Volume 12, Number 13 — March 22, 2023
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
I am thrilled to announce that I am starting a new enterprise. With my partner, Roger McManus, MBA, we are going to invite Home Health and Home Care executives to join our new Home Care Top 20 groups. No more than twenty Home Health CEOs in one group and Home Care owners in the second group will meet from time to time to exchange best practices, learn from each other, and solve problems together. Roger and I will be moderators, not teachers, but we will propose topics from time to time. It will be a dynamic exchange of ideas among peers, with no two members in a competing market area. There will be a modest membership fee to cover expenses.
Interested? All the details are at www.Top20.Agency. Additional question should be addressed to editor@homecaretechreport.com
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In two product reviews, and in our regular Vendor Watch column, we introduce some new technology products that may help you improve patient care and client satisfaction. Home Health Notify is a new patient engagement and communication system that has grown from the one HHA that developed it to nearly 100 other agencies and counting.
You also need to know about the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. Equiva Health and Infiniti Mobile have joined forces to help low-income seniors receive broadband internet and cell service at subsidized pricing.
Empathy has joined forces with Sharecare to provide bereavement counseling for family caregivers. After holding down a day job and caring for a loved one, a surviving family member is often left to cope with grief alone.
Cionic has a leg sleeve that has been reporting remarkable results improving human mobility. Its bionic clothing analyzes movement and adds electrical stimulation that enables more freedom of movement for persons with multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and other neuromuscular diagnoses. Cionic will be offering free experiences with the device though the cooperation of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Details to apply for a trial are in our Vendor Watch column.
Do not miss guest author Elizabeth Hogue's alert about a healthcare provider, in this case an ophthalmology distributor, who was fined $43 million for greasing surgeon's palms with luxury travel and sports tickets.
Speaking of regulations, we also reprint CMS announcements about upcoming webinars to help with your transition to Value-Based Purchasing.
Scroll down and click on the headlines to read this week's news. To research past news items, use the Search function on our home page, homecaretechreport.com.
Have a great week. Keep making a difference!
Product Review: Home Health Notify Communications Platform
We were impressed with our look at a new patient/clinician/physician communications platform.
CMS News: Post-Covid Prep; PDGM Webinar
— CMS webinar to help providers prepare for May 11 official end to Public Health Emergency.
— PDGM webinar 3/29 to cover HHPPS 2023 Behavior Change Recap, 60-Day Episode Construction Overview, and Payment Rate Development
Jury Imposes $43 Million Judgment Over Physician Kickbacks
The Department of Justice recently announced that a federal jury in Minnesota reached a verdict of $43 million against an ophthalmology distributor. The distributor was accused of greasing surgeons’ palms with luxury travel and sports tickets, among other kickbacks.
Product Review: Equiva Health Aligns with ISP to Help Homebound Seniors Get Broadband
The ACP is a $14.2 billion federal program administered by the Federal Communications Commission that gives eligible households a monthly discount toward broadband service and a discount toward a connected device.
Vendor Watch
— Sharecare and Empathy partner to provide grief support
— Pioneering Bionic Clothing Innovator Recognizes MS Awareness Month
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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 49,104,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Government Lets Health Plans That Ripped Off Medicare Keep the Money
Medicare Advantage Is Neither Medicare Nor an Advantage
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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.
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
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.
2023 Annual Home Health & Hospice Conference
Homecare and Hospice Association of UtahDate: May 10-11
City: Sandy
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
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.
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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