Tag Archives: hospice

Know these Hospice Claim Requirements to Keep Reimbursement Flowing

Posted on 09. Jun, 2010 by jan.mater.

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Report social work phone calls separately, even when they each last less than 15 minutes

This year has already been a busy one for new claim requirements, and the change requests aren’t over yet. From itemizing visits to tracking social…

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5 Tips Help You Steer Clear of Sharps Injuries

Posted on 09. Jun, 2010 by jan.mater.

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Don’t stick with this No. 1 bad habit known to cause injuries.

Prevention is the best remedy for needlestick and other sharps injuries, which can be largely avoided if you follow these key strategies.

1. Know the ropes for safely

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Shortage of Quality Palliative Care Alarms Canadian Cancer Society

Posted on 09. Jun, 2010 by Editor.

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The needs of patients who choose to die at home often ignored.

There is not enough quality palliative care available for dying cancer patients in Canada, according to a Continue Reading

Know Your Patient’s Rights: Does Your Hospice NOE Pass Muster?

Posted on 26. May, 2010 by jan.mater.

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Don’t let these four common errors trip up your claims.

Are you sure your notice of election statement covers all the bases? The Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Fall 2009 report found that that 33 percent of the hospice claims…

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Face-To-Face Encounters Affect Both HHAs And Hospices

Posted on 19. May, 2010 by jan.mater.

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And HHAs may be on the hook retroactively.

If you were breathing a sigh of relief that your home health agency wouldn’t have to worry about face-to-face encounters after CMS’s announcement in the last Open Door Forum that they didn’t…

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Palliative Sedation in the Eyes of NHPCO

Posted on 19. May, 2010 by Editor.

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The organization draws the line between palliative sedation and many issues, including euthanasia.

Families and health care providers should consider palliative sedation as an option for imminently dying patients with intolerable pain, and unresponsiveness to other interventions, the National Hospice…

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Hospices Turn to Health Law for Hope

Posted on 12. May, 2010 by jan.mater.

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Ten-million-dollar cut in Medicare reimbursements may trigger reduced services.

Despite the hard-hitting $10 million decrease in Medicare reimbursements this year, hospice and palliative care facilities clung to the recently passed health bill for some hope. The bill reduced the cut…

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Palliative Medicine Goes Beyond Physical

Posted on 12. May, 2010 by Editor.

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Clinicians should get involved in taking care of a patient’s spiritual needs.

Each member of a palliative care team should take up roles outside of their niche by looking after a patient’s physical, as well as psychological, social and spiritual…

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Family Caregivers Get Lonely and Depressed

Posted on 05. May, 2010 by jan.mater.

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Interventions to avoid breakdowns remain ineffective, study shows.

Family caregivers of patients with dementia usually get depressed due to stress. And they are often left alone to deal with their depression, according to a study conducted by Penn State and…

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Death, TV-Style: Correcting Misperceptions in Palliative Care

Posted on 05. May, 2010 by jan.mater.

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Support group plays a big role in calming a dying patient.

Death is usually neither sudden nor painful — contrary to what many people think, says a palliative care specialist in Canada.

Romayne Gallagher, head of palliative care for Providence…

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