Volume 10, Number 44 — June  9, 2021




Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,

I read a disturbing article in my local paper this weekend. Many veterans are turned away for medical and mental healthcare when they are actually eligible. The "decision maker" who denies care is often the lowest paid staffer, a clerk or receptionist, who has been poorly trained in the rules. Have you heard of your patients running into this problem?

Let's get into this week's news. The American Telemedicine Association has published a report on its legislative efforts on the state level. Following emergency permissions to use virtual visits and other remote patient monitoring technologies during the height of the pandemic, many healthcare providers are pushing to make those permissions permanent. They cite evidence that patients are healthier and costs are lower. The ATA lists many successes in this area, but has also had to write letters in some cases educating legislators about the bad bills they have proposed. We give you links to a map of each state's proposed and already passed laws, as well as to the ATA letters. Scroll down to "ATA is Bullish on State-by-State Legislative Successes."

 

 

This got me thinking. How can any elected official possibly learn enough about all the different industries a lawmaker has to cover. Do they rely on expertise within their staff? Do they take a lobbyist's word? I learned from an Administrative Law Judge of my acquaintance that learning dozens, or hundreds, of different industries' jargon and acronyms is the hardest part of her job. It has to be the same for state legislators. I ruminate on this problem in an opinion piece titled "Some Lawmakers Simply Misunderstand Telehealth." You may laugh, or perhaps cry, at the level of ignorance the ATA tries to correct.

 

 

Whether your business is Home Health, Home Care, or Hospice, you are always looking for a competitive advantage. If you agree, do not miss our story on a just-released study by Porter Research, sent to us by our friends at Citus Health. Porter's study found one main thing that patients and their families say would make them choose one provider over another. The results were overwhelming, with agreement about that one thing over 90 percent.

 

 

In our Vendor Watch column, we report on a new alliance between Homecare Homebase and Corridor. You already know that the longtime consulting group is focused on coding services now. HCHB will be offering that service to its software clients through the new partnership.

 

Worth the Trip

Be sure to scroll down beyond this week's headlines to check our updated list of conferences. We are so pleased that some of them will be in person, we are vaccinated and trying to attend as many as we can. We hope to see you in Marco Island, Chicago, Orlando, or New Orleans.

Have a great week. Stay healthy and keep making a difference!

Editor signature
Tim Rowan



Some Lawmakers Simply Misunderstand Telehealth
Legislators cannot know the details of every industry. The ATA provides a model for how to educate them about our industry without highlighting their ignorance.

ATA is Bullish on State-by-State Legislative Successes
With COVID telehealth expansion proving successful, American Telemedicine Association steps up efforts to make emergency changes permanent.

Homecare Homebase and Corridor Announce Exclusive Partnership
Homecare Homebase℠ and Corridor announce exclusive partnership to provide coding and documentation review services to HCHB customers.

Porter Research Study Finds Patients and Families Prefer Providers Who Communicate
How do you communicate with patients and families? 96 percent of patients and family caregivers say they would choose one Home Health provider over another based on ability to respond in real time.



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 41,943,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible.

 

Last Week's Most-Read Stories:

Appriss Health Acquires PatientPing
CMMI veteran's product helps home health agencies eliminate missed visits due to unreported hospital admissions.

Four Home Care Agencies Solve Expensive "Bad Hire" Problem
What does it cost when a new caregiver disappears after orientation and training, never taking a first shift? How often does it happen? One franchise organization has found a way to lower this risk, saving $4,500 or more every time a bad hire is avoided.




Upcoming Events

2021 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo *

National Association for Home Care and Hospice

Date: October 3-5
Venue: New Orleans

Sadly, this conference has had to be postponed, due to the hurricane in New Orleans and COVID situation in Louisiana.


FREE WEBINAR: Targeted Probe & Educate: Where Do You Stand?

Presented by: Healthcare Synergy
Featuring:
Michael Tidd, COS-C, HCS-D, HealthCare Synergy Clinical Manager

Date: Wednesday, November 3
Time: 11:00 am PDT / 2:00 pm EDT

Register

Overview:
Targeted Probe and Educate is a CMS initiative to seek a better understanding of agencies practices in order to protect the Medicare funds. Agencies self-identify themselves and request reviews by their actions and the data they provide to CMS. Are you aware of the signals you might be sending and how to protect yourself?
Objectives:
Speaker:
Michael Tidd has over 19 years of experience in the Home Care Industry and is a frequent speaker at HealthCare Synergy Workshops and Webinars. He is a Software Developer, LVN and Certified in ICD-9/10 Coding and OASIS (COS-C, HCS-D). As the Clinical Manager for HealthCare Synergy, he directs the Outsourced Management Services, assists in directing the development of the Healthcare Assistant Web Edition, oversees the Clinical Documentation Auditing provided to clients and directs the Clinical Form Development for the Healthcare Assistant Web Edition. Michael continues to educate agencies in the ongoing regulations that CMS produces, the proper application of the Medicare Conditions of Participation and completing timely, accurate and defendable clinical documentation to survive in the current Medicare Reimbursement Model.

FREE WEBINAR: Admit more Patients & Stop Nursing Burnout!

Presented by: OperaCare

Date: November 10

Time: 1:00 pm EST; 10:00 PST

Information and Registration

The nursing shortage is getting much worse and will most likely impact your business if it has not already.
During this event we will demonstrate how to complete an entire OASIS in approx. 60 minutes or less. This includes ICD-10 coding, entry and revision of medication’s, all the OASIS items, and Quality Assurance while the nurse is with the patient in the home.

The result: Eliminating 100% of after-hours documentation, increasing clinical productivity, and reducing your labor costs.

The Benefit: The ability to significantly increase your recruitment and retention efforts by providing your clinicians with a sane and humane work life balance.


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.


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.


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:


2032 NAHC Financial Management Conference & Exposition

Date: July 16-18
Venue: Hilton Riverside, New Orleans

Information and Registration

 

In addition to NAHC president Bill Dombi, featured speakers will include:


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


Information and Registration


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

Register here 

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 HHFMA

September 28, 2023

More Information

 


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2023 NAHC Annual Meeting & Exposition *

"One Voice, Many Stories"

October 15-17
Gaylord Hotel and Conference Center
National Harbor, MD

Information and Registration

Keynote Speakers:

 


 

2023 National Home Care Conference*
Home Care Association of America

October 23-24, 2023

Hilton Chicago
Chicago, IL

More Information

 

 


Vision – Plan – Succeed: 2023 Leadership Conference

Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina

October 29-31, 2023
Renaissance Hotel Ashville, NC

Information and Registration

Featured 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

More Information


Strategic Analysis and Provider Guidance

CMS CY2024 Final Rule Cuts to Home Health

Axxess

November 9, 2023
2 PM CST

More Information


Unlocking Home Care Agency Efficiency with AI

Virtual Workshop

Automation Edge

Nov 8, 2023

11 a.m. CST

More Information


Home Health Final Rule: Clinical & Financial Strategies for Success in 2024

McBee Associates

Nov 8, 2023
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST
Virtual

More Information


Automating Your Compliance Process in Home Care

AxisCare and CareAcademy

Nov 8. 2023
12 p.m. CT
Virtual

More Information


2023 Annual Conference – Hybrid Hospice & Palliative Care

Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State

November 13-14, 2023
Albany Marriott Hotel
Albany, NY

More Information


Call for Speaker Proposals

Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC) Annual Convention and Expo

April 7-10, 2024
Raleigh Convention Center

Submit Your Proposal

The 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
12 p.m. CST

More Information

Presented by Cindy Campbell, MHA-Healthcare Informatics, BSN, RN, COQS, CHHCM

Request for Speakers: 2024 Annual Conference

Indiana Association for Home Health Care

April 16-17, 2024

More Information

The deadline to submit proposals is November 17, 2023.

2023 Virtual Annual Conference
Virginia Association for Homecare and Hospice

Opening Date:November 15

More Information


Safety Matters: Protecting Home Care Workers from Violence

National Association for Home Care & Hospice

Nov 29, 2023
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Rapid Competency and Quality Improvement Training

CMS

November 30, 2023
1:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Safety Matters:
Protecting Home Care Workers from Violence

National Association for Home Care and Hospice

Nov 29, 2023
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST

More Information


Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Developing resilience in the face of change

McBee

Dec 6, 2023
1:00 p.m. EST

More Information


CRM Showcase:Empowering Reps for Smarter, More Efficient Growth

Trella Health

December 12, 2023
12 p.m. EST

More Information


Don't be Late for Section GGPrepare now for the new Discharge Function Score

NetSmart

Dec 12, 2023
2:00 p.m. EST

More Information


CRM Showcase: Empowering Reps for Smarter, More Efficient Growth

Trella Health

Dec 12, 2023
12 p.m. EST

More Information


Excavate-Tell-Affirm

Brand Leadership Summit

Revealing Genius

Dec 7-15, 2023
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST

More Information


RCM Success Toolkit:

Insights for RCM Leaders

NetSmart

December 14, 2023
2:00 p.m. EST

More Information


Understanding, Identifying, and Overcoming Conscious and Unconscious Bias

Home Care Pulse

Ongoing
FREE Sample Course

More Information


Home Health and Hospice Summit

HealthCare Synergy

January 10, 2024
Renaissance Hotel
Long Beach, CA

More Information


Home Care 100*

Lincoln Intelligence Group

January 21-24, 2024
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, AZ

More Information


AGILE: Axxess Growth, Innovation and Leadership Experience*

Axxess

April 21-24, 2024
Irving Convention Center
Dallas, TX

More Information


Annual Conference & Trade Show

Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association

May 8-9, 2024
Radisson of Kalamazoo

More Information


2024 KHCA Annual Conference

Kentucky Home Care Association

August 14-15, 2024
Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington/UK Coldstream
Lexington, KY

More Information


Insight2024

6th Annual Forum on Coding, OASIS & Quality

McBee

Aug 5-7, 2024
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas

More Information


Agency Amplify

HomeCareSales

Recurring
2nd Tuesday

More Information


*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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