Home Care Tech Report

It is March. Home health and hospice agency owners across the country are anticipating spring and the annual Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report to Congress. It should be released any day now so we spoke with NAHC President Bill Dombi, who has seen a draft of the January MedPAC vote on this year's issues. I'm certain you will find his comments valuable and enlightening. It really is a new day at NAHC.

Careful readers may notice that two of our reprints of vendor news releases are related. Homecare Homebase sent us an announcement about signing a major customer, make that the major customer. Netsmart, which currently serves that customer, has a major announcement about receiving a prestigious award from a leading market research company for its 50 years of service to all post-acute sectors, including home health, home care, hospice, and behavioral health.

With your new permission to allocate remote patient monitoring technology costs to patient rather than office overhead expenses, are you taking another look at investing in home telehealth systems? If so, you will gather most of the data you need to make that decision at next month's "2019 Telehealth: Innovative Changes in Healthcare Delivery" conference, April 18-19 in Las Vegas. Join Arlene Maxim, Bill Dombi, Robert Markette, Dr. Michelle Pezzani and me as we explore current success stories and the future promise of virtual care.

This would be a good time to remind readers that our little publication, after 20 years, has built a treasure-trove of information for researchers. Every article we have published since going electronic in 2005 remains on our servers and is accessible via our easy-to-use search engine, located directly under our category wheel. If you remember an older article but did not keep it, you can find it. If you are new to home health and home care and want to learn its history, pick a search word and type it into the search field. Too many results? Go back and click the "Advance" button and you can do a Boolean 'and' search on up to three key words. One restriction: don't use spaces, it doesn't do well with more than one word per line. Try it. You'll certainly find something educational in our more than 2,800 saved articles.

One more reminder. Our sponsors make this service possible. Click on their graphic ads to see what they have to offer. It might be just what you have been searching for.

Upcoming Events

National Healthcare CNO/CMO/Informatics Summit
Presented by Marcus Evans Events
Date: March 18-19, 2019
Location: The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA

The Healthcare Summits are the premium forums bringing senior level medical executives and solution providers together. The one-on-one business meetings provide access to senior medical executives within the largest healthcare organizations across the United States. A thorough selection process ensures a qualified audience, which grants unparalleled business and networking opportunities in a luxurious and stimulating environment.

Information and registration

2019 Omaha System International Conference: A Key to Practice, Documentation, and Information Management
Date: April 3-5, 2019
Location: Eagan, Minnesota
Fees: Pre-Conference (1 day): $165
Conference (2 days): $335
Pre-conference and Conference (all 3 days): $500

Registration and Information

The Omaha System International Conference is held every two years as a venue for those in practice, education, research, and software development to exchange experiences. There is something for everyone involved with the Omaha System, from beginners to experts to everyone in between. Joyce Sensmeier, HIMSS is the keynote speaker, and The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing is the school host. The 2019 PDF flier includes location and registration information, speaker/planner list, agenda, exhibitors, and more.

National Healthcare CXO Summit

Presented by Marcus Evans Events

Date: May 19-21
Location: Eau Palm Beach Resort
Keynote Presenters: Susan Blumenthal, past US Assistant Surgeon General; Nicholas Webb, Healthcare Futurist
Registration Information
The National Healthcare CXO Summit is the premium forum bringing senior level healthcare executives and solution providers together. As an invitation-only event, taking place behind closed doors, the Summit offers an intimate environment for a focused discussion of key new drivers shaping the healthcare industry.

WEBINAR: 5 Crucial Ways to Prepare for PDGM

Sponsored by: HealthCare Synergy
Featuring: Michael Tidd, LVN, COS-C, COS-D
Dates: November 13
Time: 10:00 am PST / 1:00 am EST

Information and Registration
Agencies are rapidly trying to prepare for the PDGM payment model. We will show you the most crucial ways an agency can prepare for the internal changes needed for PDGM. While most agencies are focusing on how to instruct clinicians on the change, PDGM has the most impact on office functions. Attend and gain insight on the things the agency needs to be doing now to prepare for January 1, 2020.
Objectives:
1. Learn agency level changes that can be implemented to be successful in 2020
2. Understand how to approach budgeting and finances under PDGM
3. What do your clinicians really need to know to ensure the agencies continued success
Michael Tidd has over 19 years of experience in the Home Care Industry and is a frequent speaker at HealthCare Synergy Workshops and Webinars. He is a Software Developer, LVN and Certified in ICD-9/10 Coding and OASIS (COS-C, HCS-D). As the Clinical Manager for HealthCare Synergy, he directs the Outsourced Management Services, assists in directing the development of the Healthcare Assistant Web Edition, oversees the Clinical Documentation Auditing provided to clients and directs the Clinical Form Development for the Healthcare Assistant Web Edition. Michael continues to educate agencies in the ongoing regulations that CMS produces, the proper application of the Medicare Conditions of Participation and completing timely, accurate and defendable clinical documentation to survive in the current Medicare Reimbursement Model.

Webinar: Post-Acute Care Quality Reporting Programs
Presented by: CMS
Date: Thursday, November 14
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm EST
Fee: Free

Description: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting a webinar for Medicare-certified hospice providers to provide an overview on Hospital Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) requirements.
During this webinar, CMS subject matter experts will provide information on the following topics:
Hospice Item Set (HIS) reporting requirements;
HQRP compliance cycle;
How to achieve hospice compliance;
CAHPs survey requirements; and
How to switch CAHPS survey research vendors.
CMS will answer questions at the end of the webinar as time permits.
Register

Conference: Successful Home Health Transformation
Hosted Dixon Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
Date: December 5-6
Location: Bally's, Las Vegas
Time: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Speakers: Richard K. Dixon, Cheryl Peltekis, RN, Meaghan McCormick, Esq., Donna Floyd, RN, BSN, J'non Griffin, RN, MHA, HCS-D, BCCH-C, COS-C, WCC; Annette Lee, RN, MS, HCS-D, COS-C; Cory Mertz, managing partner for a leading healthcare M&A firm.
Information and Registration
Approved for up to 10 hours of Continuing Nursing Education by Corexcel, an accredited provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

WEBINAR: PDGM Preparation: Operational Strategies
Sponsored by Kornetti & Krafft Health Care Solutions & MedBridge
Date: December 5
Time: 1:00 pm EST
Information and Registration

Knowing that resources are tight as PDGM approaches, Kornetti & Krafft is offering a free overview of OASIS D1 to ensure that changes to this critical data collection instrument do not get lost in the shuffle.
What is Included:
Highlight key differences between OASIS D and D1
Make an informed decision about the use of "=" as a response
As an outsourced OASIS/Coding company, the most commonly seen OASIS errors and proven strategies for success will be included.

Homecare 100 *January 19-22
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort
Miami, FL
https://www.homecare100.com/

WEBINAR: Key Documentation Issues for 2020 & the Future
A 90-Minute Lunch & Learn Audio Conference by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. Health Care Attorney
Date: March 18
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 EDT
Encore date: March 25; On-demand recording available

Information and Registration

Documentation remains a key requirement for home care providers as the consequences for inadequate documentation become more severe.
What can home health agencies do to avoid denials by ZPICs, RACs, etc., for lack of homebound status and reasonable and necessary care?
What kind of documentation must home health agencies, hospices, private duty agencies and HME companies maintain regarding gifts to referral sources and payments to physicians who make referrals to them?
How can providers avoid an increase in enforcement action in this area?
What kinds of documentation problems are private duty agencies facing with regard to recoupments from state Medicaid Programs?
What dangers do electronic medical records cause for all types of home health providers?
Is it true that if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done?

Gather your staff members to emphasize effective documentation yet again. Real examples of cases involving problematic documentation will be presented. Questions and case examples are welcome, and extensive handouts will be provided for use by staff members.

Recordings Available: Pandemic Recovery - Rebuild Stronger Than Ever
Texas Association for Home Care and Hospice
Two days of keynote and breakout presentations for home health and hospice providers.
Purchase Recordings

Virtual Conference: Virtual Summit on Health System Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Nation’s Health System Leaders Engage in a Real-Time Dialogue on Pandemic Recovery and the Future of Health Care in America
Sponsored by: Global Health Care, LLC
Featuring:
David Brailer, MD, PhD, Executive Chairman, Health Evolution, Former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Former CEO, CareScience
Bruce D. Broussard, MBA President and CEO, Humana, Former Chair and Chief Executive Officer, US Oncology
Michael W. Cropp, MD, MBA President and CEO, Independent Health, Chairman, Alliance of Community Health Plans
Wyatt Decker, MD, MBA CEO, OptumHealth
Date: June 22-25
The Nation’s Health System Leaders Engage in a Real-Time Dialogue on Pandemic Recovery and the Future of Health Care in America
All health care providers offering full-time, hands-on services to COVID patients click here to register at no cost.
All others register here by June 5 for $200 discount

Webinar Series: Sales Training, Home Health and Hospice
Presented by: Healthcare Strategica, LLC
Featuring: Michael Ferris

1 - 8-week Hospice & Palliative Care Sales Training Course
2 - 8-week Home Health Sales Training
Rowan Report subscribers: Register with this link to receive $100 discount.
We have taken our best of class industry specific sales training bootcamps and are offering them via Webinar to enable you to continue to train your sales team in today's world of limited travel and social distancing.
The Hospice and Palliative Care course will be offered live every Tuesday starting May 19 through July 7, 2020.
The Home Health course will be offered live every Tuesday starting May 21 through July 9, 2020.
Each class will have participation exercises, homework assignments, quizzes and question and answer opportunities.
Each participant will receive their own course materials and individual coaching and feedback. At the conclusion of the course each student will receive a certificate of completion, an invitation to join the exclusive Sales Mastery Group* and opportunity to join the 52-week Sales Training Excellence Course.*
* Only available to Sales Professionals that have successfully completed the 8-week Sales Training Course – additional fees may apply.
Each session will be offered on-demand and if unable to attend the live webinar, you will be able to view the recording and participate in exercises, questions, coaching and quizzes. If you start after the first webinar date, you will be provided with access to those classes missed so that you can get caught up or you may elect to attend via the recorded sessions.

Virtual Conference: NAHC Financial Managers Annual Meeting

July 27-30
Register

Free Webinar: Carpe Diem: Now is the Ideal Time to Excavate Your Brand Genius

A complimentary webinar & roundtable discussion for executive business leaders
Featuring: Mary Maloney
Date: September 11
Time: 12:00 - 12:45 EDT
Now more than ever we need leaders ready to own a new world narrative - those who are brave enough to strategically position and message their voice in the marketplace from a deeper perspective of purpose that connects directly to what lights them up (their brand genius).
Many leaders confess that they have forgotten their greatness or feel lost in a sea of sameness, amongst a fiercely competitive set. They say they struggle with what words will resonate or feel “salesy” when asked, “What do you do?”
Thanks to the pace of technology, we have less than seconds to connect, therefore, it’s no longer all about what you do for a living and the quantifiable goals you achieved; it’s much more about what you stand for, the legacy you want to leave and building trust expeditiously with your tribe.
If 82% of people make buying decisions based on emotion (Capgemini), what emotive messages are you sending?
This webinar will start you on your journey to deliberately make your personal brand come alive.

Register

PIVOT. PREPARE. PROSPER.

The 2020 Annual Conference of the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina
September 28-30
This year's conference will be presented online
Information and Registration
Sign up to hear presentations by:
Arif Kamal, MD, MBA, MHS, Medical Oncologist, Palliative Medicine Specialist, Physician Quality and Outcomes Officer for the Duke Cancer Institute
Bill Dombi, President, National Association for Home Care & Hospice
Edo Banach, President/CEO, National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
Vicki, Hoak, Executive Director, Home Care Association of America (HCAOA)
Tim Rogers, President/CEO, Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina and South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association
Josh Stein, North Carolina Attorney General
Tracy Colvard, VP of Government Relations & Public Policy, AHHC of NC
Julia Adams-Scheurich, Owner, Oak City Government Relations, Lobbyist, AHHC of NC
Matt Wolfe, Partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, Legal Counsel & Lobbyist, AHHC of NC

Free Webinar: Preparation For A New Normal — Infection Control
Presented by: Savii
Featuring: James Cohen, CEO, Nevvon
Date: October 20
Time: 1:00 EDT
Fee: Free
Register
This webinar is catered to home care agency owners, HR, operations, nursing and marketers.

You will learn:
How infection control will change home care
What we learned from COVID-19
How to increase your census

FREE WEBINAR: How Technology Enhances Home Care in an Increasingly Remote World *
Sponsored by: Care Connect
Moderator:Panelists: Tim Rowan
Panelists: Mike Gelman, President COO, CareConnect; Jim Rolla, SVP, VNSYNY Partners in Care; Steve Pellito, SVP, Provider Sales, Sandata
Date: November 12
Time: 1:00 pm EDT
Register

Virtual Conference: Southwest Homecare and Hospice

A collaborative online conference by the home care associations of:
Arizona
Colorado
Louisiana
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Utah
and the Arizona Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Date: November 18-19
Information and Registration
Experience recognized experts and thought leaders as they share their insights, actionable strategies, and relevant tools and resources.

*The Rowan Report will see you there.

Interoperability for Service Providers through CMS’s EMDI Initiative
Presented by: ElevatingHOME and VNAA
Featuring: Pallavi Talekar, Project Manager, Scope Infotech, Inc.; Ray Wilkerson, Sr. Business Analyst, Scope Infotech, Inc.; Nandini Ganguly, Business Analyst, Scope Infotech, Inc.; Kishan Patel Business Analyst, Scope Infotech, Inc.; Briana Barnes, Project Coordinator, Scope Infotech, Inc.
Date: Tuesday, July 30
Time: 12:00 pm EDT
Fee: Free to ElevatingHome, VNAA, and Alliance for Home Health Quality Improvement members
Registration

Representatives from the EMDI Initiative team will discuss interoperability using health IT standards, including Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). Participants will learn about pilot opportunities with CMS to enhance provider workflow using three critical use cases. Participants will:

Gain knowledge of interoperability concepts and use of latest standards, including FHIR;
Gather information on three critical use cases in the post-acute care setting to reduce provider burden and enhance their interoperability footprint; and
Identify next steps for participation in an upcoming pilot opportunity with CMS.

Security Risk Assessment Tool Overview and User Feedback Session
Presented by: CMS
Date: Wednesday July 17
Time: 1:00 pm EDT
Fee: Free

ONC and the HHS Office for Civil Rights are holding a training session and overview of the Security Risk Assessment (SRA) Tool. The tool is designed to assist small to medium providers in conducting an internal security risk assessment. This assessment will aid providers with their security risk analysis as required by the HIPAA Security Rule and the CMS EHR Incentive program. Following the webinar, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Register

PDGM’s Behavioral Adjustments - What You Need to Know Now
Sponsored by eSolutions
Featuring: Karri Wright, Sr. Director, Product Management at Homecare Homebase
Date: Thursday, August 29
Time: 2:00 pm CDT
Fee: Free
REGISTER NOW
The webinar covers:
CMS assumptions and intended adjustments and their impact on:
Upcoding
Comorbidities
LUPA Avoidance
Considerations for HHAs
Evaluating your HHA data now to assess tomorrow based on today’s reality

A QUALITY JOB: Clinical Management & Care Coordination Under PDGM
Hosted by VNAA
Sponsored by MatrixCare/Brightree
Presented by Simione Healthcare Consultants
Featuring: Laura Wilson, RN, BSN, Sr. Manager, Simione Healthcare Consultants
Date: Wednesday, September 11
Time: 12:00 pm EDT

Free Registration

PDGM is so much more than a billing change! Home health agencies preparing for payment reform need to look closely at clinical operations to make accommodations that will uphold quality, including care alternatives that add value to the equation. In this webinar, we’ll share insights based on the findings of gap analyses to help your organization make a successful transition under the new requirements. Recommended Attendees: Clinical Managers, Intake Staff, Coders / QA, Finance & Billing personnel Hosted by VNAA, sponsored by MatrixCare/Brightree, presented by Simione Healthcare Consultants

Hospice compliance 2019: confronting a surprising new survey focus

Sponsored by: Wellsky
Featuring: Robert Markette, esq.

Date: March 14
Time: Noon CDT
Fee: None

Hospice providers today are confronting a new and unexpected survey focus. Hospice surveyors are increasingly focused on issues relating to hospice administration. This administrative focus includes topics such as your hospice’s corporate structure, the relationship between your hospice’s parent office and its multiple locations, and the role and job title of your administrator. Hospice providers who have been successfully operating for years are suddenly finding themselves hit with condition level citations. How will your hospice team adapt to the major survey focus of 2019? Join renowned hospice attorney Robert W. Markette of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C. for an exclusive webinar that will prepare you and your team for the major survey focus of 2019.

Information and registration

Attend and learn:

Why a poorly drafted organizational chart can be a significant problem for your hospice

What hospice surveyors are looking for in the relationship between your hospice’s parent office and its multiple locations

Why calling your administrator something other than “administrator” could be a survey issue

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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