Volume 9, Number 50 — September 23, 2020
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
This week's top news story may upset Medicare providers more than last week's most-read news story. We told you about Administrator Seema Verma being accused of spending Medicare funds on herself. Now, after a 35-day delay, Administrator Verma has finally released payback and reporting guidance for those who received emergency PRF payments under the CARES Act.
Much of what these providers were counting on regarding repayment has changed, for the worse. Some will have to pay it all back. Many who thought they were under the threshold to report how they spent PRF funds will be dismayed that the threshold has moved from $150,000 to $10,000. If you took advantage of this emergency program, start with Darcey Trescone's report, "Recipients of HHS Provider Relief Fund Payments Surprised by New Use Guidance," below.
It may be little consolation but CMS also announced this week that 33 states will be give addition funds to help transition patients from residential facilities to the community. If your state is on the list, there could be significant Medicaid money involved. See this week's "CMS News" column.
As I write this, our nation is in the fourth or fifth crisis of 2020. After being hit with a once-in-a-century pandemic, record-breaking hurricanes and wildfires, a strange new Medicare payment system, serious accusations of wrongdoing against our CMS Administrator, and the loss of a beloved Supreme Court Justice, now we have to somehow survive a simultaneous election and divisive political battle that could impact the future of the Affordable Care Act.
Through it all, home health, hospice, and home care continue to demonstrate that you are the solution to many of these challenges. As we reported last week, Skilled Nursing Facilities are emptying out and in-home caregivers are answering the call. As it has always done, our little corner of the healthcare world delivers comfort, healing, and cost savings, all through the sacrifice and compassion of selfless field and office staff. Sooner or later, politicians at the source of many of these crises will be coming to you for healthcare. Knowing you, the care you give will be as professional and compassionate as the care you would give to elderly patients who never lied to you, never denied science, and never burdened you with onerous regulations and reimbursement rates.
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Home Care Providers: One way to tell that a sector is growing is to count the number of software companies that spring up to serve it. By that standard, non-medical home care must be booming. This week, we review an agency management product that was introduced at the HCAOA meeting last year but is now making waves following sales wins in tight competitive contests with a couple of national organizations, against some more established competitors. Click below on "SwyftOps Enters the Non-Medical Software Arena" to read our review of the new company's private duty agency management system.
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Everybody: Over the last few years, we have made a point of bring you up to speed on the opportunities that come your way thanks to social media. This week's lesson is an important one because it also points out the dangers of not nurturing your online reputation. Guest author Roger McManus, MBA, begins his combination primer and warning with the premise, "Your online reputation is there for all the world to see whether you pay attention to it or not." Don't miss this week's entry on Roger's educational and entertaining series, "Three Reasons Online Reviews Matter." This will also be the topic of an upcoming webinar Roger and I will be doing for Ankota. Watch this space for date and time details.
"PREPARATION FOR A NEW NORMAL: INFECTION CONTROL" is a free webinar hosted by our friends at Savii. It is set for Tuesday, October 20, at 1:00 PM EDT. The instructor will be James Cohen, founder and CEO of Nevvon, an online education service. James' educational background is in finance and healthcare, while his business experience has been in the delivery of healthcare. Before starting Nevvon, James founded and exited a technology-enabled home care provider which serviced 2 countries and 3 States. Click here for more information.
If technology is more your style than infection control, put AlayaCare's next free webinar on your calendar. Earn 1 CEU by attending "Telehealth in Home Health Beyond the Public Health Emergency." Featured speakers are Irina Gorovaya, owner and president of Amity Healthcare Group, and AlayaCare Account Executive Erin Vallier.
I'll try to find more uplifting news next week. Until then, stay healthy and keep making a difference!
Recipients of HHS Provider Relief Fund Payments Surprised by New Use Guidance
This new notice to PRF recipients may find some surprised healthcare providers owing some, if not all, of their payments back to HHS.
Three Reasons Reviews Matter
Your online reputation is there for all the world to see whether you pay attention to it or not. Here is one online marketing expert's opinion as to why you need to pay attention to it.
CMS News: New Funds for Transitioning Patients from SNF to Home
New program provides funds to move patients from institutions to their homes.
SwyftOps Enters the Non-Medical Software Arena
One can measure the growth of the non-medical home care sector by the number of entrepreneurs building software for it. Here is another new one.
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During the 4th Quarter of 2020, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 4319 times. To inquire about placing your message here, contact: Kristin@rowanresources.com As of this date, approximately 39,094,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Bi-Partisan Congressional Committees Demand CMS Administrator Repay Misspent Funds
Vendor Watch
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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
The 2021 Home Health Final Rule
Insights to position your agency for success
Sponsored by: WellSky
Featuring: Sharon Harder, president, C3 Advisors; Jill Dyer, BSN, RN, HCS-D, HCS-O, president, JID Consulting and Coding, LLC
Date: November 18
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 ESTAttendees will learn:
- How to prepare for and implement the operational changes imposed by the final rule, including submission of no-pay RAPs within five calendar days of the start of care and changes to the types of non-physician practitioners who can order home health services
- The impact of CMS’s decision to retain the PDGM behavioral adjustment
- The status of proposed legislation aimed to allow home health agencies to bill for telehealth services during public health emergencies and how this change would affect care planning and delivery
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: Return to Work under COVID-19
Presented by: Healthcare Synergy
Featuring: David Mauzey, SVP & General Manager, HealthPointe SolutionsDate: January 14
Time: 11:00 - 11:30 PST
The COVID pandemic has evolved, initial processes in place ensure a safe work force environments but need to evolve to stay effective and efficient. Home health has an extra layer of scrutiny given the population may be at a higher risk. This webinar will focus on how an organization can evolve to keep their workforce and patients safe. HealthPointe Solutions has a full inventory of new and advanced recommendations that help implement and maintain site safety. This includes step-by-step guidance that include medical testing administration strategies, patient/employee monitoring, training/education and program auditing.
Objectives:
David Mauzey has over 25 years' experience in healthcare, helping bring operational efficiency solutions to both providers and payers. Within HealthPointe Solutions, he is responsible for operations and was a part of the team that developed HealthPointe Solutions’ COVID response solutions. Prior to joining HealthPointe Solutions, David served as VP and GM of Optum's Network Payment Innovation, where he focused on alternative payment programs, including bundle d payments and population-centric, value-based programs.
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: 5 Key Elements of a Successful Home Health Remote Patient Monitoring Program
Presented by: Amity Healthcare Group
Featuring: Irina Gorovaya, owner and president of Amity Healthcare Group; Erin Vallier, AlayaCare Account Executive; Kaila Raimondo, AlayaCare Solution Engineer
Date: Wednesday, January 27
Time: 2:00 pm EST
Information and Registration
Agenda:
Explore key factors and solutions necessary for successful deployment of patient remote monitoring program in home health.
The discussion will include policies and procedures, documentation, staff education, and telehealth equipment and solutions.
FREE WEBINAR: Rubber Meets the Road with the No-Pay RAP
Sponsored by: KanTime & BlackTree Consulting
Featuring: Nick Seabrook, Managing Principal and Founder, BlackTree; Kim Spence, RN, Director, KanTime Customer Success; Greg Lotz, Director, KanTime Marketing & Sales Technology
Date: February 4
Time: 2:00 ESTAGENDA:
Re-visit regulatory changes and how they have impacted agencies. Plus, tips and tricks to stay ahead of the curve.
Virtual Conference: Winter Leadership Summit
Presented by: National Association for Home Care and Hospice
Date: February 23, 2021
Homecare 100 *
Presented by: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership
Date: June 27-30, 2021
Venue: JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, FL
https://www.homecare100.com/
*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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