Volume 8, Number 43 — March 27, 2019
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
I have some money for you! The organizers of next month's "Telehealth 2019: Innovative Changes in Healthcare Delivery" conference have allowed me to offer my subscribers 20% off their registration fee. Besides myself, speakers will include NAHC President Bill Dombi, attorney Robert Markette, home telehealth consultant Karen Thomas, California's El Camino Hospital executives Dr. Michelle Pezzani and Grace Benlice, and Tammy Ross from Axxess Software, who will talk about telehealth and PDGM opportunities.
To get your discount, go to the conference site at connectedhomeliving.com/event-2 and register with the discount code SPEAKER20.
There are two important news items of interest to non-medical home care as well as Medicare providers this week. If you accept payment from insurance companies for non-Medicare patients, or for non-Medicare covered services for Medicare beneficiaries, please pay attention to the announcement from CMS regarding a change in government policy regarding Affordable Care Act regulations. We thought the news important enough to reprint CMS's bulletin and write a separate piece interpreting its meaning for many of our readers.
Here is the potential negative outcome. Healthcare organizations of all types, from hospitals to nursing homes to home health and home care providers might not be paid by some insurance policies for services rendered and might not find out about the problem until quite a bill has been racked up. First read the CMS announcement, "Administration Will Not Enforce Regs Against Non-ACA-Compliant Health Policies" then see our analysis of its meaning to home care, "Make Sure Your Insurance Clients Are Actually Insured."
The second news item of interest to Medicare and non-medical providers alike is the grant awarded to Texas A&M. They will conduct a research study on the effects of in-home remote patient monitoring for persons with dementia. The technology company participating in the grant is a new one to us, perhaps to you too. They go well beyond just measuring vital signs by installing motion sensors in the home as well as providing digital bp cuffs, weight scales, and the like. Plus, they give the patient a wearable device that tracks their location and talks to them through two-way communication if they wander. We spoke with the company president to learn more about how his system works. I think you'll find it fascinating.
Lastly, hospice provider probably already know but we have reprinted the CMS announcement, with direct links, that Hospice provider preview reports and Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Survey® provider preview reports have been updated and are now available.
That's the news for this week. I hope you see you in Las Vegas next month. So much has changed in remote patient monitoring technology and reimbursement, this would be a good time to get an update.
And remember that this free service is made possible by our generous sponsors. Be sure to click on their graphic displays to see if they are offering just what you are looking for. Especially, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page and click on the announcement of this summer's "Post Acute 360" conference event from Lincoln Health.
Have a great week. Keep making a difference!
Clairvoyant Networks to Provide Technology for Texas A&M Research Grant
The Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) awarded a grant to Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, and the University of North Texas Health Science Center to study the effects of remote patient monitoring on Alzheimer's patients.
Administration Will Not Enforce Regs Against Non-ACA-Compliant Health Policies
CMS announces an extension of the right to buy health insurance policies not subject to ACA minimum standards.
Make Sure Your Insurance Clients Are Actually Insured
Know if your patient carries one of these cheap, non-compliant insurance policies before you begin services.
Hospice CAHPS Released
Hospice provider preview reports and Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Survey ® provider preview reports have been updated and are now available.
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During the 2nd Quarter of 2020, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 4523 times. To inquire about placing your message here, contact: Kristin@rowanresources.com As of this date, approximately 33,088,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Kindred at Home selects Homecare Homebase as agency's EMR system
Netsmart Earns Black Book Awards
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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 ResortKeynote Presenters: Susan Blumenthal, past US Assistant Surgeon General; Nicholas Webb, Healthcare Futurist
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 RegistrationAgencies 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 successMichael 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.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 StrategiesSponsored by Kornetti & Krafft Health Care Solutions & MedBridge
Date: December 5
Time: 1:00 pm EST
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.
Free Webinar: Home Care Marketing Best Practices for Medicaid Agencies
Presented by: Ankota
Featuring: Steve "The Hurricane" Weiss
Date: June 18
Time: 12:00 EDT
Fee: FreeHere are a few biographical fun-facts about Steve:
- As a marketer, grew Care Choice, a private duty home care agency from 16 clients to over $5 million in annual revenue
- His company, Hurricane Marketing Enterprises runs marketing boot camps and provides other services to help agencies grow and thrive
- Steve has been a featured key-note speaker in many national conferences
- Check out his website here: homecaremarketing.net
- The best things about a session with Steve are his passion for home care, his great stories and his infectious energy!
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.
Virtual Conference: ATA Annual Meeting
American Telemedicine Association
Date: June 22-26
Webinar Series: Sales Training, Home Health and Hospice
Presented by: Healthcare Strategica, LLC
Featuring: Michael Ferris
1 - 8-week Hospice & Palliative Care Sales Training Course2 - 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.
FREE WEBINAR: COVID-19 Forum: How Coronavirus is Reshaping Home Health and Hospice Financial Operations *
Sponsored by: HealthRev Partners
Moderator: Tim Rowan
Panelists: Bobby Robertson, Chip Carroll, Holly Miller, John Reisinger, Rachel Bracken (details below)Date: July 9
Time: 2:00 pm EDT
Not only is the home care industry under tremendous clinical pressure, but you are also likely feeling a financial squeeze. Because of this, forward-thinking agency leaders are exploring new strategies and opportunities to remain solvent. In this webinar, our panelists will chat about ways to achieve financial success when so many are struggling. They will discuss:
Panelists:
Bobby Robertson | President & Founder, Missouri Home Hospice
Chip Carroll | Director of Strategy & Business Development, Playmaker Health
Holly Miller | Chief Revenue Officer, Playmaker Health
John Reisinger | Principal, Innovative Financial Solutions for Home Health
Rachel Bracken | Vice President of Services, HealthRev Partners
Moderated by Tim Rowan | Editor, Healthcare at Home: The Rowan Report
Part III: "Agency Leadership and Operations" is set for July 23.
Virtual Conference: NAHC Financial Managers Annual Meeting
July 27-30
Virtual Conference: SAGE 2020
Hosted by Honor
This is a half day, free conference that will stretch all of us to think about how we are shaping the future of elderhood. Our speakers will cover topics around innovation, technology, the evolving art of caregiving and the future of senior living. I’m very excited that we will kick off with Pulitzer Prize finalist and geriatrician Louise Aronson, author of Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life.
Date: September 1 & 2, 2020
Time: 10:00 am - 12:45 pm PST both days
Cost: Free of charge for Rowan Report subscribers
Website: https://network.joinhonor.com/sage-2020
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 EDTNow 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.
*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
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:
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: FreeThe 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 ConsultantsFeaturing: 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
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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