Essential Training At Your Finger Tips

“I don’t know why I’m getting audited.” This is all too common a response a home health provider gives after the surveyor walks in the agency door. CMS believes that home health is a hotbed for fraud, waste and abuse. Home health agencies believe that they have done absolutely nothing wrong, and that they are being unfairly targeted by the government – ultimately to suspend payments and lead to insolvency. Here’s the truth: you are not being randomly targeted. CMS uses a distinct set of data points from the same OASIS data that you submit to determine if you are going to be audited. So as an agency, you believe that you are running your business in compliance with Medicare’s requirements, not based on data but based on what ‘feels right’. But at the same time, your data is being pushed through computers and identifying you as wasting the money being given to provide care. It is truly man versus the machine. Course Instructors - Kristi Bajer and Michael McGowan Read more

Music has been found to improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and other related dementias.  Cristina Rodriguez, President of Mind&Melody, Inc., will provide easy ways home care providers can incorporate sound therapy during client visits.   Read more

"Home health is in a constant state of flux. When we’re not dealing with the day to day of our clients and their needs, the industry is constantly bombarded with new regulations. CMS says this is to curb the rampant fraud in the industry. Home health, however, says that the federal government is out of touch, and has no idea of the importance home health serves our larger health care system. Navigating the compliance requirements of the payor while meeting the needs of patients and staff can only be done through system-ness and adherence to standardized patient care. As we navigate the waters of VBP, the Home Health Groupings Model (HHGM), and the additional Alternative Payment Models mandated by CMS, we need to evolve or retire our provider numbers. Ultimately, we need to look carefully at how we provide care, reduce costs, and increase outcomes. Changing our processes to be proactive rather than reactive we need to learn the lessons of those who have gone before us, to not only save our businesses, but grow them." - Kristi Bajer and Michael McGowan Read more

Accrediting agencies are looking at the Conditions of Participation (CoPs), however, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses the Medicare benefit policy manual which contains the conditions of payment; your agency needs to understand both. Backend Quality Assurance (QA) and Performance Improvement (PI) slows down both identification and resolution of issues and pushes the timeline for improvement in stars, Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) to a year or more. Agencies are often blind sided with Additional Documentation Reviews (ADR), Recovery Auditor Contractor (RAC), and Zone Program Integrtity Contractor (ZPIC) audits despite high marks on surveys because they are auditing from accrediting guidelines, not CMS triggers. CMS is using algorithms to look at every OASIS you submit. Top triggers are over utilization and indications that medical necessity and homebound status are questionable. New CoPs are only meeting the requirements accrediting agencies are already using. Course Instructor - Kristi Bajer and Michael McGowan Read more

What is a case manager's role? Isitsimply to assess, facilitate, and coordinate services? Or isitto be supportive, bring value, and have a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s needs? Case managers play an important role in supporting patients and their families. Patient care is not routine, and care coordination needs to meet changing needs. In this session, we will discuss how the role of the case manager is integraltoquality of care. Course Instructor - Christina Nuqui PT credits awarded for course completions are approved for 1 year and expire at the end of the calendar year unless otherwise stated. For a complete list of courses offering PT credits for this year, click here. Read more

This informative presentation will provide an overview of topics employers can and can't ask abouton employment applications andininterviews. The talk will include questions from actual applications with examples of permissible and non-permissible inquiries, as well as how to re-phrase questions to suit your needs. The lecture also will include a discussion of new laws for 2018 such as Ban The Box regarding prior criminal convictions and laws prohibiting inquiries into salary history. The presentation will be highly interactive and include ample opportunities for audience questions and comments. PT credits awarded for course completions are approved for 1 year and expire at the end of the calendar year unless otherwise stated. For a complete list of courses offering PT credits for this year, click here. Read more