A list of facilities with potential staffing issues is being provided to CMS regional offices and state survey agencies to support survey activities for evaluating sufficient staffing, according to a memo released by CMS back in November, 2018. The memo states that “while CMS is encouraged by facilities’ efforts to improve staffing,” payroll based journal (PBJ) data has raised a few concerns, prompting them to inform state survey agencies of facilities with potential staffing issues. More than a year after the revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoPs) took effect and about four months after the release of related interpretive guidelines, CMS has provided agencies with additional clarifying guidance around the requirements. The Billers’ Association for Long-Term Care (BALTC) is a membership community created specifically for professionals involved in the long-term care revenue cycle. This national association provides members with a resource of continuously updated tools, reimbursement and regulatory guidance, and education to help prevent revenue loss and documentation and billing errors so providers can withstand audits at any point in time. With its involved expert advisory board members and active talk group, this engaged group of professionals is a great place for sharing and receiving best practices, tips, and tools with your peers! Membership benefits include: A weekly enewsletter that highlights regulatory changes and provides coding and billing guidance A subscription to our monthly newsletter, Billing Alert for Long-Term Care, which offers in-depth coverage of the industry and regulatory changes that impact the important role you play at your facility A quarterly webinar that breaks down recent regulatory changes A quarterly, electronic white paper on top billing and reimbursement issues An active list serv to collaborate and share ideas with fellow members To review all of the benefits of membership, please visit our webpage! Use coupon code BALTC155 to take advantage of this discount!* *Use coupon code BALTC155 at checkout to save 60% on a one-year Billers’ Association for Long-Term Care membership. Discount not applicable to current BALTC members or previous purchases and is not to be combined with any other offers. Coupon code expires 6/30/2019 at 11:59pm PT. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is once again recommending a 5% Medicare payment reduction for home health agencies. The National Association for Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI) is currently seeking speakers to present at the 2019 Revenue Integrity Symposium (RIS), to be held October 15–16, 2019, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. RIS attendees will be eligible to earn CHRI CEUs and speakers will be eligible to earn additional CHRI CUEs. Speakers are welcome to present on all aspects of revenue integrity, Medicare compliance, and the revenue cycle in acute and long-term care settings. Click here to learn more. New CMP amounts that have been adjusted for inflation and are effective October 11, 2018 were announced in a final rule published by CMS on January 22, 2019. The adjusted amounts apply to CMPs assessed on or after October 11, 2018. For SNFs, NFs and SNF/NFs, the CMP Analytic Tool instructions and calculations will be updated to reflect these changes. Appendix A of the final rule announcement contains the new rates, which have seen an increase. New in the January issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care... PPS Alert for Long-Term Care 2018 index Find tips and favorite stories from 2018. Not a subscriber? Sign up here. Monthly In-Service: January issue of CNA Training Advisor Documentation standards Click here to receive a new lesson plan every month, including course materials, a 4-page in-service, and a quiz targeted to address the unique needs, interests, and concerns of CNAs. Education and Training Tools PDPM and Therapy Contracts: How to Adjust and Negotiate Withstand Surveys by Mastering Your Understanding of Newly Released Interpretive Guidelines Weather Any Disaster: Tighten Up Your Agency's Emergency Preparedness Home Health Administrator's Summit, May 15-17, 2019 - Las Vegas | | Product Spotlight At HCPro, we help your organization make faster, better decisions by connecting your challenges and questions to an unrivaled network of experts, resources, and solutions. With a shared-cost membership, you can expect world-class thinking and advice without having to worry about the meter running or expensive consulting fees. An all-encompassing offering, PROPELAdvisory Services is available in six domains, with more on the way. Our growing family includes memberships in Medicare, long-term care, clinical documentation improvement, medical staff, coding, and revenue cycle management. Click here to learn more, or contact us at: 615-724-7213 | [email protected] |
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