Volume 9, Number 50 — July 22, 2020
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
Have you taken our survey yet? Many subscribers have taken the two minutes to answer our four questions and the results so far are enlightening. We want to know if working at home has worked out for you well enough that you are considering keeping it going after the pandemic subsides. Surprisingly, many early responders are saying yes, they might keep some staff at home indefinitely. Your input will help so much to make the results relevant. Please click here and invest two minutes of your time to advance knowledge for all of us.
FREE WEBINAR, EPISODE 3: Join me tomorrow for part 3 of the educational series sponsored by HealthRev Partners, titled "How Coronavirus is Reshaping the Future of Home Health and Hospice." In the third and final episode, agency owners, consultants, and a Revenue Cycle Management advisor will discuss "Agency Leadership and Operations." I am honored to moderate a prestigious panel including Bill Simione, Michael Greenlee, Thomas Rocas, Kevin Kelly, and Georgia Hockenjos. Thursday at 2:00 EDT. Register here.
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Home health sales: Speaking of adapting to COVID-19, staff writer Darcey Trescone dons her sales and marketing consultant hat and offers detailed suggestions that have worked for her clients. If you have anyone on your sales team who does not already subscribe, forward "Overcoming Sales Challenges During the COVID Pandemic" to them.
Home care marketing: Online marketing consultant Roger McManus continues his series helping home care agencies deal with competition. If your most urgent need is to achieve visibility in a crowded field, pay attention to his advice in "Dramatic Shifts in Online Visibility Impact Home Care Agencies."
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Hospice during COVID: If you agree with me that hospice nurses are candidates for sainthood, what would you call a nurse who teaches and counsels hospice nurses? Longtime hospice nurse, agency owner, and author Barbara Karnes, RN, published brilliant advice for her colleagues frustrated by the inability to see their hospice patients in person and gave us permission to share her article with you. That was not enough for us. We called Barbara and captured enough of her wisdom to merit a second article of its own. Every hospice worker needs to hear her recommendations for ways to care for the dying and their families, even when they will not permit you entry to their homes. Barbara's article is "How to Say Goodbye When You Are Not There." Our interview with her is titled "Expert Advises Hospices How to Adapt to Social Distancing."
Home Health Regulations: CMS seems to be growing weary of the pandemic too. Administrator Seema Verma has announced that Medicare audits and the Review Choice Demonstration will both pick up again on August 3. Providers in demonstration states will only have from August 3rd to the 17th to make their choice among three demonstration formats.
Lots of news this week but something for everyone. Pick one or two that are relevant to your world. And remember, we need and appreciate your feedback. Write to us with your comments at editor@homecaretechreport.com.
NEXT WEEK
Our July 29 issue will bring a major announcement about a new, free service coming your way from Rowan Consulting Associates, the publishers of this newsletter. Hint: not just free but could save you a lot of money. Watch your inbox!
Have a healthy week. Keep making a difference!
CMS News: Audits to Resume August 3
In response to concerns from providers and association representatives, CMS published a Q&A page about its plans to return to pre-pandemic regulations and routines.
How to Say Goodbye When You Are Not There
People today are dying alone. What can anyone say to their loved ones that might help? Award-winning hospice authority Barbara Karnes, RN, has some suggestions.
Expert Advises Hospices How to Adapt to Social Distancing
If you have been separated from someone who is dying, or if you work with families in that situation during our disastrous pandemic, take a moment to get to know Barbara Karnes, RN, one of our nation's most-respected hospice consultants.
Overcoming Sales Challenges During the COVID Pandemic
It is time to rethink sales and be more strategic in our approach to sales and marketing during this era of forced social distancing. Donning her sales consultant hat, Darcey Trescone shares strategies that have worked for her clients.
Dramatic Shifts in Online Visibility Impact Home Care Agencies
Over the last 24 months some significant changes in consumer behavior with regard to online consumer research. This particularly impacts home care where the industry is years behind in using this free resource of business.
Vendor Watch: New COVID-19 Tool
— Evolution Health partners with Dina to automate employee wellness checks amid coronavirus
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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 38,401,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Let Your Customers Write Your Advertising
Vendor Watch: Swift Medical Integrates Digital Wound Care Solution with Homecare Homebase
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FREE WEBINAR: How Technology Enhances Home Care in an Increasingly Remote World *
Sponsored by: Care Connect
Moderator: 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
FREE WEBINAR: Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Assess Threats & Reduce Your Risk
Presented by: Netsmart
Featuring: Randy Pargman, Binary Defense senior director of threat hunting and counterintelligence; Sharon Hicks, MBA, MSW, OPEN MINDS senior associate; and Mike Murray, Netsmart director of Plexus Technologies,
Date: December 9
Time: 1:00 EST
Healthcare organizations are often at risk of cyberattacks due to a lack of dedicated IT and reliance on traditional reactive approaches. To learn how to protect your data, register now to join Randy Pargman, as they map the risk landscape and provide guidance for safeguarding your organization.
Key takeaways:
• Cyber threats in healthcare
• Impacts of a data breach
• Best practices for securing your data
FREE WEBINAR: Can you collect Cash faster?Sponsored by: Savii
Date: Tuesday, January 12
Time: 2:00 pm EST
With small margins in home care it has prompted the question, “Can we collect cash faster?” And what would this do for an agency? One thing we know is margins are small and have become more challenging than ever to for agencies to profit. This doesn’t mean it impossible for agencies to survive; it means a focus on collecting cash faster will be ever so important.
Agency leaders will first need to develop a timeline cadence of when to address claims based on when they were submitted for payment. In addition it will be pertinent to understand their own agency metrics such as DSO (Daily Sales Outstanding) and how they compare to industry standards.
On this webinar you will walk away with how to develop a timeline and your own DSO dashboard for benchmarking. All of these topics will weave into strategic steps to take toward collecting cash flow faster.
FREE WEBINAR: The Rise of Hospital at Home: A Roundtable Discussion
Sponsored by: AlayaCare
Featuring: Dr. Bruce Leff, Hospital at Home Pioneer & Professor, John Hopkins School of Medicine; Adrian Schauer, Founder and CEO
AlayaCare; Joel Theisen, Founder and CEO, Lifesprk; Brady Murphy, VP Sales & Marketing, AlayaCareDate: Wednesday, January 27
Time: 1:00 EST
Information and RegistrationAgenda
Across the U.S., the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative from CMS is taking off amid the pandemic with at least 80 approved participants to date. As hospital-at-home models become more popular and more beneficial to both patients and health care organizations, those that have recognized the perks of home-based care prior to the COVID-19 crisis may have the upper hand.
Join us on Wednesday, Jan 27th at 1:00 pm EST for a roundtable discussion with industry experts such as Dr. Bruce Leff, Hospital at Home Pioneer and Professor at John Hopkins School of Medicine who deserves his reputation as a founding father of this virtual hospital concept, to learn about the hospital-at-home model and its impact on the home care industry.
FREE Webinar: Practical Application of Information Blocking and Interoperability Rules for Post-Acute Care Providers
Sponsored by: Complia Health and Kno2
Date: February 18
Time: 1:00 ESTJoin healthcare technology experts Alan Swenson, VP of Interoperability at Kno2, and Melissa Turner, Director of Integration at Complia Health, on Thursday, February 18th at 1pm Eastern to learn about information blocking and what it means for your post-acute care organization today and looking ahead to the future.
FREE WEBINAR: Tech Titans Join Forces to Tackle Post Acute Care Challenges
Sponsored by: KanTime
Featuring: Terra Vicario (Moderator) CMO, Viventium; Malka Trump, Director of Compliance, Viventium; Kristen Duell, EVP, KanTime; Kim Spence, RN, Customer Success Division Leader, KanTime; James Cohen, CEO & Co-Founder, Nevvon
Date: Thursday, April 22
Time: 11:00 am PDT, 2:00 pm EDT
experts from companies with solutions for talent/retention and compliance issues, along with the continued challenges that COVID-19 has presented to our industry,
2021 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo *
National Association for Home Care and Hospice
Date: October 3-5
Venue: New OrleansSadly, 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 ManagerDate: Wednesday, November 3
Time: 11:00 am PDT / 2:00 pm EDT
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
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.
Important Final Rule Discoveries Every Agency Needs to Know: Examining HH PPS for CY2022
Presented by: HealthRevPartners
Featuring: John Reisinger, CPA
DATE: November 18
TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 EST
VENUE: Online
FEE: NONE
One of the major changes in CMS’ final rule for the Home Health Prospective Payment System announced is this — ???2022 will be a "pre-implementation year for the HHVBP, which was originally scheduled to begin in January.
Learn exactly what you need to do in 2022 for HHVBP.
Additionally, we will cover these final rule changes and more:
- Individual payment rate changes ranging from:
- An increase of 35.7%, to
- A decrease of 34.6%
- 2022 will be the last year of the Rural Add-on
- Significant changes with all 432 Case-Mix Weights
And, do you know how much your Medicare revenues are projected to change?
There will be a 3.2% increase ($570 million) in home health spending for CY2022.
*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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