Last June 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) proposed rule for 2022, which re-focuses the shift from paying for home health services based on volume to a system that incentivizes higher quality care. One of the most significant and noteworthy changes is…
Staffing Is Home Health’s Biggest Challenge The 2021 Outlook Survey by Home Health Care News (HHCN) revealed that 59% of the respondents said that staffing remains their single-most challenging aspect of home health operations. With the onset of COVID-19, healthcare demand has increased drastically, overwhelming the supply of clinicians. Home health providers have struggled with…
The New CMS ADT Mandate There is a new mandate from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on sharing admissions, discharge, and transfer (ADT) data among care providers, with the aim of improving care coordination and lowering readmissions. As of May 1, the new regulation will require hospitals to notify all applicable…
Receiving an Additional Development Request (ADR) from any Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) can induce anxiety, especially if it is the first time for a home health agency. However, receiving ADRs does not necessarily mean a mistake has been committed by the agency. It could merely be to verify that the claim meets Medicare payment…
The rollout of vaccines for COVID-19 has received mixed reactions among healthcare workers. What should be deemed as a light at the end of the tunnel is perceived by many as a premature solution to the ongoing pandemic. Healthcare workers were the first in the United States to be offered COVID-19 vaccinations. But three…
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…
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…