Volume 10, Number 44 — August 4, 2021
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
The moment has arrived. I have been telling you about the HRSA grant that is going to distribute funds to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It is now time to sign up to receive your share of those funds. Join now to be prepared for the official launch date on August 16. Simply register your home health or home care agency at https://www.thenmha.org/agency-registration
Participation is easy as well as fruitful. Every time a patient or client of yours uploads proof of a vaccine shot to the official web site, they receive $50; the nurse or caregiver who connects them with a local vaccination station receives $25, and that person's employer, the agency, receives $25. Tell your unvaccinated workers if they get a shot themselves, they can collect both the $50 and the $25. For the Pfizer or Moderna two-shot vaccines, that would add up to $150. If you get serious about sending your staff out as ambassadors, what the Biden Administration is calling "Trusted Messages from Trusted Messengers," your agency too will be paid for every shot your people encourage. Do you have a census of 300, 800, 2,000? Do the math.
Side benefit: Staffing issues? You have probably already figured out that you can promote your participation in this grant in your recruiting ads too.
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Leading our news this week is a report from the NAHC Financial Managers meeting. We attended an education session on the Review Choice Demonstration that is expanding to North Carolina and Florida. There are quite a few details to learn, and a long list of suggestions on how to prepare for the September 1 start date, from financial advisor Melinda Gaboury.
NAHC is requesting your input on some of the proposed updates to your Conditions of Participation. Look through their recitation of the changes and send in your thoughts.
Darcey Trescone took a deep dive into Artificial Intelligence and came away with some concerns. When it comes to patient care, she discovered, AI still comes up short.
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Homecare Homebase announced a partnership with MedBridge to help its clients with today's staffing challenges.
We also have an announcement of an agency seeking a Home Health Administrator. It is a good position with a great company in a beautiful part of the country. Take a look.
We have one more guest writer this week. Beverly Nelson introduces us to her organization, "Stand Up for Caregivers."
To read any of these news items and analyses, scroll down and click on the headlines. And be sure to scroll down further to our list of upcoming conferences. Maybe I'll see you at HCAOA in Orlando next month, or at the NAHC Annual Meeting in October. Looking forward, be sure Homecare 100 is on your calendar for February 6-9 in Scottsdale.
Have a great week. Stay healthy and keep making a difference!
Battle Underway Between HHAs and Palmetto
Review Choice Demonstration comes to Florida and North Carolina on September 1. Both providers and their MAC are scrambling to be ready.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Failures and Risks
AI solutions cannot replace the human mind when dealing with complex patient care.
NAHC Seeks Feedback on Proposed Changes to the HH COPs
Send NAHC's VP for Regulatory Affairs your feedback on proposed changes in CoPs.
Homecare Homebase Partners with MedBridge
New collaboration allows a leading provider of EMR software for home care and hospice organizations to help its clients provide high-quality care.
Director of Home Health Position Open
The Independence Center was named one of the Best Workplaces in 2020 by its local daily newspaper.
Tips for Lending Assistance to Seniors in Your Community
Guest author Beverly Nelson's suggestions may be elementary for a senior care professional, but her organization is a good one to know.
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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 42,559,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
PHI Releases New Federal Priorities Report on Direct Care Workforce
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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