Archive by Author
OASIS C Pressure Ulcer Checklist
Posted on 09. Jun, 2009 by seank.
Most pressure ulcer prevention and treatment tools have been developed for nursing homes, but home health agencies are about to become more accountable, with OASIS C process measures taking effect in January 2010.
Use these best practices from the quality…
Continue Reading
Home Health ICD-9 2010 Quick Start Guide
Posted on 29. May, 2009 by seank.
Effective Oct. 1 2009, it’s out with the old, in with the new.
CMS has issued 141 new diagnosis codes for you to use starting Oct. 1. Here’s the heads up on ICD-9 code changes home care coders & billers should be…
Continue Reading
Avoid These Hospice Eligibility Pitfalls
Posted on 28. May, 2009 by seank.
If your hospice hasn’t taken a good look at how it determines–and documents–patients’ eligibility for the Medicare hospice benefit, you’re fair game for everything from payment recoupments to fraud and abuse investigations.
There’s no shortage of reasons for hospices to…
Continue Reading
One Denied Therapy Visit Can Cost Your HHA $600
Posted on 28. May, 2009 by seank.
Good care that is poorly documented can lead the feds to suspect fraud.
CMS is concerned that the prospective payment system includes financial incentives to provide more therapy than a patient needs, according to physical therapist Cindy Krafft, Peoria, Ill.-based consultant with Fazzi Associates.
To…
Continue Reading
RACs March to Home Health: 4 Ways to Prepare
Posted on 28. May, 2009 by seank.
RACs aren't child's play
There’s no question about it. The Medicare program’s Recovery Audit Contractors are armed and ready to sweep the greater medical community, including home care providers.
In their three-year…
Continue Reading
Your OASIS C Pressure Ulcer Training Kit
Posted on 28. May, 2009 by seank.
If you’re sweating over how your going to pull off that inservice on OASIS C’s new pressure ulcer standards, relax NOW. Here’s some helping hands waiting on the Internet to make your job easier and improve quality of care for…
Continue Reading
Hospice Eligibility Documentation Checklist
Posted on 28. May, 2009 by seank.
The best defense against auditors, surveyors, and even fraud investigators hanging their hats on hospice eligibility issues is comprehensive documentation by your clinicians.
In addition to the patient’s vital signs, the patient’s record should include these types of clinically measurable…
