Volume 10, Number 44 — December 8, 2021
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
Before summarizing this week's news, we have a couple of newsworthy announcements, and maybe an opinion or two.
While the fate of COVID vaccination mandates ping pongs about in courts, overwhelming evidence remains clear that sending unvaccinated caregivers into patient homes is a terrible idea. The CDC reported recently that the infection rates per 100,000 individuals were six to ten times higher among unvaccinated people compared with vaccinated people of the same age group. Since the arrival of the Delta variant, the unvaccinated have been filling hospital beds at an alarming rate. Except in rare cases where other health issues are a factor, vaccinated people in all age groups experience mild, cold-like symptoms and are rarely hospitalized.
We have been telling you about a federal grant program, "Flex For Checks," that pays home care agencies, their workers, and their patients/clients a modest cash reward for every COVID shot received and registered with the program, whether by a client or an employee. Though the successful program is on schedule to exhaust its grant funds early next year, there is still time to take advantage of it. Those in the best position to gather remaining funds are home care agencies already participating but who still have staff and patients/clients that have either not been vaccinated or who have received the shot but have not yet registered it. In other words, "time's a wastin'," get busy!
If it is inspiration you need, consider the efforts of a participant in Florida whom we will call TW. She took the grant program seriously and has registered so many vaccinations in her community that Flex For Checks has sent her over $25,000 to date.
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We have also been paying attention to certain legislations being proposed in Washington. The Choose Home Care Act of 2021, S. 2562/H.R. 1544 is a cost-effective, patient preferred, home-based, extended care benefit as a supplement to the existing home health benefit. It promises to support patients to leave the hospital and recover at home with a mix of expanded skilled nursing, therapy, personal care, telehealth services and more. Just as importantly, it is predicted to reduce Medicare spending. The National Association for Home Care and Hospice and the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare are backing the bill, which is receiving bi-partisan support in the House and Senate. Both urge you to help by contacting your own elected officials.
We are also keeping a close eye on the Build Back Better Act. Whatever your political position on government spending, this bill does include $150 billion (over 10 years) for in-home care. Coupled with the end of supplemental unemployment payments, this assistance to allow agencies to offer higher hourly wages could mean an influx of applicants next year. States must increase spending in order to receive matching federal funds, so, if it passes, you will need to write your Medicaid officials and state legislators. This potential good news comes with a warning, however. Resist the impulse to hire indiscriminately. It will still cost you between $2,000 and $4,000 every time you hire the wrong person, the ones who disappear after orientation and training. There is a way to mitigate this loss; we will be talking about it extensively next year.
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Netsmart is hosting an important, free webinar on December 15. Experts from the National Association for the Support of Long-Term Care will present their view of the future of the entire Post-Acute Care sector. Click on the headline below for registration details.
A new provider of only in-home physical therapy services is rapidly growing from its origins in California to 22 states so far, with more to come. They bill through Medicare Part B and have referral relationships with health systems and orthopedic groups. Are they a potential partner? Competitor? You decide after reading our interview with one of the founders of "Luna Physical Therapy."
Another provider that is expanding across the country, from its home in Atlanta to the Pacific coast. The Braff Group just announced it has facilitated the acquisition of a major California Medicare, MediCal, and Private Duty provider by Aveanna, the company formed only four years ago through the merger of PSA Healthcare and Epic Health Services. This was not Aveanna's first acquisition, nor will it be its last.
Have a great week. Keep making a difference!
Aveanna Healthcare Acquires Accredited Home Care
Braff Group facilitates another major home care acquisition.
Airrosti and Luna Partner to Improve Access for Musculoskeletal Care
Growing out-patient, in-home PT provider may be Home Health partner...or competitor.
NASL Experts Plan Free Webinar on Future of Post-Acute Care
"2022 Long-Term & Post-Acute Care Industry Outlook: NASL Experts Chart the Path Ahead" to be presented by Netsmart, December 15.
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During the 2nd Quarter of 2022, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 4119 times. To inquire about placing your message here, contact: Kristin@rowanresources.com As of this date, approximately 43,945,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
AlayaCare/Delta Announcement Inspires Memory Lane Trip
Security Breaches Plague Healthcare Providers
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*The Rowan Report will see you there.
FREE WEBINAR: New, Science-Based Methodology Reduces Cost of Recruitment and Retention
Presented by: The Rowan Report
Featuring: Eric Becker, CEO, MiliMatch
Date: Thursday, March 18
Time: 3:00 pm EST; Noon PST
Recorded version available.
Agenda:
Every time a home care agency hires and trains a new caregiver, it invests about $4,500, which is wasted if that new hire does not work out, often before working a first shift. MiliMatch CEO Eric Becker will explain the company's patented product/service, based on the science of Applied Cognitive Linguistics, which has been proven to help home care agencies avoid those costly bad hires.
2022 Rocky Mountain Home Care, Home Health & Hospice Conference *Presented by: Home Care Association of Colorado
Dates: May 5-6
Venue: Keystone Resort & Conference Center, Keystone, CO
FREE WEBINAR: Combat the Great Resignation and Reduce Employee Turnover by 40%
Presented by: National Minority Health Association
Date: Tuesday, May 24
Time: 10:00 AM Pacific; 1:00 PM Eastern
Information and Registration
Agenda
As organizations plan for the future, they must cultivate a happier, healthier workforce. Most CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, and other business leaders are eager to know the true impact of financial wellness. We are gathering to discuss and explore how prioritizing employee financial wellness can help increase caregiver retention and productivity at no cost to your businesses.
Gulf Coast Regional Conference & Exposition
Presented by: Home Care Associations of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
Date: July 18-20
Venue: Grand Hotel Marriott Resort
Location: Point Clear, Alabama
2022 NAHC Financial Management Conference & Exposition *
Date: July 24-26
Venue: Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
Register for the in-person conference - starting at $750 for NAHC members or $1,025 for non-members - or for the digital only content - $400 for members and $600 for non-members. If you register for the in-person conference, you'll get access to all of the digital content.
2022 ONC Virtual Tech Forum
Sponsored by: Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Location: Online
Dates: September 9, 16, and 23
ONC has posted the high-level agenda and opened up registration for the 2022 ONC Virtual Tech Forum on HealthIT.gov. This year's event takes place during three consecutive Fridays in September (9th, 16th, 23rd). As in years past, the Tech Forum will feature industry perspectives on the progress made in health IT over the past year, and highlight how we can continue to advance health technology to improve patient care, health equity, data exchange, and interoperability.
ARE YOU READY?
2022 Leadership Conference: Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina
Dates: September 25-27
Venue: Hotel Ballast
City: Wilmington
Register: ahhcconferences.com
20 educational sessions led by top industry experts, 30+ high caliber speakers, and over 40 exhibitors, including NAHC's Bill Dombi; David Rendall, Author; NC DHHS's Debra C. Farrington, MSW, LCSW; AHHC of NC Staff and Lobbyists; experts from ACHC; CHAP; Axxess; Wellsky; FORVIS; KATANA Safety; Cone Health; Delta Care Rx; The Joint Commission; Well Care Health; SembraCare, Inc.; SimiTree; LTSS Consulting, Inc.; Healthcare Provider Solutions; CareXM; 3HC and more!
Bandwidth, Not Burnout: Workforce Technologies To Combat Burnout in Home-Health and Hospice
Free Webinar, presented by: CareXM
Speakers: - Kelli Carner, RN, BSN, BRMP, MHA, CBRM, Executive Director of Information Services, Providence Home and Community Care; Jeanette Dove, RN, MA, Executive VP & Chief Quality Officer Emeritus, Bristol Hospice and Founder/Principal, Engage Home-Health and Hospice Consultancy; Laurie Nelson, BSN, RN, Director of Clinical Services, CareXM
Date: September 28, 2022
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 EDT
Details and RegistrationIn our post-Pandemic world, higher percentages of operating budgets are going to "staffing." But in spending these extra dollars are we solving for triage chaos, improving both patient and clinician experiences?
Three expert clinician-managers – two from top-10 Home-Health and Hospice providers and one the from the company delivering Software with a Service solutions – will assess our current situation, point out what is needed for future development, and share their POV about what is available today to solve for triage chaos and sustainable, scalable growth, yielding Bandwidth, not Burnout.
MHCA 52nd Annual Meeting & Expo
Sponsored by: Minnesota Home Care Association
Date: October 12-14
Information and Registration
Venue: Breezy Point Resort
City: Breezy Point, MN
2022 NAHC Annual Meeting & Exposition *
"Connection 4.0: Linkup"
Date: October 23-25
Venue: America's Center Convention Complex
Location: St. Louis, MOThis year, we want to celebrate one of the most meaningful touchstones of our industry — connection. At the Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo, we'll explore ideas around connection and community to help attendees reach their stakeholders in authentic and meaningful ways.
New technology, workforce developments, and the importance of high standards in quality care continue to push our community of clinicians and providers to revamp their strategies and skill sets. This event is the meeting point for you to uncover groundbreaking ideas, discover new interests, and network with industry pros.
Meet us in St. Louis, Missouri, once known as the "Gateway to the West." So, it is perfectly centered to make those connections even easier for members and attendees from all ends of the U.S. We look forward to linking up with you this October!
2022 Annual Conference
New Mexico Association for Home and Hospice CareDate: November 3
Venue: CNM Workforce Training Center
City: AlbuquerqueFeaturing:
- Lisa McClammy on "Navigating the New World of Home Health Value-Based Purchasing"
- Petria McKelvey on "Medicare Advantage & Third Party Payers: How to Get Paid!"
- Tim Rowan on "Technologies to Improve Staff Recruiting & Retention"
Homecare 100 *
Presented by: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership
Date: January 22-25, 2023
Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes, FL
Registration Information
Your state or national association meeting or webinar not listed? Send the details to Conferences@RowanResources.com using this format:
Conference Title
Sponsoring Association
Date(s)
Hotel or Conference Center, City, State
URL
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