Volume 10, Number 44 — September 22, 2021
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
There is so much going on with COVID ever since the mandate that healthcare workers must be vaccinated, half of this week's issue touches on one aspect of the pandemic or another. It is not all bad news though. One of our advertisers told us they have portioned off a staff vaccine tracking and reporting system that was previously sold only as a module within their full package. CareConnect is now offering two mobile apps especially designed for in-home caregivers who work for more than one home care agency. (From what we have heard, that could be most of them.) SafeCare Screener records their daily answers to a handful of questions about any COVID-type symptoms; POV Tracker lets them upload an image of their proof-of-vaccination card. Click on their graphic ad to see how it works. Here is how President and CEO Michael Gelman describes the decision to make his company's apps available for a dollar per month:
"We are excited to provide tools to help Agencies and Caregivers manage their COVID safety and compliance requirements. Along with our current suite of COVID daily assessments and training courses, caregivers only have to upload their proof of vaccination card one time, so each agency they work with can track compliance with the latest mandates. Our mission is to provide tools that create efficiencies for agencies while helping caregivers to more easily and comfortably provide the selfless assistance they give to our most vulnerable loved ones every day."
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Read our lead story about the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina joining forces with NAHC, HCAOA, and others to promote the federal grant program that pays cash rewards to home care agencies and their employees for every vaccine shot they help arrange.
As an example of how well this program, "Flex for Checks" is working, be sure to read this week's top news story. A Florida woman is taking the grant program seriously. So far, she has helped 500 people get their first or second COVID shot and pocketed over $12,000 in grant rewards. You will be inspired by our conversation with Thelma Washington. Be sure to scroll down and click on "Florida Woman Earns Record-Setting Vaccination Grant Rewards."
Sticking with our COVID theme, guest author Elizabeth Hogue brings us a report on the court case about vaccine mandates at Indiana University. The longtime home care attorney weighs in on the meaning of the court's proclamation for healthcare workers.
Where are the home care nurses, aides, and non-medical caregivers? How do you find them and attract them into your agency? Staff writer Darcey Trescone did a deep dive into the most recent analysis by PHI, the nation's leading expert on the direct care workforce, and then studied reports from "RegisteredNurses.org" and three other government and other sources that have analyzed RN hiring and job migration patterns. Everyone struggling with staff shortages will want to learn from Darcey's findings in "Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts" and "Nursing Sign-On Bonuses Reaching $30,000."
Speaking of staff shortages, I hope my friends in Ohio and Colorado will join me when I share the research I have been conducting into technology tools that have been helping your colleagues cope with recruiting and retention of critical workers, both clinical and non-medical. The Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice invited me to present at their virtual annual conference on September 29. The Colorado Association for Home Care's conference will be live and in person on October 11-12. I hope to see my Colorado friends there. I will be laying out the nature of the staffing problem, the impact of COVID-19, and introduce five tech companies that say they can help.
Be sure to scroll down for details on other upcoming conferences and webinars, including the South Carolina association's meeting in October and North Carolina in November.
My friends, have a great week. Keep making a difference!
AHHC of North Carolina Teams Up with Flex for Checks
Partnership with National Minority Health Association will mobilize Home Care, Home Health, Hospice & Palliative Care staff
in fight against COVID-19.
Florida Woman Earns Record-Setting Vaccination Grant Rewards
Thelma Washington has arranged 500 COVID vaccinations of friends and neighbors, earns $12,500 (so far) from the HRSA "Flex for Checks" grant.
Vaccine Mandates: Recent Court Decisions
Indiana University vaccination mandate upheld. Implications for similar healthcare provider mandates.
Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts
PHI's most recent study of the in-home, direct care profession does not bode well for agency recruiting hopes.
Nursing Sign-On Bonuses Reaching $30,000
Desperate healthcare systems are offering record sign-on bonuses to lure COVID-weary nurses back to work.
Vendor Watch
— Axxess online training adds certification;
— CareVoyant offers help dealing with Consumer Directed Services
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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 43,098,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Bayada Settles Civil Qui Tam Lawsuit; Avoids Expensive Defense
CMS News: Get Vaccinated, or Else!
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2021 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo *
National Association for Home Care and Hospice
Date: October 3-5
Venue: New OrleansSadly, 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 ManagerDate: Wednesday, November 3
Time: 11:00 am PDT / 2:00 pm EDT
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
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.
Important Final Rule Discoveries Every Agency Needs to Know: Examining HH PPS for CY2022
Presented by: HealthRevPartners
Featuring: John Reisinger, CPA
DATE: November 18
TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 EST
VENUE: Online
FEE: NONE
One of the major changes in CMS’ final rule for the Home Health Prospective Payment System announced is this — ???2022 will be a "pre-implementation year for the HHVBP, which was originally scheduled to begin in January.
Learn exactly what you need to do in 2022 for HHVBP.
Additionally, we will cover these final rule changes and more:
- Individual payment rate changes ranging from:
- An increase of 35.7%, to
- A decrease of 34.6%
- 2022 will be the last year of the Rural Add-on
- Significant changes with all 432 Case-Mix Weights
And, do you know how much your Medicare revenues are projected to change?
There will be a 3.2% increase ($570 million) in home health spending for CY2022.
*The Rowan Report will see you there.
FREE WEBINAR: New, Science-Based Methodology Reduces Cost of Recruitment and Retention
Presented by: The Rowan Report
Featuring: Eric Becker, CEO, MiliMatch
Date: Thursday, March 18
Time: 3:00 pm EST; Noon PST
Recorded version available.
Agenda:
Every time a home care agency hires and trains a new caregiver, it invests about $4,500, which is wasted if that new hire does not work out, often before working a first shift. MiliMatch CEO Eric Becker will explain the company's patented product/service, based on the science of Applied Cognitive Linguistics, which has been proven to help home care agencies avoid those costly bad hires.
FREE WEBINAR: Combat the Great Resignation and Reduce Employee Turnover by 40%
Presented by: National Minority Health Association
Date: Tuesday, May 24
Time: 10:00 AM Pacific; 1:00 PM Eastern
Information and Registration
Agenda
As organizations plan for the future, they must cultivate a happier, healthier workforce. Most CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, and other business leaders are eager to know the true impact of financial wellness. We are gathering to discuss and explore how prioritizing employee financial wellness can help increase caregiver retention and productivity at no cost to your businesses.
Gulf Coast Regional Conference & Exposition
Presented by: Home Care Associations of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
Date: July 18-20
Venue: Grand Hotel Marriott Resort
Location: Point Clear, Alabama
2022 NAHC Financial Management Conference & Exposition *
Date: July 24-26
Venue: Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
Register for the in-person conference - starting at $750 for NAHC members or $1,025 for non-members - or for the digital only content - $400 for members and $600 for non-members. If you register for the in-person conference, you'll get access to all of the digital content.
2022 ONC Virtual Tech Forum
Sponsored by: Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Location: Online
Dates: September 9, 16, and 23
ONC has posted the high-level agenda and opened up registration for the 2022 ONC Virtual Tech Forum on HealthIT.gov. This year's event takes place during three consecutive Fridays in September (9th, 16th, 23rd). As in years past, the Tech Forum will feature industry perspectives on the progress made in health IT over the past year, and highlight how we can continue to advance health technology to improve patient care, health equity, data exchange, and interoperability.
MHCA 52nd Annual Meeting & Expo
Sponsored by: Minnesota Home Care Association
Date: October 12-14
Information and Registration
Venue: Breezy Point Resort
City: Breezy Point, MN
2022 NAHC Annual Meeting & Exposition *
"Connection 4.0: Linkup"
Date: October 23-25
Venue: America's Center Convention Complex
Location: St. Louis, MOThis year, we want to celebrate one of the most meaningful touchstones of our industry — connection. At the Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo, we'll explore ideas around connection and community to help attendees reach their stakeholders in authentic and meaningful ways.
New technology, workforce developments, and the importance of high standards in quality care continue to push our community of clinicians and providers to revamp their strategies and skill sets. This event is the meeting point for you to uncover groundbreaking ideas, discover new interests, and network with industry pros.
Meet us in St. Louis, Missouri, once known as the "Gateway to the West." So, it is perfectly centered to make those connections even easier for members and attendees from all ends of the U.S. We look forward to linking up with you this October!
2022 Annual Conference
New Mexico Association for Home and Hospice CareDate: November 3
Venue: CNM Workforce Training Center
City: AlbuquerqueFeaturing:
- Lisa McClammy on "Navigating the New World of Home Health Value-Based Purchasing"
- Petria McKelvey on "Medicare Advantage & Third Party Payers: How to Get Paid!"
- Tim Rowan on "Technologies to Improve Staff Recruiting & Retention"
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.
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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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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