A new study that reflects data from over 1,000 home health agencies provides key insights into how agencies can optimize performance and operations. The study examined which agencies were performing the best clinically, operationally, and financially, focusing on technology, palliative care, staffing, and future care… Read More »Survey Results: Key Insights for Optimizing Agency Operations
Last June 17, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2023 home health proposed payment rule—and it has not been received well. It validates the concerns that providers have had since the hospice and skilled nursing facility proposed payment rule was… Read More »2023 Home Health Proposed Payment Rule: What You Should Know
Patient referrals to post-acute care, including home health, have increased by 33%. However, despite this, the acceptance rate has decreased by 15%. In addition to the existing staffing shortage, what has been destabilizing the referral chain is that patients being discharged from hospitals tend to… Read More »Analyzing the Declining Referral Acceptance Rate
Under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the wound clinical grouping is one of the clinical groupings with the highest reimbursement potential. It includes cases that fall into the assessment, treatment, and evaluation of surgical wounds, non-surgical wounds, ulcers, burns, and other lesions. Improving wound care… Read More »Optimizing Wound Care for PDGM and the Value-based Era
The initial assessment and start of care (SOC) comprehensive assessment are two separate requirements under the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and, therefore, different from each other, even though both can be done at the first visit in the home. Moreover, due to COVID-19 public health… Read More »The Difference Between Initial Assessment and SOC Comprehensive Assessment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the draft OASIS-E Guidance Manual, which provides guidelines for the 27 new items added to the OASIS-E Instrument that will be implemented on January 1, 2023. An updated version of the draft OASIS-E Instrument was… Read More »Out Now: OASIS-E Updated Instrument and Guidance Manual
The value-based care model was intended to be beneficial not only to patients, but also to healthcare providers. However, a recent survey reflecting the views of home-based care professionals on navigating value-based care showed that 63% of providers are either on the fence or indifferent… Read More »Value-Based Care Survey Shows Optimism and Growth Opportunities
The latest results from the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) are now available on the April 2022 quarterly refresh in Care Compare, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) initiative that provides a user-friendly interface on their website that patients and caregivers can… Read More »Care Compare April 2022 Refresh; Quality Reporting Updates
A new set of quarterly OASIS Q&As was released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide guidance on OASIS questions received by their help desks. The Q&As provide guidance on how to respond to certain M and GG items in complex… Read More »Stay Updated: New OASIS Q&As (April 2022)
Face-to-face (F2F) encounter is crucial in certifying eligibility for Medicare home health services. Documentation of F2F encounters must be included in the start of care (SOC) certification as a requirement for payment and should be related to the primary reason for the home care admission.… Read More »A Guide to Securing Compliant F2F Documentation
