Volume 10, Number 44 — June  23, 2021



Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,

In our continuing quest to find solutions to your primary challenge, staffing, we offer two pieces of good news in this week's issue. I urge you to pay close attention to both of them, one of which will require a small investment, the other which will pay you and your staff to participate.

What you need to do to deal with your staffing challenge is address both recruiting and retention, which are inextricably linked. Our first solution is to pay more than what unemployment pays, and we found something that will help until the federal unemployment supplements expire. Please direct your attention first to this week's lead item, "HHS Awards $125 Million in Workforce Grants to Bolster Vaccinations." We put you in touch with a national association that won one of these grants and is using it to pay home health and home care providers, clinicians, caregivers, and patients every time one of their patients gets a COVID shot. What does this have to do with recruiting and retention? Think about the power of word of mouth. If you participate, word will get around about your significant bonuses and you may start seeing more applicants. If nothing else, your agency and your people can bring in some well-needed cash.

 

If staffing has you puzzled, maybe an outside expert is the answer. If so, take a close look at this week's entry from guest author and healthcare recruiting veteran Szilvia Toth. She explains, out of her decade of experience, what works and what does not in your efforts to fill your open positions with competent, dedicated people. Read about the importance of branding, reputation, communication, and data.

 

Care Coordination: Darcey Trescone interviewed FirstLight Home Care and communications technology vendor Dina this week and brings her insights into their joint effort to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions. Click on Darcey's article below.

Vendor Watch: Quite a lot of vendor news this week. AlayaCare has raised another round of funding, this time $225 million. Health Recovery Solutions announced a $70 million investment in its remote patient monitoring company. eCaring™ acquired Home Care IT™. Homecare Homebase named Swift Medical as its preferred wound care technology partner. And home care veteran Brad Caldwell has been named COO for Careficient.

 

CMS News: Two announcements this week were worth reprinting for you from notices we received. One is the official statement regarding the Supreme Court's recent 7-2 decision in support of the Affordable Care Act. The other is their update on the record number of Americans enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

 

Upcoming: As we have been telling you, I ame attending Homecare 100 this week, so our next issue will be dated July 7. In the meantime, we will be posting frequent, brief video updates on our Facebook page. Go to facebook.com/homecaretech and 'like' us. Then return from time to time, Monday through Wednesday, to see if we have captured important technology news for you. 

 

 

Let me take one more line to renew my gratitude to our sponsors. These companies make it possible for us to bring you this free service. Show your appreciation by clicking on their graphic ads. They may be offering just what you are looking for.

Have a great week. Keep making a difference!

Editor signature
Tim Rowan



HHS Awards $125 Million in Workforce Grants to Bolster Vaccinations
Home Care, Home Health agencies encouraging COVID vaccinations to receive payments from grantee.

Winning the War for Workers Against the Odds
Guest author and healthcare recruiting consultant Szilvia Toth explains how the right technology can be a game-changer for a home care and home health agency's recruiting and retention challenges.

FirstLight Home Care Partners with Dina in Care Coordination
Leading national non-medical home care provider to implement care coordination tool.

CMS Statement on SCOTUS June 16 ACA Decision
Official statement from CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas.

AlayaCare Raises $225 Million
CAD Series D funding "to accelerate digital transformation of Home Health Care."

CMS News: Record Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment
During the 12-month period that includes the onset of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP exceeded 80 million.

Vendor Watch
— eCaring™ acquires Home Care IT™
— Homecare Homebase names preferred wound care technology partner
— Careficient names Brad Caldwell COO
— HRS lands $70 million investment.



During the 4th Quarter of 2023, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 30286 times.

To inquire about placing your message here, contact:

Kristin@rowanresources.com

As of this date, approximately 42,097,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible.

 

Last Week's Most-Read Stories:

Contaminated "Affiliations" Predicted to Shutter Hundreds of HHAs
CMS has not decided how to implement 21-month old final rule, but still predicts it may shut down 2,600 Medicare providers.

Humana Acquires Another Home Care Provider
One Homecare Solutions, known as "onehome," serves eight states from its Miramar, Florida headquarters.


Upcoming Events

2021 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo *

National Association for Home Care and Hospice

Date: October 3-5
Venue: New Orleans

Sadly, this conference has had to be postponed, due to the hurricane in New Orleans and COVID situation in Louisiana.


FREE WEBINAR: Targeted Probe & Educate: Where Do You Stand?

Presented by: Healthcare Synergy
Featuring:
Michael Tidd, COS-C, HCS-D, HealthCare Synergy Clinical Manager

Date: Wednesday, November 3
Time: 11:00 am PDT / 2:00 pm EDT

Register

Overview:
Targeted Probe and Educate is a CMS initiative to seek a better understanding of agencies practices in order to protect the Medicare funds. Agencies self-identify themselves and request reviews by their actions and the data they provide to CMS. Are you aware of the signals you might be sending and how to protect yourself?
Objectives:
Speaker:
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.

FREE WEBINAR: Admit more Patients & Stop Nursing Burnout!

Presented by: OperaCare

Date: November 10

Time: 1:00 pm EST; 10:00 PST

Information and Registration

The nursing shortage is getting much worse and will most likely impact your business if it has not already.
During this event we will demonstrate how to complete an entire OASIS in approx. 60 minutes or less. This includes ICD-10 coding, entry and revision of medication’s, all the OASIS items, and Quality Assurance while the nurse is with the patient in the home.

The result: Eliminating 100% of after-hours documentation, increasing clinical productivity, and reducing your labor costs.

The Benefit: The ability to significantly increase your recruitment and retention efforts by providing your clinicians with a sane and humane work life balance.


20th Annual Northeast Home Health Leadership Summit

Sponsored by: State Associations of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (HCA), New York (HCP), Rhode Island, VNAs of Vermont

Dates: January 17-19

Venue: Revere Hotel, Boston

 

Information and Registration


Homecare 100 *

Presented by: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership

Date: January 22-25, 2023
Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes, FL

Registration Information


 

Shine Your Light
Illinois HomeCare & Hospice Council Annual Meeting and Exposition

Dates: April 9-10
Venue: NIU Naperville

Information and Registration


FREE WEBINAR: CMS’ Proposed Hospice FY2024 Payment Rule: Implications for Agencies and the Hospice Community

Sponsored by NAHC
Featuring: Theresa Forster, Katie Wehri

Date: April 11
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 EDT

Details and Registration

 

Description: In addition to routine annual payment changes, CMS proposed FY2024 Hospice Payment Rule, issued on March 31, contains valuable updates on the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP). Perhaps most notable, the rule's deep dive into utilization trends signals an intensified interest in hospice care patterns, potentially inappropriate behavior in the hospice sector, and program integrity concerns.  Join two of NAHC's hospice experts as they detail proposed changes, including a new requirement that hospice certifying physicians be Medicare enrolled (or to have validly opted-out) and CMS' Requests for Information on hospice utilization and health equity, and examine their potential impact on hospice practice going forward.

Faculty: Theresa M. Forster, NAHC VP for Hospice Policy & Programs
Katie Wehri, NAHC Director of Home Health & Hospice Regulatory Affairs


WEBINAR: Audits: What to Do

A 90-minute Lunch & Learn Audio Conference by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. Health Care Attorney

Date: Thursday, April 6
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 EDT

Encore date: April 13
On-demand recording available 24/7
Option to purchase recording and handouts

 

Information and Registration

 

Audio-Conference Description: Home care providers of all types; including home health agencies, private duty agencies, hospices and HME companies; remain targets of audits by various regulators, including but certainly not limited to United Program Integrity Contractors (UPICs). The results of these audits can be devastating because they may threaten the ability of providers to remain in business, especially when overpayments are extrapolated to millions of dollars. Audits of all types must be taken seriously and providers must take action to close audits as quickly as possible! The first thing providers must do is to review records requested by auditors.

The purpose of this teleconference is to give providers detailed steps to follow to avoid adverse consequences of audits. Examples of common issues targeted by auditors will be provided and there will be time for questions and answers.


Rise Above!

Michigan Home Care & Hospice Association Annual Conference

Dates: May 3-5
Venue: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

Registration and Information

The theme for the Conference is “RISE ABOVE” a fitting recognition of the challenges our industry and each of you overcame in your personal lives and professional careers to navigate the challenges of the past three years.

The MHHA conference presents an opportunity to meet new friends and reacquaint with peers. What better place to rise above, than at the spacious and beautiful Grand Traverse Resort & Spa? This conference has a little bit for every service line and discipline. Wednesday offers a track for Volunteer Managers and Thursday offers a track for Palliative Care as well as many other sessions for Certified Home Health, Hospice, DME and Private Duty Home Care.


Home Care Innovation Forum*Presented by: The Influence Group

Dates: June 4-6
Venue: Park Hyatt Aviara 
City: 
Carlsbad, CA


Information and Registration

Featured Speakers:

Partial list of topics:


HI2: Home Care Innovation and Investment Conference *Presented by: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership

Dates: June 12-14
Venue: Swissotel 
City: 
Chicago


Information and Registration

Featured Speakers:


leading ONE vision

Homecare Homebase User Group Meeting

Dates: June 12-14
Venue: Sheraton Dallas Hotel

Information and Registration

Clinical Education Credits
Nationally recognized speakers, eight clinical sessions. Clinicians are encouraged to sign up for the clinical sessions, but are free to jump between clinical and non-clinical topics. Clinical topics include a homecare focus on Wound Care, Value Based Purchasing, Clinical Leadership, conflict resolution, Quality Report, Oasis and more.

Featured Speakers:


2032 NAHC Financial Management Conference & Exposition

Date: July 16-18
Venue: Hilton Riverside, New Orleans

Information and Registration

 

In addition to NAHC president Bill Dombi, featured speakers will include:


54th Annual Meeting: "Bring Care Home"Presented by: Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice

Dates: August 28-31
Venue: Grand Hyatt Riverwalk
City: San Antonio


Information and Registration


FREE Webinar: "The Role of the Hospice Physician in Organizational Compliance"Presented by: FEMA

Date: September 6

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, EDT

Register here 

Collaborating with the Administration for Community Living, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation, and the Schoharie County, NY, Area Agency on Aging, the webinar is designed to equip organizations with strategies to ensure seamless service continuity during an emergency. 

 


 

Home and Community-Based Palliative Care: Past, Present, and Future
NAHC and HHFMA

September 28, 2023

More Information

 


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2023 NAHC Annual Meeting & Exposition *

"One Voice, Many Stories"

October 15-17
Gaylord Hotel and Conference Center
National Harbor, MD

Information and Registration

Keynote Speakers:

 


 

2023 National Home Care Conference*
Home Care Association of America

October 23-24, 2023

Hilton Chicago
Chicago, IL

More Information

 

 


Vision – Plan – Succeed: 2023 Leadership Conference

Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina

October 29-31, 2023
Renaissance Hotel Ashville, NC

Information and Registration

Featured speakers:

Bill Dombi, Melinda Gaboury, Tim Rogers, Nick Seabrook, Mark Sharp, Robert Markette, Mark Kulik, and more.


Ignite Your Revenue Engine - Virtual

HomeCareSales

November 1-3, 2023

More Information


Strategic Analysis and Provider Guidance

CMS CY2024 Final Rule Cuts to Home Health

Axxess

November 9, 2023
2 PM CST

More Information


Unlocking Home Care Agency Efficiency with AI

Virtual Workshop

Automation Edge

Nov 8, 2023

11 a.m. CST

More Information


Home Health Final Rule: Clinical & Financial Strategies for Success in 2024

McBee Associates

Nov 8, 2023
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST
Virtual

More Information


Automating Your Compliance Process in Home Care

AxisCare and CareAcademy

Nov 8. 2023
12 p.m. CT
Virtual

More Information


2023 Annual Conference – Hybrid Hospice & Palliative Care

Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State

November 13-14, 2023
Albany Marriott Hotel
Albany, NY

More Information


Call for Speaker Proposals

Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC) Annual Convention and Expo

April 7-10, 2024
Raleigh Convention Center

Submit Your Proposal

The deadline to submit a proposal is November 15, 2023.

 


Understanding the CY 2024 Home Health Final Rule:

Your agency's path forward

WellSky

Nov 15, 2023
12 p.m. CST

More Information

Presented by Cindy Campbell, MHA-Healthcare Informatics, BSN, RN, COQS, CHHCM

Request for Speakers: 2024 Annual Conference

Indiana Association for Home Health Care

April 16-17, 2024

More Information

The deadline to submit proposals is November 17, 2023.

2023 Virtual Annual Conference
Virginia Association for Homecare and Hospice

Opening Date:November 15

More Information


Safety Matters: Protecting Home Care Workers from Violence

National Association for Home Care & Hospice

Nov 29, 2023
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Rapid Competency and Quality Improvement Training

CMS

November 30, 2023
1:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Safety Matters:
Protecting Home Care Workers from Violence

National Association for Home Care and Hospice

Nov 29, 2023
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST

More Information


Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Developing resilience in the face of change

McBee

Dec 6, 2023
1:00 p.m. EST

More Information


CRM Showcase:Empowering Reps for Smarter, More Efficient Growth

Trella Health

December 12, 2023
12 p.m. EST

More Information


Don't be Late for Section GGPrepare now for the new Discharge Function Score

NetSmart

Dec 12, 2023
2:00 p.m. EST

More Information


CRM Showcase: Empowering Reps for Smarter, More Efficient Growth

Trella Health

Dec 12, 2023
12 p.m. EST

More Information


Excavate-Tell-Affirm

Brand Leadership Summit

Revealing Genius

Dec 7-15, 2023
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST

More Information


RCM Success Toolkit:

Insights for RCM Leaders

NetSmart

December 14, 2023
2:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Understanding, Identifying, and Overcoming Conscious and Unconscious Bias

Home Care Pulse

Ongoing
FREE Sample Course

More Information


Home Health and Hospice Summit

HealthCare Synergy

January 10, 2024
Renaissance Hotel
Long Beach, CA

More Information


Learn how M1400 Dyspnea Impacts VBP

McBee

January 11
12 noon EST

More Information


2024 Industry Outlook with NAHC President Bill Dombi

NetSmart

Tuesday, January 16
2:30 pm, EST

More Information


Home Care 100*

Lincoln Intelligence Group

January 21-24, 2024
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, AZ

More Information


Provider Enrollment Changes in Medicare

NAHC

January 31, 2024
1:00 P.M. EST

More Information

NAHC would like to thank the sponsor of this webinar, Red Road Healthcare Business Solutions


How to Market Without Violating the Law

Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.

February 8, 2024

More Information


Mastering Compliance for a Stronger Healthcare System

NetSmart

February 13, 2024
1:00 P.M. EST

More Information


Clinical Impacts for Success in PDGM

Axxess

February 14, 2024

More Information


Mastering M2020 Oral Medications

McBee a NetSmart Company

February 20, 2024

More Information


The Definition of "Work" and Common Off-The-Clock Work Pitfalls

WellSky

March 6, 2024
3:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Demistifying Value-Based Purchasing:

Current State and for 2025

Axxess

March 7, 2024

More Information


PAC Sales Leader Exchange
Insights, Trends, and Strategies

Trella Health

March 13, 2024
12:00 P.M. ET

More Information


Home Care Industry Update

NAHC & Polsinelli Law

March 14, 2024
12:00 PM ET

More Information


Call for Speakers

NAHC Financial Management Conference

Deadline to Submit
March 15, 2024

More Information


How to get Referrals From ALFs and ILFs

Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.

March 7, 2024
Replay Date: March 14, 2024

More Information


Interpretation of Value-Based Purchasing Interim Reports

HealthCare Synergy

March 14, 2024
2:00 P.M. ET

More Information


2024 Telehealth Reimbursement Updates

Health Recovery Solutions

March 20, 2024

1:00 P.M. ET

More Information


Quarterly Coding Update

McBee Associates

March 22, 2024
1:00 P.M. ET

1.5 Contact Hours for Nurses & Administrators
Meets criteria for 1.0 HCS-D Hour
$99

More Information


Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Home Care & Hospice

Part 1 of 3

NAHC & HHFMA

March 26, 2024
1:00 P.M. ET

More Information


Empowering Change: Advocacy in Private Duty Home Care

NAHC

March 27, 2024
2:00 p.m. EDT

More Information


What To Do About Violence

Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.

March 28, 2024
1:00 P.M. ET

More Information


Sink or Swim?

What we've learned after four years of PDGM

Netsmart

April 4, 2024
1:00 p.m. ET

More Information


Transforming Community and Home-Based Care in an Aging World

International Home Care Nurses Organization

April 18-20, 2024
York Hotel Singapore
Singapore

More Information


NAHC Advocacy Day

NAHC

April 16, 2024
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. EDT

April 17, 2024
All day

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

More Information


AGILE: Axxess Growth, Innovation and Leadership Experience*

Axxess

April 21-24, 2024
Irving Convention Center
Dallas, TX

More Information


Spring Conference

Homecare & Hospice Association of Utah

May 8-9, 2024
SLCC Miller Conference Center
Sandy, UT

More Information


Annual Conference & Trade Show

Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association

May 8-9, 2024
Radisson of Kalamazoo

More Information


2024 Nexus*

American Telemedicine Association

May 5-7, 2024
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, AZ

More Information


Home Care Innovation Forum*

Influence Group

May 19-21
Silverado Resort & Spa
Napa, CA

More Information


Home Care 100 Summer*

Lincoln Healthcare Leadership

June 3-6, 2024
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA

More Information


2024 KHCA Annual Conference

Kentucky Home Care Association

August 14-15, 2024
Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington/UK Coldstream
Lexington, KY

More Information


Insight2024

6th Annual Forum on Coding, OASIS & Quality

McBee

Aug 5-7, 2024
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas

More Information


Agency Amplify

HomeCareSales

Recurring
2nd Tuesday

More Information


*The Rowan Report will see you there.


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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