Volume 11, Number 22 — November  16, 2022



Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,

Was it just me? Or did anyone else notice that the phrase "It's so good to see you in person again" was uttered more often than "Let me show you what my software can do for you?" at last month's NAHC Annual Conference and Expo? It did have an old-home-week feel after three years and two meetings canceled by Covid and a hurricane. 

But there was a lot more going on in St. Louis than the reunion.

FOR MEDICARE PROVIDERS

President Bill Dombi declared that strategic planning meetings were revolutionary enough to replace "NAHC 2.0" with "NAHC 3.0" as the branding for the modernization he promised when he took over the reins five years ago. He delivered a personal history of the association to mark its 40th anniversary, highlighting his 35 years as legal counsel and the roles of Senator Claude Pepper during its founding and of Senator Susan Collins for her ongoing support. His trademark humor emerged when he promised to cancel the expo's closing gala and replace it with a study session if CMS released its 2023 Final Rule on Tuesday afternoon before the party.

 

 

FOR ALL

In this week's edition, we take an early look at the impact 2023 reimbursement will have on HHAs large and small, with a quick peek at the payment reductions that were delayed and loom large for 2024. We also get into the details of one of the major announcements that could never have happened prior to the Dombi era, an alliance between NAHC and HCAOA.

FOR HOME CARE PROVIDERS

Do not miss guest author Elizabeth Hogue's analysis of a recent court case. Apparently, some home care agencies and staffing agencies try to deal with the caregiver shortage by agreeing not to "poach" each other's workers. A veteran home care attorney, Elizabeth explains why this practice can lead to accusations of collusion and price fixing, harming workers by limiting their freedom to earn. In this court case, the organizations convicted of the crime were hit with a six-figure fine and barely avoided prison time.

 

 

VENDOR WATCH

Four news items came across our desk this week, most of them about mergers or at least cooperative agreements. Click on our Vendor Watch column to see what Careficient, Enclara Pharmacia, Corstrata, HARTMANN USA, Nuvance Health, Lumeon, and NTT DATA have been up to. Some of these alliances will change your mind about EMRs, telehealth, and data analysis.

WORTH THE TRIP

You know, we enjoy adding this paragraph at the end of each newsletter, but it is November and all the important conferences are done for the year. So let me just end with a personal wish for safe travels and joyous family gatherings over the next two months. Having said that, be sure to scroll down to see updated info on Homecare 100, taking place in Orlando in January.

Have great week, and a terrific Thanksgiving holiday. Keep making a difference!

Editor signature
Tim Rowan


CMS Releases 2023 Final Rule
Good news and bad in CMS HHA final rule for 2023. We add our comments to the news.

Criminal Conviction in "No Poach" Case
One phone conversation, one email generates 6-figure fine for wage suppression collusion.

HHS Prepares for Next Pandemic; Request Public Input
White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, in partnership with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, seeks input on optimizing data capture for clinical trials.

Vendor Watch
— Careficient announces pharmacy integration with & Enclara Pharmacia
— Hartmann USA and Corstrata collaborate to improve patient wound outcomes
— Nuvance Health brings new, cognitive, care-at-home program to patients
— Lumeon and NTT DATA form strategic alliance to support Hospital-To-Home programs


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 47,718,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible.

 

Last Week's Most-Read Stories:

Product Review: New AI Tool Turns Good Coders into Great Coders; Eliminates ADRs
Early adopters report 6% reimbursement increases, 16.2% improvement in co-morbidities identification, and 35% reduction in hospital readmissions. Longtime users speak of employee satisfaction and a 27% decrease in clinician turnover.

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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