In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), which shifted to a patient-centered payment system that focuses on clinical characteristics and other meaningful patient information.
Under PDGM, the 60-day episode of care was divided into 30-day billing periods, with the potential of 432... Keep Reading
As the home health industry continues to evolve at a rapid rate, successful organizations are those that fully understand regulatory compliance and maximize the benefits of home health to create positive outcomes for their patients.
Among the therapy skills that are not always understood or utilized is maintenance therapy.
Making the Case... Keep Reading
We know that falls in older adults can cause a major impact to their quality of life, high costs and even death. A fall risk assessment and prevention are key to safely aging in place for this population.
What caregivers need to remember is that falls are also one of the... Keep Reading
Though the concepts of palliative care have been around since the inception of the hospice care delivery model, palliative care continues to be mostly undefined from regulatory and payment structure perspectives.
Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team that works together with the patient’s other doctors to provide an... Keep Reading
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of people worldwide.
Disruption in healthcare services not only impacted physical ailments, but also mental and psychosocial wellbeing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a recent scientific study revealed a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Many... Keep Reading
There’s nothing quite like the anxiety of a surveyor popping in your home health organization for a surprise audit.
Surveys can cause even the most stringent administrator to doubt their operations. I remember the feeling well and that’s why I wanted to work with a care at home software provider... Keep Reading
Most Americans do not have a plan in place for end-of-life care. A lack of these advance directives, currently used by only one in three people, directly leads to higher healthcare costs and a distinct disconnect between the patient’s wishes and the care they receive.
There is an industry-wide opportunity to... Keep Reading
Editorial note: This guest blog is by Annie Erstling, chief strategy officer for our health technology partner, Forcura. It includes insights from Axxess’ panel discussion during Forcura’s annual CONNECT Summit – “Earning a Seat at the Table: Are Post-Acute Care Providers Ready to Compete in a Value-Based Care Economy?” earlier... Keep Reading
Volunteers are the heart of hospice care. In fact, in the United States hospice care began as a volunteer-based movement.
Volunteers are a vital part of the interdisciplinary team (IDG), a Medicare requirement under the Conditions of Participation. A minimum of 5% of total patient care and admin support must be... Keep Reading
Hospices should review their best practices to meet compliance with the new Hospice Care Index (HCI).
This claims-based quality measure is reported throughout the patient’s lifecycle and is made up of 10 indicators that represent multiple aspects of care, from admission to discharge, and is an addition to the Hospice Quality... Keep Reading
Home health organizations should be planning ahead for potential sudden staffing shortages.
Most organizations rotate call assignments for weekends, holidays and emergencies. This planning should be done well ahead of the date. Yet this nursing shortage is critical – organizations need to realize the severity of the situation and be prepared... Keep Reading
Caregivers are not the only healthcare professionals facing extreme burnout. Physicians are slogging through many of the same challenges. Your clients’ care is funneled through a system clogged with an abundance of paperwork and a shortage of staff.
Electronic medical record (EMR) software was designed to ease this strain, especially if... Keep Reading
