Volume 10, Number 44 — August 18, 2021
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
This week, I covered the official launch of the home health and home care portion of the Health Resources Services Administration grant I have been telling you about. On August 16, final details of the program were decided, the telephone support team completed its training, NAHC signed on as a partner, and the first multi-state home care agency to register to receive COVID vaccine cash rewards confirmed its enthusiastic participation. (That press release will not go out until Monday, and I'll tell you all about that organization then.) In the meantime, do not delay. You really want to participate in this grant early because it will end on November 30 or when funds run out, whichever comes first. Here are the exciting program details:
To participate, the order of events matters. First, the agency/employer registers and gets an ID number and QR code. Then their employees register under their employer's ID and get their own ID, an extension of the agency ID. Lastly, the workers share their ID with their patients/clients and help them to register under their account. After they get a shot, they can upload an image of their vaccination card, and everyone receives their rewards.
Look for our special edition next week. Along with the announcement of the grant's first multi-state participating agency, it will include a link to the official web site. Can't wait? You can call a grant "Program Navigator" now to have your questions answered. 877-770-NMHA (6642)
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We have spoken with a number of people who expressed surprise at Honor's acquisition of Home Instead. So we asked them. Our lead article this week features our interview with an Honor spokesperson who explained the reasoning behind the creation of this large, new organization. Also, though it is old news by now, we reprint the official news release about the acquisition.
Staff writer Darcey Trescone reports on a new initiative from the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. She writes that they will be testing the Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model, which will be popularly knows as "Million Hearts 2022."
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It has long been known that daily contact with a home health patient or a home care client improves patient/client satisfaction and outcomes. We found a company that will do it for you. With a staff of 900 nurses, they will call your patients every day and let you know when they require attention between visits. Read our interview with the founding CEO of Coretex Health.
Lastly, do not forget to join the effort to develop a "state of the industry" report. Look below to our "Most Read Articles" section and click on last week's "Major Themes Announced..." article for details on how to join the study.
Next week: Look for our special edition with the URL for agencies and their workers to register. It will include a bonus interview with MatrixCare's Nick Knowlton, their interoperability specialist and the board chair of CommonWell. We caught up with Nick at HIMSS and learned about the latest developments in the efforts to extend patient data sharing with post-acute care providers.
Have a great week. Keep making a difference!
Honor and Home Instead CEOs Offer Insights into Acquisition
Company growth, employee satisfaction, improved technology, all goals behind Honor's Home Instead acquisition.
Cortex Puts 900 Nurses at Your Service
Daily phone calls to HHA patients improves outcomes, reduces hospitalizations, and gives weary nurses a way to work from home.
Million Hearts® Results of Randomized Controlled Trial and Accepting Applications for 2022
The CMS Innovation Center, CMMI, is testing new payment and service delivery models to reduce program costs and enhance quality care. One program is the Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model (MH Model), which will continue as Million Hearts® 2022. Staff writer Darcey Trescone suggests post-acute providers discuss the opportunity with their hospital and health system referral partners.
Official Honor/Home Instead Announcement
Reprint of the 8/6/21 press release announcing Honor's acquisition of Home Instead.
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During the 1st Quarter of 2022, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 5167 times. To inquire about placing your message here, contact: Kristin@rowanresources.com As of this date, approximately 42,713,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Major Themes Announced for Healthcare at Home 2021 Best Practices and Future Insights Study
HHS Awards $125 Million in Workforce Grants to Bolster Vaccinations
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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 WEBINARS: "Best of Home Care Heroes" Series
Sponsored by: Ankota
Featuring: Steve "The Hurricane" Weiss, Ophelia Cole, Barbara Gaines, Cheryl Hammons, others
Dates: Ongoing
- How Home Care Thrives in the Post-COVID World (with Steve "the Hurricane" Weiss)
- ADDED THIS WEEK: "Finishing 2021 STRONG!" Wednesday, September 15, 3-4pm EST.
Register HereContact Ankota directly about two special offers: a free trial of a staffed, live-chat solution for your website, and a discount to Steve Weiss' "Mililonaire Bootcamp."
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 24-25
Venue: Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
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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Home Care Technology Report is published by Rowan Consulting Associations, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. Request reprint permission by writing to editor@homecaretechreport.com.
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