Volume 12, Number 13 — January  4, 2023



Dear Healthcare at Home Friends and Colleagues,

The new year begins with a bang, a major acquisition of Electronic Medical Record and Agency Management Software with familiar names by a company whose name is soon to become familiar to all. We publish the announcement by Careficient and add some history about the Florida company's newly acquired products, HealthWyse and Hospicesoft.

We cringe when having to report bad news, but this piece comes with insights that make it worth reading, in hopes future incidents can be prevented. A home health nurse was shot and killed in Washington State last month while in a patient's home. Guest author and home care attorney Elizabeth Hogue walks us through the lessons to be learned about what employers can and cannot do to make their mobile workers safer.

 

 

Congress passed and the President signed a bill that extends Covid-era rules that encouraged the use of telehealth systems. A statement by the American Telemedicine Association congratulating both branches of government includes the details of who wins and who does not from the extended provisions.

Do you have clients, or perhaps their adult children, who struggle with knowing when mom or dad can no longer live alone? Could you use some community resources and decision-making tips to offer them? We present this week a checklist of things to consider when deciding whether to move parents into a facility, into your home, or to move into their home. 

 

 

Worth the Trip

Homecare 100 2023 is set for January 22-25 in Orlando. Click on the Lincoln Health graphic on this page for complete details. If the Florida climate does not suit you, how about Boston? Six northeast states have gotten together to create the 20th Annual Northeast Home Health Leadership Summit, January 17-19 at the Revere Hotel. Scroll down for details and registration information.

Have a great week, a prosperous 2023, and keep making a difference!

 

Editor signature
Tim Rowan



Careficient Acquires Home Health, Hospice, Home Care, Palliative and RCM Solutions and Services from Net Health
New home for HealthWyse, Hospicesoft, and Net Health's RCM division to make Careficient a major player in 2023.

Omnibus Bill Gives Covid-Era Telehealth Rules Two-Year Extension
ATA congratulates Congress and President for spending bill that continues virtual care provisions through 2024.

Home Care Nurse Shot and Killed
Guest author and home care attorney Elizabeth Hogue outlines the legal responsibilities and limitations of an employer with regard to efforts to keep mobile workers safe.

Reactions to Fatal Shooting of Spokane Nurse
Spokane newspaper offers additional detail about the shooting of Doug Brant.

Moving in with Your Senior Loved One: Knowing the Right Time to Do It
This sponsored primer, by guest author James Hall of Senior Care Fitness, offers basic tips for adults with aging parents about the difficult decisions that arise when an elder can no longer live alone.

CMS News: National Training Program Webinar
Register today for the live or recorded session describing 2023 Medicare rules.



During the 1st Quarter of 2023, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 4163 times.

To inquire about placing your message here, contact:

Kristin@rowanresources.com

As of this date, approximately 48,257,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible.

 

Last Week's Most-Read Stories:

Homecare Homebase to Acquire CellTrak
Longtime collaborators to unite. CellTrak to become wholly owned subsidiary.

Nursing Sign-On Bonuses Reaching $30,000
Desperate healthcare systems are offering record sign-on bonuses to lure COVID-weary nurses back to work.




Upcoming Events

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.


 

First Joint Conference of the Carolinas

Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina & South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association

Dates: April 23-26

Venue: Westin

City: Charlotte

Information and Registration 



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.


2023 Annual Home Health & Hospice Conference
Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah

Date: May 10-11

City: Sandy

Attendee Registration

Exhibitor/Sponsor Registration


2023 Rocky Mountain Home Care, Home Health & Hospice Conference *Presented by: Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado

Dates: May 18-19
Venue: Beaver Creek


Information and Registration for Attendees and Exhibitors


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:



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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