Essential Training At Your Finger Tips

Thanks to HCAF's advocacy efforts, the Florida Legislature passed legislation in 2020 (HB 607) that allows certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and home health aides to take on expanded duties under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). Now that the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has completed its rulemaking process, we want to know how your agency ensures compliance and implements the new rules. The Florida Administrative Register, specifically sections 59A-8.0097, 59A-8.0216, and 59A-8.219, outlines the requirements for the medication administration program, training, and RN delegation of tasks. Effective May 24, 2023, CNAs and home health aides must complete six (6) hours of training through course-based modules, pass a written test, and demonstrate proficiency to perform the additional tasks.   The primary objective of this webinar series is to equip those that will be training non-licensed personnel with the necessary skills to administer medications safely to homebound individuals. Additionally, we aim to support agencies in ensuring compliance if nurses delegate tasks to CNAs and home health aides. While each agency is responsible for fulfilling the in-person competencies mandated by the new law, home care agency owners/operators, administrators, and clinical managers will be provided access to policy templates, reference materials, and sample test questions with corresponding answers. This series is designed for RNs considering delegating additional tasks and the individuals that will teach RNs and Aides how to meet the critical requirements. We recommend taking the entire course and so we are not making the individual modules available separately.  The following are some examples of learning objectives to be covered: Overview of course requirements, certification, and recertification Basic principles of medication - The five (5) rights of medication administration Medication interactions and adverse reactions Comprehension of medication labels Clarifying medication orders Documentation of all medication administration tasks in written and electronic form Ensuring the safe and lawful delegation of tasks is crucial. This program will guide you in achieving that. Register today and let's embark on this training journey together!    Speaker/Course Author - Heather Curren, RN, BSN, COS-C, HCS-D, HCS-H  Read more

With the release of Home Care Pulse's 2023 Home Care Benchmarking Study, we can finally see, not only how COVID-19 still impacts every facet of our home care businesses, but also, other trends and best practices. Join Caleb Hendricks of Home Care Pulse as he highlights findings from this year’s Benchmarking Study that illustrate the real and surprising shifts the pandemic brought to our home care in Florida Speaker/Course Author - Caleb Hendricks Read more

We invite you to join for this month's Home Health Revenue Cycle session, an informative monthly series that covers Medicare-Certified industry hot topics. This month's topic: "Traditional Medicare Billing – The PreBill Review" What must be in place before you file the 30-day final claims for Medicare?  This session will take you through the pre-bill audit process and help you to determine if the EMR you are utilizing is efficient in the elements of these requirements that they claim to be.   Speaker/Course Author - Melinda Gaboury, COS-C Read more

We invite you to join for this month's Home Health Revenue Cycle session, an informative monthly series that covers Medicare-Certified industry hot topics. This month's topic: "Notice of Admission (NOA) – Key Components for Effectiveness" The NOA is the most critical component of the home health billing process and cannot be avoided.  Join us to review the details of getting the NOA filed timely and the full exceptions request process when the NOA is late. Speaker/Course Author - Melinda Gaboury, COS-C Read more

Bed bugs are on the rise globally, and they spread through human movement. Since bed bugs only live indoors and prefer to feed on humans, Florida home care workers are at greater risk of acquiring bed bugs in their patients'/clients' homes as well as spreading them. In this webinar recording, Johanna Welch, BS, DPM (Doctor of Plant Medicine), of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will discuss key bed bug concepts everyone should know. This course will focus on preventing and protecting oneself from bed bugs when working in patient/client homes, as well as curbing the further spread of these pests. As well as providing an overview of bed bugs, Johanna Welch will discuss their life cycle, habitat, and behaviors, along with the potential health risks associated with bed bug infestations. During her presentation, she will discuss how bed bugs can be transmitted from one location to another, as well as the key signs that indicate an infestation. Active participants will learn how to identify bed bug bites and differentiate them from other insect bites. Johanna Welch will describe preventive measures, such as how to inspect and assess patients'/clients' homes for bed bugs, how to minimize the risk of infestation, what steps to take if bed bugs are detected in a client's home, and how to properly handle infested materials. To prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride to their next patient's/client's home, their own home, or the homes of their family and friends, participants will learn how to properly clean and sanitize their work equipment and clothing. Hear an expert in the field who can assist you in preventing and controlling bed bug infestations, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to you, your patients, and your community. Speaker/Course Author - Johanna Welch, BS, DPM Read more

We invite you to join for this month's Home Health Revenue Cycle session, an informative monthly series that covers Medicare-Certified industry hot topics. ​ This month's topic: "Eligibility & Establishing the Correct Payer" Who is going to pay the bill? This session will give agencies detail insight into the world of establishing the correct payer. How often should eligibility be reviewed?    Speaker/Course Author - Melinda Gaboury, COS-C Read more