NAHC: Pre-Claim Review Makes No Sense, Goes Too Far
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) recently submitted harsh comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) over the pre-claim pilot program by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (Amy Baxter/Home Health Care News)
HomeCare News
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (July 28, 2016)—ChartaCloud Technologies LLC today announced its agreement with OPERACARE Inc. to introduce and offer its CMS OASIS claims, pre-submission claims and proactive OASIS analytics software and services. OPERACARE will be offered via ChartaCloud’s ChartaCares health care services business.
BOCA RATON, Fla. (July 28, 2016)—MobileHelp is sponsoring a free webinar Wednesday, August 3, at 3 p.m.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2016)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 516 awardees in 47 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to help reduce the risks for heart attacks and strokes among millions of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.
MEDIA, Penn. (July 26, 2016)—Apacheta Corporation, a mobile business-solutions provider, today announced the company has nearly doubled its customer base and increased revenue by 75 percent since June 2015.
NEW YORK (July 27, 2016)—QIRT (Quality In Real Time), provider of home health and hospice coding, consulting, billing and education services, announced the acquisition of Woodrow Healthcare Consulting, LLC (WHC). WHC specializes in providing consulting services in operations, clinical excellence, quality assurance, revenue accuracy, outcomes management, sales and marketing, strategic planning, business development and coding and OASIS reviews for homecare and hospice agencies.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (July 27, 2016)—TwelveStone Health Partners, a leader in providing patient support in the post-acute care environment including pharmacy and a wide range of medical supplies and services, has named Joel Wilmoth a business development specialist, serving the southeast Middle Tennessee region, including Bedford, Bledsoe, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Marshall, Marion, Moore, Sequatchie, Van Buren and Warren counties.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2016)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) has launched a new initiative to survey medical professionals and other individuals in the caregiving continuum to measure the impact of recent Medicare reimbursement cuts on seniors, as well as people with disabilities and chronic conditions.
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (July 21, 2016)—Comfort Medical, LLC has partnered with Wheel:Life, its media publication and social community for wheelchair users, to introduce a peer support program called Comfort Conversations that will be hosted by Comfort Medical Ambassadors.
“Comfort Conversations, hosted by our new Comfort Medical Ambassadors, are designed to help our readers connect with people who have rolled a mile in your shoes,” says Wheel:Life director Lisa Wells.
Agencies Post Strong Quality Numbers But Patients Not Wowed
Home health agencies across the country continue to step up on quality of patient care, but that doesn’t mean that more patients are enthusiastic about their providers, judging by the latest round of Home Health Compare data. (Tim Mullaney/Home Health Care News)
BALL GROUND, Ga. (July 22, 2016)—CAIRE Inc., a Chart Industries Company, has announced the opening of a new service center in Corpus Christi, Texas, set for August 1.
Through a partnership with ReOx Medical Services, LLC, the new center will be located at 11401 A Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, TX, 78410. The 5,000-square-foot facility will have 10 employees. ReOx is a well-known resource for respiratory equipment repair.
MEXICO CITY (July 22, 2016)—The last time Mexico City-based company Lyssette made an appearance at Medtrade in 2000, the HME industry was still enjoying a golden age of relative prosperity. At the turn of the century, government regulators largely left the industry alone, and it was undeniably easier to do business.
SAN FRANCISCO (July 21, 2016)—Wanda, recognized for bringing new and proven technologies to home-centered care, announced that the Glendale, Calif.-headquartered A to Z Home Health Care, Inc. will deploy Wanda's predictive analytics and behavioral guidance to improve outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 21, 2016)—Pediatric Home Service (PHS) announced that four nurses have been recognized in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine’s 2016 Outstanding Nurses awards as finalists, and two named winners—one in the Children’s Health category and the other in the Rising Star category.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2016)—CMS released a report showing that investments made in program integrity activities—which include stamping out fraud and deterring and reducing other improper payments—pay off for taxpayers and beneficiaries. From October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2014 (Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 and FY 2014), every dollar invested in CMS’s Medicare program integrity efforts saved $12.40 for the Medicare program.
LENEXA, Kan. (July 21, 2016)—Mediware Information Systems, Inc. is hosting a free webinar for attendees on Tuesday, August 16, 2016, at 2 p.m. EST, 1 p.m. CST to discuss how you can secure reimbursement that hinges on the KX modifier. The webinar is titled “Solving the KX Modifier Puzzle: Secure Your DME Reimbursements with Compliant Documentation,” presented by Andrea Stark, reimbursement expert at MiraVista, LLC.
FRESNO, Calif. (July 21, 2016)—Sunrise Medical introduced the new One Team. One Will global team of ambassadors. This team is formed of 39 high-level athletes around the world representing more than 15 countries competing in 14 sports. These elite competitors have the determination to succeed, to achieve their best and to “Live Without Limits.” Athletes in this program compete in global manual and sport wheelchair brands manufactured by Sunrise Medical: Quickie, RGK and Sopur.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (July 21, 2016)—A new online video announced today by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) illustrates the personal care that people receive at independent community pharmacies, the contributions of community pharmacists to better coordinated health care and how small business pharmacies support their local communities.
ATLANTA (July 18, 2016)—The United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA—powersoccerusa.org) is back, and will once again play November 1, 2016—once in the morning and once in the afternoon—on the Medtrade Show Floor at the Georgia World Congress Center. Exact game times are still to be determined.
ATLANTA (July 18, 2016)—The Aging in Place phenomenon has gradually built momentum over the years, but legislators in Washington, DC, have not paid much attention—until now. In May 2016, Representative Patrick Murphy (D-Fla) introduced HR 5254—The Senior Accessible Housing Act. The bill would incentivize older citizens to prepare their homes for aging in place via a $30,000 tax credit for home modifications.