Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare On Friday, March 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a call with home health organizations to discuss recent developments related to the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Even though the call was specific to home health agencies there hospice questions addressed, as well. CMS…… Continue reading CMS COVID-19 Call Covers Waivers, Q&A from CMS Call 3-20-2020
Category: Home Care
3-20-2020 – CMS – Home Heath Face to Face and Waiver 1135 Update
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare If you were not signed into the CMS call this morning here is the latest information regarding the Face to Face and waiver 1135 situation. The statutory requirements regarding the patient being rural and limited to certain originating sites has been waived for the required physician…… Continue reading 3-20-2020 – CMS – Home Heath Face to Face and Waiver 1135 Update
The Joint Commission – Effective July 2020 – Revisions to National Patient Safety Goals
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare Effective July 2020, The Joint Commission approved changes to its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) for all applicable accreditation programs. Because the NPSGs identify high-priority patient safety topics that are assessed during every accreditation survey, The Joint Commission periodically reviews them using contemporary literature, internal data,…… Continue reading The Joint Commission – Effective July 2020 – Revisions to National Patient Safety Goals
OASIS-E Draft Instrument Posted by CMS
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare Get an early look at the Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADEs) Click on the link in the copy below for the data sets. NOW AVAILABLE: Draft OASIS-E Instrument The draft OASIS-E All Items Instrument is now available in the Downloads section of the OASIS Data…… Continue reading OASIS-E Draft Instrument Posted by CMS
Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19 in Home Health Agencies
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On March 10, 2020, CMS issued QSO-20-18-HHA…Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19 in Home Health Agencies This 7-page memorandum addresses (and contains links to additional information): Which patients are at risk for severe disease for COVID-19? How should HHAs screen patients for COVID-19?…… Continue reading Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19 in Home Health Agencies
Passed! Bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare The United States Senate has unanimously passed the bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019, which would authorize $10 million annually for the Lifespan Respite Care program from fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2024. There are 45 million family caregivers in the United States that…… Continue reading Passed! Bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019
Texas home health agencies may begin submitting Pre-Claim Review requests on March 2, 2020.
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare The start of Review Choice Demonstration is right around the corner. Unfortunately, there has been some confusion about the process for submitting the PCR requests and the Unique Tracking Number (UTN) assigned to each PCR decision. To help providers, Palmetto GBA posted an article explaining the…… Continue reading Texas home health agencies may begin submitting Pre-Claim Review requests on March 2, 2020.
The CMS plans to enhance oversight of accrediting organizations
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare Seema Verma speaking to a Quality Conference in Baltimore told an audience of accreditors they are failing to protect patients from harm. Verma further stated the business practice of acting as both an accreditor and consultant is “a glaring conflict of interest.” The Office of Management…… Continue reading The CMS plans to enhance oversight of accrediting organizations
If your Texas home health agency is participating in Review Choice Demonstration, you need to know the following…
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare Contrary to Question #7 in the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for Home Health (HH) Services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (updated 01/06/20), RCD is applicable to billing periods not episode of care! RCD is scheduled to start in Texas on March 2, 2020. Agencies will need to…… Continue reading If your Texas home health agency is participating in Review Choice Demonstration, you need to know the following…
Home Health – CMS Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM)
Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix A – Hospitals, Appendix AA – Psychiatric Hospitals, Appendix B – Home Health Agency, Appendix D – Portable X-Ray, Appendix G – Rural Health Clinics/Federally Qualified Health Centers, Appendix H- End Stage Renal Disease Facilities (ESRD), Appendix K…… Continue reading Home Health – CMS Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM)
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