Emergency Preparedness UPDATE Blog

The Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Quality, Safety & Oversight Group updated guidance for surveyors in QSO-21-15-ALL which revised emergency preparedness considering the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Emergency Preparedness (EP) takes a front seat with the Pandemic – CMS has revised the EP condition to add elements related to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and the Pandemic.

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FY2022 Hospice Proposed Payment Rule

In addition to the proposed changes for hospice providers CMS included proposed changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting program (HH QRP) to resume in the reporting for January 2022. The proposed rule for hospice and home health QRP is summarized in today’s blog.

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2022 Hospice Proposed Rule (VIDEO)

Welcome to Monday Minute with Melinda! This video clip gives you some highlights of the just issued proposed rule and resources for obtaining details. Make sure to stay tuned!

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COVID-19 Coding Changes

It remains challenging to code COVID-19 for patients, as there are so many variations seen, especially as time goes on.   However, as of January 1, 2021, we have new diagnosis codes that are to be used for COVID-19 patients. They don’t include all of the patient scenarios for the conditions seen after COVID but it is a start.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Administration (VIDEO)

Welcome to Monday Minute with Melinda! This week’s video clip will discuss the billing and reimbursement for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration. Make sure to stay tuned!

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OIG Conducting Audit on Telehealth (VIDEO)

Welcome to Monday Minute with Melinda! This video clip will recap some of the documentation requirements for telehealth and the OIG audit to take place. Make sure to stay tuned!

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Hospice ADRs on the Rise! (VIDEO)

Welcome to Monday Minute with Melinda! This week’s video clip will provide some key elements of responding to Hospice ADRs. Monday Minute with Melinda gives agencies the opportunity to receive critical weekly video updates, Make sure to stay tuned!

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2021 Hospice Final Payment Rule

The Hospice FY2021 Final Wage Index and Payment Rate Update from CMS is summarized in this post with changes for Hospice providers. The new regulations will be effective on October 1, 2020. The overall economic impact of this final rule is estimated to be $540 million in increased payments to hospices for FY2021. HPS is working to keep Hospices informed of all the details related to the changes with the 2021 Final Rule.

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COVID-19: Interim Final Rule & What It Means for Home Health

There have been two Interim Final Rules, the most recent on May 1, that have been issued by CMS during this historic pandemic of the century. This Public Health Emergency (PHE) has taken the full focus of national officials and in the process, there have been sweeping concessions for healthcare, some permanent and others temporary.

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COVID-19: Imperative Home Health and Hospice Updates

This article was last updated on May 7, 2020.

As we are facing the pandemic of the century, home health and hospices are on the frontline of this Public Health Emergency (PHE) along with hospitals, physicians and all other healthcare workers. We at Healthcare Provider Solutions, Inc. would like to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for your true dedication to treating patients and helping the world to be a healthier place. HPS is dedicated to providing the Home Health and Hospice industries with the education and resources necessary to keep you performing at the highest level of success.

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Hospice Targeted Probe and Educate – Avoid Claim Denials

Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) is continuing to be a problem for Hospice providers with some advancing to rounds 2 and 3 of the audit. This demonstration, which includes hospices receiving 20-40 claim requests for Additional Development Requests (ADR) in each round, have hospices wondering if they are going to be targeted next. In order to avoid advancing to the next round of TPE, the hospice’s calculated error percentage at the end of each round must be less than the percentage set by the MAC.

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Documenting Hospice Eligibility for a Cardiopulmonary Diagnosis

When documenting hospice eligibility for a cardiopulmonary diagnosis you MUST go beyond the disease-specific LCD guidelines to avoid denial under medical review.  Many people who suffer from advanced cardiopulmonary disease share multiple symptoms as the disease progresses, however, the symptoms affect each patient differently and therefore, must be documented this way in order to support each patient’s terminal condition.

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Targeted Probe & Educate (TPE): Top 5 Hospice Denial Reasons

As long as hospices are carefully documenting the details of each patient’s clinical situation and each patient meets the eligibility requirements for hospice care—these denials are avoidable. Don’t be the hospice that gets technical denials for careless mistakes, like incorrect format of the election statement or completing CTIs with boxed/canned statements that are not specific to the patient.

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8 Major Changes Outlined in the FY2020 Hospice Wage Index Update

The FY2020 Hospice Wage Index & Payment Rate Update & HQRP Proposed Rule presents significant changes to rates and election statements. This proposed rule needs our full attention and comments! Please do your part and comment by the deadline stated in this article.

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Documenting Hospice Eligibility for Alzheimer’s Dementia

When admitting a patient to hospice with a primary terminal diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, your documentation should clearly show the nature and condition causing the hospice admission in addition to, the hospice disease-specific LCD guidelines.

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Required Hospice GIP Documentation

General Inpatient (GIP) Care is one of the four levels of care available to patients who elect the Medicare Hospice Benefit. When may GIP level of care be appropriate? When is it NOT appropriate to use GIP level of care?

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Top Denial Reasons – Hospice Targeted Probe and Educate

Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) is underway for Hospice Agencies. HPS is seeing many ADR denials with agencies moving to round 2 and 3 of TPE from both CGS and NGS.

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Targeted Probe and Educate – What We Have Learned So Far

Targeted Probe & Educate began on 10/1/17 and is full speed ahead. HPS has discovered nuances with TPE that we did not expect nor have we experienced in past ADR reviews. This review includes targeted medical review and education along with the potential of elevated action toward the agency. This elevated action could take place if the agency is not meeting the standards laid out by the Medicare MAC.

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Preparing for Hospice Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE)

As previously reported, the targeted probe and educate (TPE) process is replacing the medical review process used by Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC).  Each of the three MACs – Palmetto GBA, NGS and CGS – can choose the topics for review under TPE based on existing data analysis procedures.

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Hospice CTI and Election Statement Made Easy

CMS reminded hospices recently about the need to comply with Medicare hospice election statements and certification of terminal illness (CTI) requirements. This reminder comes shortly after CMS’ announcement of the expansion of the targeted probe and educate (TPE) method of medical review to hospices and other provider types. We believe there is a strong possibility that CMS will…

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Targeted Probe and Educate

HPS reported recently regarding continued Probe & Educate for Home Health agencies. This is to clarify that the CMS expansion on Probe & Educate is for Home Health and Hospice and will be effective 10/1/2017. This is referred to as Targeted Probe & Educate (TPE). This review will include targeted medical review and education along with an option for potential elevated action, up to and including referral to other Medicare contractors including the Zone Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC), Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC), Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC), etc.

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Hospice General Inpatient Care

CMS continues to be concerned about hospice over utilization and hospice underutilization of the general inpatient (GIP) level of care. Are hospices providing access to all four levels of hospice care (routine home care, general inpatient care, respite care and continuous home care)?

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Hospice Quality Reporting Program Update – HIS and Hospice Compare

CMS recently released clarification of the response options for HIS item A1400, Payor Information.  Many hospices have been asking how to complete this item with questions about the Self Pay option, in particular.  In addition to the information in the HIS Manual, CMS provides the following additional information specific to the…

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Attending versus Referring Physician in Hospice

A physician refers a patient to hospice care – what role does this physician play in the care of the patient and in certifying the patient? It depends. Let’s look at the various hospice requirements that involve a physician.

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Hospice Proposed Rule

In addition to the proposed changes for hospice providers CMS included proposed changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting program (HH QRP) to resume in the reporting for January 2022. The proposed rule for hospice and home health QRP is summarized in today’s blog.

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HIPAA for Home Care | Establishing A Compliant Agency

HIPAA has become an acronym synonymous with healthcare. We see it practiced and preached daily throughout the home care and hospice industry. However, too often breach notifications are at the top of our industry headlines. These breaches are costing our agencies time, money, and patient credibility. If we as agency owners, administrators, and employees understand the severity of a breach then why are breaches still occurring?

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Hospice Regulatory Update

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Hospice CAHPS Surveys Will Affect Payment

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New G-Codes Not JUST for HOSPICE!

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Initials and Not a Full Signature, Allowed?

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The Y2K of Coding!

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Finally Some Relief or Not!

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Home Care and Hospice: Still No Relief!

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Hospice Update on Attending Physician

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Are You Convinced Your Agency is ICD-10 Ready?

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