Volume 11, Number 22 — March 2, 2022
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
We begin with an urgent message from the National Association for Home Care & Hospice this week. Please click on our lead article and read the appeal to contact your Representatives and Senators as soon as possible.
We Love Reader Feedback
The response to our recent report about the powerful comments made from the Home Care 100 stage was historic. We count clicks on articles and that one got about 10 times as many eyeballs as our usual weekly "most-read" story. It also generated some serious responses. Rather than print a couple of your letters, we decided to gather them and analyze them for our next issue. Here is a preview: "Physicians would say to the Home Health community, 'There is no more money; get used to it.'" If you were one of the few who missed that article and would like to read up before we publish our analysis, click below in our "Most-Read" column.
LHC Group Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Bruce Greenstein was not the only featured speaker making waves at Home Care 100. We report this week on the comments of former CMS Administrator Seema Verma, now a WellSky board member. Free from her former title, she was a tad more forthcoming with her opinions about some of the regulatory limitations she had to endure for four years, and that Home Health and Hospice are still living with.
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We are honored to have been chosen to publish an important security advisory by guest author Don Boxley, Jr., MBA. Don is the CEO of DH2i, a cybersecurity firm. He argues that ransomware criminals have figured out how to get around VPN connections and recommends a more modern solution. His excellent piece is titled "Healthcare Industry Huge Target for Cybercrime."
Not to confuse you, but we learned of two software company announcements this week: Axxess and Axis Care. The Home Health and Hospice software vendor Axxess announced a unique palliative care management system. The private duty vendor Axis Care has landed a huge national franchise as its newest customer. Click on our Vendor Watch column for details.
We remain committed to doing everything we can to find staffing solutions for you, some designed to attract more applicants, some to keep good workers on board longer. Throughout 2022, we will be bringing new companies with new strategies into these pages, and we are seeking speaking engagements at state and national conferences so we can tell you about all the hidden gems we have found.
We know this is important to you. We presented an early version of this year's presentation in Colorado last fall, to a standing room only audience. The updated version will include additional technology products and personal video messages from their inventors or CEOs. Watch this page. We will let you know where we will be appearing as soon as we get our acceptance from each state.
Registration has opened for the Annual Convention & Expo — and 50th birthday party — of the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina. "Building Tomorrow Together" will be held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree! This event includes a Hospice & Palliative Care Clinical Intensive (Sunday, 5/1), Main Conference (5/2-5/3), and a Population Health Day (5/4). Invited guests include NC Governor, Roy Cooper; NC DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley; Secretary of NC Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, Walter Gaskin; Past AHHC Board of Directors Chairs; & other VIPs!
The Hospice & Palliative Care Clinical Intensive speakers include Michael Lalor, MD, MBA, CPE, FACHE, HMDC, FAAHPM, FAAPL, Chief Medical Officer, Trellis Supportive Care; Mark Fox, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, HMDC, National Medical Director, Kindred at Home-Hospice Division; Elizabeth Golding, DO, Medical Director, Cone Health Palliative Care Services.
After-hours activities will include a "Throwback to the 70's" themed 50th Anniversary Celebration. Other confirmed speakers include Humana CEO Bruce Broussard, NAHC President Bill Dombi, AHHC President & CEO Tim Rogers, NHPCO President & CEO Edo Banach, and two Senior Provider Relations Representatives from Palmetto GBA. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Have a safe, healthy week. Keep making a difference!
Urgent Call to Action to Help Hospice Providers
NAHC advocacy needs ALL in-home care providers to contact their representatives about telehealth for the hospice F2F recert.
Healthcare Industry Huge Target for Cybercrime
Guest author Don Boxley Jr. makes a case for replacing vulnerable VPN security with much stronger "Software-Defined Perimeter" solutions.
Former CMS Admin Delivers Mixed Messages
Seema Verma addressed this year's Home Care 100 audience with two contradictory messages.
Vendor Watch
— Interim choose Axis Care for private duty franchises
— Axxess introduces palliative care software solution
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During the 3rd Quarter of 2023, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 11531 times. To inquire about placing your message here, contact: Kristin@rowanresources.com As of this date, approximately 44,869,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Shock and Awe at Homecare 100
Innovative Technologies Featured at Home Care 100 2022
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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
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 ExpositionDates: April 9-10
Venue: NIU Naperville
FREE WEBINAR: CMS’ Proposed Hospice FY2024 Payment Rule: Implications for Agencies and the Hospice Community
Sponsored by NAHC
Featuring: Theresa Forster, Katie WehriDate: April 11
Details and Registration
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 EDT
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
Encore date: April 13
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 EDT
On-demand recording available 24/7
Option to purchase recording and handoutsInformation 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.
- What must providers do when reviews show deficiencies in documentation?
- When and how can providers amend or supplement records prior to submission to auditors?
- Should providers send summaries to auditors along with patient records?
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.
Rise Above!
Michigan Home Care & Hospice Association Annual Conference
Dates: May 3-5
Venue: Grand Traverse Resort & SpaThe 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.
Home Care Innovation Forum*Presented by: The Influence Group
Dates: June 4-6
Venue: Park Hyatt Aviara
City: Carlsbad, CAFeatured Speakers:
- Mark King, CEO, Taco Bell
- Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
- David Causby, President & CEO, Gentiva
- Susan Benoit, CEO & President, CenterWell Home Health
- Bruce Greenstein, EVP, LHC Group
- Bill Dombi, President, NAHC
Partial list of topics:
- AI-enabled Remote Patient Monitoring
- Recruitment/Retention strategies
- AI and Automation for Better Hiring
- Developing an Effective MA Strategy
- The Future of Telehealth
- Taking on Risk
HI2: Home Care Innovation and Investment Conference *Presented by: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership
Dates: June 12-14
Venue: Swissotel
City: ChicagoFeatured Speakers:
- Vin Gupta, CMO, Amazon
- Patrick Conway, MD, CEO, Care Solutions
- Kevin Ban, MD, Global CMO, Walgreens
- Andy Slavitt, Founder, Town Hall Ventures, former CMS Administrator
leading ONE vision
Homecare Homebase User Group Meeting
Dates: June 12-14
Venue: Sheraton Dallas HotelClinical 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:
- Mark Scharenbroich: Award Winning Author, Emmy Award® Winner for an ABC TV special, National Speakers Association Hall of Fame Inductee, Golden Apple and Silver Screen Film award for his movie, "The Greatest Days of Your Life…(so far)," International film festival award winner.
- David Glickman: David has been a professional speaker and entertainer for over twenty years and has presented over 2000 programs. Before transitioning from "show business" to "speech business," he worked with everyone from Steve Martin to Ellen DeGeneres and performed at private parties for singer Gloria Estefan and former President Jimmy Carter. He also appeared on "Evening At The Improv" and several other national television shows.
2032 NAHC Financial Management Conference & Exposition
Date: July 16-18
Venue: Hilton Riverside, New Orleans
In addition to NAHC president Bill Dombi, featured speakers will include:
- Brent Korte, CEO, Frontpoint Healthcare
- Dexter Braff, MBA
- Jennifer Sheets, RN
- Mike Dordick
- Susan Benoit
- Zac Long, JD, MHA
- Melinda Gaboury, COS-C
54th Annual Meeting: "Bring Care Home"Presented by: Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice
Dates: August 28-31
Venue: Grand Hyatt Riverwalk
City: San Antonio
FREE Webinar: "The Role of the Hospice Physician in Organizational Compliance"Presented by: FEMA
Date: September 6
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, EDT
Collaborating with the Administration for Community Living, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation, and the Schoharie County, NY, Area Agency on Aging, the webinar is designed to equip organizations with strategies to ensure seamless service continuity during an emergency.
Home and Community-Based Palliative Care: Past, Present, and Future
NAHC and HHFMASeptember 28, 2023
2023 NAHC Annual Meeting & Exposition *
"One Voice, Many Stories"
October 15-17
Gaylord Hotel and Conference Center
National Harbor, MDKeynote Speakers:
- Ben Nemtin, New York Times bestselling author of "What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?"
- Summer Napier, NAHC Director of Grassroots Advocacy
- Bill Dombi, NAHC President
2023 National Home Care Conference*
Home Care Association of AmericaOctober 23-24, 2023
Hilton Chicago
Chicago, IL
Vision – Plan – Succeed: 2023 Leadership Conference
Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina
October 29-31, 2023
Renaissance Hotel Ashville, NCFeatured speakers:
Bill Dombi, Melinda Gaboury, Tim Rogers, Nick Seabrook, Mark Sharp, Robert Markette, Mark Kulik, and more.
Ignite Your Revenue Engine - Virtual
HomeCareSales
November 1-3, 2023
Strategic Analysis and Provider Guidance
CMS CY2024 Final Rule Cuts to Home Health
Axxess
November 9, 2023
2 PM CST
Unlocking Home Care Agency Efficiency with AI
Virtual Workshop
Automation Edge
Nov 8, 2023
11 a.m. CST
Home Health Final Rule: Clinical & Financial Strategies for Success in 2024
McBee Associates
Nov 8, 2023
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Automating Your Compliance Process in Home Care
AxisCare and CareAcademy
Nov 8. 2023
12 p.m. CT
Virtual
2023 Annual Conference – Hybrid Hospice & Palliative Care
Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State
November 13-14, 2023
Albany Marriott Hotel
Albany, NY
Call for Speaker Proposals
Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC) Annual Convention and Expo
April 7-10, 2024
Raleigh Convention CenterThe deadline to submit a proposal is November 15, 2023.
Understanding the CY 2024 Home Health Final Rule:
Your agency's path forward
WellSky
Nov 15, 2023
Presented by Cindy Campbell, MHA-Healthcare Informatics, BSN, RN, COQS, CHHCM
12 p.m. CST
Request for Speakers: 2024 Annual Conference
Indiana Association for Home Health Care
April 16-17, 2024
The deadline to submit proposals is November 17, 2023.
Safety Matters: Protecting Home Care Workers from Violence
National Association for Home Care & Hospice
Nov 29, 2023
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST
2023 Virtual Annual Conference
Virginia Association for Homecare and HospiceOpening Date:November 15
Rapid Competency and Quality Improvement Training
CMS
November 30, 2023
1:00 p.m. EST
Safety Matters:
Protecting Home Care Workers from ViolenceNational Association for Home Care and Hospice
Nov 29, 2023
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST
Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Developing resilience in the face of change
McBee
Dec 6, 2023
1:00 p.m. EST
CRM Showcase:Empowering Reps for Smarter, More Efficient Growth
Trella Health
December 12, 2023
12 p.m. EST
Don't be Late for Section GGPrepare now for the new Discharge Function Score
NetSmart
Dec 12, 2023
2:00 p.m. EST
CRM Showcase: Empowering Reps for Smarter, More Efficient Growth
Trella Health
Dec 12, 2023
12 p.m. EST
Excavate-Tell-Affirm
Brand Leadership Summit
Revealing Genius
Dec 7-15, 2023
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST
RCM Success Toolkit:
Insights for RCM Leaders
NetSmart
December 14, 2023
2:00 p.m. EST
Understanding, Identifying, and Overcoming Conscious and Unconscious Bias
Home Care Pulse
Ongoing
FREE Sample Course
Home Health and Hospice Summit
HealthCare Synergy
January 10, 2024
Renaissance Hotel
Long Beach, CA
Home Care 100*
Lincoln Intelligence Group
January 21-24, 2024
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, AZ
AGILE: Axxess Growth, Innovation and Leadership Experience*
Axxess
April 21-24, 2024
Irving Convention Center
Dallas, TX
Annual Conference & Trade Show
Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association
May 8-9, 2024
Radisson of Kalamazoo
2024 KHCA Annual Conference
Kentucky Home Care Association
August 14-15, 2024
Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington/UK Coldstream
Lexington, KY
Insight2024
6th Annual Forum on Coding, OASIS & Quality
McBee
Aug 5-7, 2024
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas
Agency Amplify
HomeCareSales
Recurring
2nd Tuesday
*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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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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