new no-pay Request for Anticipated Payment (RAP) requirement is perhaps the most notable change home health agencies have had to prepare for in compliance with the CY2021 Home Health Final Rule, which took effect January 1st. As agencies are getting into the rhythm of the new timeline for no-pay RAPs, more questions and challenges…
Home health agencies received good news from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) when the expansion of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model was signed off and announced last January 8. First implemented in 2016, the HHVBP Model has only been active in nine states: Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, Washington,…
A recent survey revealed the top workforce challenges that the healthcare industry is currently facing, with the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis. Among the reported workforce challenges were: Hiring qualified job candidates at 67% Employee turnover at 57% The pandemic’s impact on healthcare organizations across the US is a major contributor to these numbers…
Are you ready for the changes taking effect next year? Last October 29, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final home health payment rule for 2021 with some notable updates affecting agency operations. In this article, we will recap the most important aspects of the final rule, its implications, and…
CMS has anticipated that home health agencies will adjust their documentation and coding practices under PDGM. As a response, CMS will implement a negative behavioral adjustment of 4.36% (based on final rule) to all episodes under the new payment model. According to the final rule issued on Oct 31, 2019, the following are the three…