Hospice
Vitable: PHA Exclusive Discounts for TB Blood Tests
September 20, 2024PHA has partnered with Vitable Health, bringing our members exclusive discounts on QuantiFERON TB tests. Through this partnership, members can purchase TB tests quarterly at a discounted rate through Vitable,…
Guest Column: Caregiver Workforce Trends by Care Connect
September 20, 2024Guest Column: Caregiver Workforce Trends by Care Connect Addressing the Shifts in Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention In recent months, the caregiver landscape has experienced a notable shift. While the number…
On September 4, CMS issued an MLN Newsletter article, ‘Hospice Benefit: Expanding Prepayment Review in 4 States.’ In this article, CMS announced its plan to have the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) conduct…
Final HOPE Item Sets Released
September 20, 2024Starting October 1, 2025, hospices will begin using the Hospice Outcome & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool, which will replace the Hospice Item Set. The final HOPE tool, including HOPE Admission…
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted the August 2024 HQRP Forum to provide information on the Fiscal Year 2025 Hospice Final Rule…
VNA of Greater Philadelphia to Close After 138 Years of Service: A Call to Protect Home Health Services
September 20, 2024The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia (VNA), a cornerstone of the community since 1886, will be closing its doors on October 28, 2024. Citing unsustainable financial losses, VNA has…
PHA Supports The National Alliance for Care at Home (NAHC-NHPCO) Commentary on 2025 HH PPS Rate Update
September 6, 2024The Pennsylvania Homecare Association recently signed on to a comment letter regarding the proposed 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System drafted by The National Alliance for Care at Home (Formerly:…
August 2024 Refresh of Hospice Care Compare
September 6, 2024Hospice quality data has been refreshed on Care Compare, including Hospice Item Set data, CAHPS® Survey Family Caregiver Experience data, and Star Ratings. In addition, provider preview reports for the November 2024…
National Alliance for Care at Home (NAHC), HCAOA, Polsinelli to host Home Based Care Legal Webinar
September 6, 2024Join Polsinelli, The National Alliance for Care at Home (Formerly: NAHC), and Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) on September 19, 2024 at 12 p.m. for a one hour legal update…
NAHC-NHPCO Alliance Announce New Name, New Logo and New CEO
September 6, 2024The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance has announced a new name, The Alliance for Care at Home, a new logo, and has appointed Dr. Steven Landers, MD, MPH, as its first Chief Executive…
The Northeast Healthcare Coalition is hosting a FREE symposium on October 16, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Pocono Summit, PA. The…
Mission Moment: Jennifer Baker
August 23, 2024Want to be featured and inspire others with your Mission Moment? Click here to submit your Mission Moment.
Save the Date: Sept. 9 Mergers and Acquisitions Event & Webinar Series for Home Care Agencies
August 23, 2024Join us on September 9, 2024 for a FREE webinar kicking off our Mergers and Acquisitions series this fall. On September 9, CEO Mia Haney will share the story of her…
The PHA Job Board provides a powerful way to ensure your job postings stand out. For a limited time, you can upgrade to a Featured Listing at 50% off—saving $25….
HCBS Rate and Wage Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
August 23, 2024On August 21, 2024, the Office of Long-Term Living released the long-awaited FAQ from the July 18, 2024, HCBS Rate and Wage Study Provider Meeting. The FAQ includes responses from…
On August 21, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a brief explainer video titled, “Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluations (HOPE) Data Collection Timepoints.” This 4-minute, animated explainer…
Providers can now access the latest Provider Preview Reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application. Once released in CASPER, providers will have 30 days during which…
Business Solutions Spotlight
August 16, 2024PHA is excited to announce a new partnership with Vitable Health, bringing our members an exclusive offer on QuantiFERON TB tests. Through this partnership, members can purchase TB tests quarterly…
Save the Date(s)! PHA Regional Meetings Return in October
August 16, 2024The PHA Regional Meetings are back this fall! All members are invited to participate in this free event to hear the latest industry updates, learn about PHA’s services, discover business…
Are you looking to expand your professional network and increase your visibility on LinkedIn? You’re in luck! Here are 10 tips for boosting your LinkedIn views and connections organically, ensuring…
As Pennsylvania prepares to move to an 85% threshold for EVV compliance on January 1, 2025, PHA is committed to helping you stay prepared. If you missed our review in…
Department of Labor Audits: The Price of Non-Compliance
August 16, 2024The Department of Labor (DOL) conducts audits to ensure that home care and home health providers comply with federal labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These audits…
Reminder: Annual DDE/PPTN Recertification Is Due
August 16, 2024As a reminder, each year, providers must recertify each Direct Data Entry (DDE) and Professional Provider Telecommunications Network (PPTN) user’s access. To recertify, complete and fax the Annual DDE PPTN Recertification…
CGS Webinar Series: Top Claims Errors and Documentation Tips for Home Health and Hospice
August 16, 2024CGS is diving into the top claims errors later this month with focused webinars for both home health and hospice. These sessions will review the most common errors and provide…
On July 30, CMS released the FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update. If you missed our earlier announcement, here are the highlights: The final rule is expected…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced two FREE courses from the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM). These courses focus on dementia risk reduction and are available…
Feedback Needed: Help Improve the PEPPER & CBR
July 29, 2024The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking information for a reevaluation of the Comparative Billing Reports (CBRs) and Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) to improve…
July 2024 MedPAC Data Book Released
July 22, 2024The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission released the July 2024 MedPAC Data Book, Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, on July 16, 2024. The MedPAC Data Book provides information on national health care…
Recently, hospice providers may have experienced claim rejections due to an issue with the certifying physician enrollment edit. The problem, marked by reason code 17729 (The attending physician’s National Provider…
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a summary report from the Standing Technical Expert Panel (TEP) convened on December 15, 2023, to develop, evaluate, and maintain Post-Acute…
On July 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notified hospices of non-compliance with Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) requirements for calendar year (CY) 2023, impacting their fiscal…
Reminder: Annual DDE/PPTN Recertification Is Due
July 8, 2024Have you recertified your FISS DDE User ID yet? CGS is requiring home health and hospice providers to recertify their Fiscal Intermediary Standard System (FISS) Direct Data Entry (DDE) now….
On June 13, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced a discussion draft of the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act), focusing on hospice payment reform and program…
CMS Releases New HQRP Quarterly Update
July 1, 2024The latest quarterly Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) Update has been released via email, featuring crucial annual payment reminders and details on the FY 2025 reconsideration period. CMS has also…
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a virtual conference on August 7 and 8 from 12 – 4 p.m. for anyone who processes Medicare Part A…
CMS Revises Hospice Certifying Physician Enrollment Requirement Implementation Guidance
June 10, 2024On June 6, 2024, in response to concerns raised by the provider community, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) retracted its guidance indicating that any individual who elects…
Providers can now access the latest Provider Preview Reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application. Once released in CASPER, providers will have 30 days during which…
Medicare Provider Compliance Tips
June 3, 2024Looking for information on The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Compliance Tips program? Plus, the new CMS tool provides high level guidance on how to prevent claim denials…
PHA Comments: CMS-1810-P Proposed Rule on FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update
June 3, 2024PHA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the recently proposed rule by CMS, titled “Medicare Program; FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update,…
New Edition: HQRP Quarterly Q&As Now Available
June 3, 2024The HQRP Quarterly Q&A for Q1 2024 is now available. This Q&A includes selected questions received by the Hospice Quality Help Desk during the first quarter of 2024 (January 1…
CMS Open Door Forum
June 3, 2024CMS held a Home Health, Hospice, and DME Open Door Forum (ODF) on Wednesday, May 22 to provide updates on the Hospice Quality Reporting Program. Members are encouraged to sign…
House Labor and Industry Committee Holds Informational Hearing on the Nursing Workforce Crisis
May 13, 2024An informational hearing conducted by the House Labor and Industry Committee on the Nursing Workforce Crisis delved into the pressing challenges faced by the nursing workforce in Pennsylvania. Here are…
On May 3, 2024, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the following revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM): These revisions are effective immediately; however, state survey agency…
GAO Releases Medicare Hospice Report Recommending CMS to Implement Statutory Provisions and Prioritize Certain Overdue Surveys
May 13, 2024On May 8, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its anticipated report, Medicare Hospice: CMS Needs to Fully Implement Statutory Provisions and Prioritize Certain Overdue Surveys. This report found that CMS…
Important Change: The May 1 go-live date for the Medicare hospice certifying physician enrollment requirement is delayed until June 3. The hospice physician enrollment requirement was originally set to begin on…
REMINDER: The Medicare Credit Balance Report for the quarter ending March 31 is due by April 30, 2024. CGS Administrators, LLC (CGS) will suspend all claim payments at 100% if a completed…
There is a new location for accessing the Patient Assessment Change Request Forms effective immediately. The Change Request Forms for MDS, OASIS, IRF, LTCH, and Hospice can be found at…
Beginning May 1, 2024, physicians must be enrolled in or validly opted out of Medicare to certify a patient’s terminal illness under the Medicare hospice benefit. CMS has indicated hospices…
Hospice Item Set (HIS) Manual V3.02 Now Available
April 22, 2024An updated HIS Manual V3.02 is now available. The updates include an extension of the documents expiration date and several minor edits and date corrections. Updated documents include the HIS…
As reported in last week’s Connections, the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, Hospice Conditions of Participation Updates, and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements proposed rule has been…