Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare What is already known about this topic? Since 1991, U.S. tuberculosis (TB) rates have declined, including among health care personnel (HCP). Serial TB testing has limitations in populations at low risk. What is added by this report? A systematic review found a low percentage of HCP…… Continue reading CDC Releases TB guidelines 5/17/19

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the Home Health Change of Care (HHCCN) Form, CMS-10280.  Effective July 1, 2019, all Home Health Agencies (HHA) will be required to use the renewed form with the expiration date of 4/30/2022 on the bottom.  Please…… Continue reading July 1, 2019 your agency will need to use the renewed HHCCN

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The next Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, 2019 PM at 2:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Please call at least 15 minutes prior to the forum start time. **This Agenda is Subject to Change** Opening Remarks Acting…… Continue reading Just in case you didn’t see the next Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door announcement…

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare A final rule, scheduled to be published May 6, 2019, “removes the regulatory text that allows a state to make Medicaid payments to third parties on behalf of an individual provider for benefits such as health insurance, skills training, and other benefits customary for employees.”…… Continue reading Medicaid Will No Longer Pay Home Health Workers Union Dues Overturning a 2014 Rule

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare 2202.9B – Right to See, Review, and Request Changes (Rev.188, Issued: 04-26-19, Effective: 04-26-19, Implementation: 04-26-19) The term Medicare beneficiary identifier (Mbi) is a general term describing a beneficiary’s Medicare identification number. For purposes of this manual, Medicare beneficiary identifier references both the Health Insurance…… Continue reading Transmittal 188 Effective 4/26/19 – Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM 100-07) Chapter 2, The Certification Process

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Under PDGM home health referral sources will matter. PDGM will change the way each patient’s case-mix weight is calculated and introduce a new variable, which healthcare setting did the patient utilize in the 14 days prior to the home health admission. This is significant because, CMS…… Continue reading CMS is proposing to increase the wage index of low wage index hospitals. Why does that matter to rural home health agencies?

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare A new study, led by University of Rochester School of Nursing assistant professor Jinjiao Wang, Ph.D., RN, published in the American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA) reports that specific home health servicescan substantially lower the risk of re-hospitalization in older adults (> 65 years) during a 60-day period. The conclusion…… Continue reading Wondering how to approach therapy utilization and avoid/minimize the post-discharge risk for rehospitalization under PDGM?

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, NLCP-C, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare January 1, 2020 is the implementation date of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Will your agency be ready for the most significant payment change in the home health industry since 1997? NAHC is conducting a nationwide survey to get a better understanding of the…… Continue reading Therapy visit volume under PDGM will no longer be relevant when determining reimbursement!

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, NLCP-C, CFDS Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This quarter has some interesting clarifications addressing the new items in the OASIS D data set.  For example, see CMS’s answer below about the use of a knee scooter/walker. GG0110D QUESTION 2: When responding to GG items, would a knee scooter/walker be considered a…… Continue reading Don’t forget to review the April 2019 CMS Quarterly Q&A!

Sharon Hamilton MS, RN, NLCP-C, CFDS Clinical Consultant, Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released updates to two important transmittals. Transmittal 312 for the Extended Repayment Schedules (ERS), and 313 that addresses Notice of New Interest Rate for Medicare Overpayments and Underpayments -3rd Qtr Notification for FY 2019 To learn more…… Continue reading Change Request 11286