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

 

 

This Week's News

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.

 

About Physician Kickbacks

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!

Editor signature
Tim Rowan



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



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
CMS says it will not extrapolate overpayments for MA plans the way it does for Home Health episodes, but only charge for the samples.

Medicare Advantage Is Neither Medicare Nor an Advantage
Former insurance executive who used to sell Medicare Advantage explains why it is stealing from taxpayers and seniors.


Upcoming Events

 

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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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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