In a recently published Final Rule, CMS outlined five regulatory changes that are designed to relieve compliance burdens that have taken up time and resources that can now be used to improve the quality of care for hospice patients and their loved ones. The Regulatory Provisions to Promote Program Efficiency,... Keep Reading
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) was finalized in the CY 2020 Final rules and highlights its shift in focus to patient-centered care and the need to actively engage patients for long term success after PDGM goes into effect January 1.... Keep Reading
The 2020 Home Health Final Rule was officially published November 8, 2019, and although the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) has been the major focus of published reports to date, this final policy document covers many other aspects of home health care.
PDGM and the Behavioral Adjustment
With this published final rule, the... Keep Reading
According to Betty Greaver, RN, LMT, it’s a common myth that aging means a person gains weight, has chronic pain and can't continue living a productive life. Rather, Greaver says, and research shows, there are simple lifestyle changes that people can make in order to remain active and have the... Keep Reading
As flu season continues there are important steps to take to protect yourself and those you care for from getting the virus. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone six months or older get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is updated every year in order to combat the most... Keep Reading
Among the most time-consuming tasks is to review comprehensive assessments, and recertification and discharge documentation. Often these tasks take up a large amount of time from the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager, or the Quality Assurance Nurse. It is especially time-consuming if the organization is documenting on paper.
At Axxess, we... Keep Reading
If you are an RN or therapist in the home health setting, you are familiar with the OASIS. You may not know why or how the OASIS is used. The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is integral to home health providers and is the source for the HHRG, which... Keep Reading
It’s an ongoing struggle for those in the home care industry – how to better communicate the value and benefits of healthcare at home. For Tim Rogers, who serves as President and CEO for both the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina and the South Carolina Home... Keep Reading
The most fundamental aspect of hospice care is pain and symptom management to ensure quality of life is maximized for our patients. This often means the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and other alternative treatments. Hospices must provide safe and effective management of these therapies. Medication management... Keep Reading
As the home health industry evolves under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), providers must continue to be mindful of how their practices of delivering quality care can evolve as well.
The adjustment to the new payment reform has forced providers to take a closer look at their operations to deliver cost-efficient... Keep Reading
The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Survey empowers hospice organizations by attracting referral sources, driving business growth, and sustaining compliance with industry regulations, including the current pay-for-reporting requirements and the shift to value-based care on the industry’s horizon. By evaluating hospice patient and caregiver experiences, the... Keep Reading
The Patient-Driven Groupings Model is certainly the biggest change to Medicare home health reimbursement in 20 years. However, this fundamental challenge to revenue cycle management is less daunting for providers who use Axxess solutions. During the recent Home Health Care News Summit in Chicago, industry leaders painted a dark view... Keep Reading
