WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2021)—The American Assocation for Homecare (AAHomecare) shared that it had received confirmation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency that manages the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), that durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers are eligible for General Distribution Phase 3 and Phase 4 funding.
COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 5, 2021)—An audit of eight home health agencies (HHAs) by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that most had infection control policies and procedures that met the standards set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and followed CMS COVID-19 guidance to safeguard Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report issued last week.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $25.5 billion in funds available starting Sept. 29th. HHS is now accepting applications for General Distribution Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. HHS is also accepting requests for reconsideration of Phase 3 payment calculations.
There's no such thing as a free lunch
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 23, 2021)—On Sept. 9, the Biden administration announced that staff at Medicare and Medicaid-certified “facilities”—including home health agencies and likely home medical equipment providers—will be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine. Homecare providers should work now to get health care staff vaccinated to make sure they are in compliance when the rule takes effect, the government said.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 10, 2021)—The Government Accounting Office (GAO) is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to better track the effects of pandemic-related changes on programs for home- and community-based services (HCBS). The changes include allowing evaluations by telehealth, allowing other settings for care and relaxing provider qualifications.
Updated Sept. 10 at 8:22 a.m. Central, to reflect further industry reactions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 7, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated in an August 2021 MLNConnects newsletter that the agency will resume the targeted probe and educate (TPE) program that was suspended in March 2020 (as were most medical reviews) due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).
Some medical reviews resumed in August 2020, despite the PHE, but the TPE program remained on pause.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 26, 2021)–The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expanding opportunities for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in their home. To ensure Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulty leaving their homes or are otherwise hard-to-reach can receive the vaccination, health care providers can now receive additional payments for administering vaccines to multiple residents in one home setting or communal setting of a home.
CLEARWATER & SARASOTA, Fla. (August 25, 2021)—Empath Health has announced a policy that requires colleagues, volunteers and vendors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The full-life care provider serving Tampa Bay and southwest Florida provides care and support for those with chronic and advanced illnesses and/or those dealing with grief. Suncoast Hospice and Tidewell Hospice are members of the Empath Health family of companies.
WASHINGTON, D.C. & OWINGS MILLS, Md. (August 24, 2021)—Increasing the vaccination rates among home health workers is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) in consultation with industry leaders, estimate a vaccination range of 40% to 90% depending on the company and the discipline of the caregiver.
Manufacturers & more respond to COVID-19 crisis overseas
Manufacturing & other trends for 2021 & beyond
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 30, 2021)—The American Association for Homecare’s (AAHomecare) payer relations team has been working with leaders at state and regional associations to direct relief from the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the home medical equipment (HME) community. Those efforts bore their first fruit last week when MassHealth included a 10% Medicaid rate hike for HME as part of their plans to allocate Massachusetts’ share of the funds.
CARY, N.C. (July 29, 2021)—The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities across the country, released the following policy statement regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for those working in long-term care facilities:
Updated July 27 at 1:34 p.m. with new information.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2021)—As new variants of COVID-19 are on the rise and vaccination rates are stalling around the country, LeadingAge joined leading health care organizations calling for requiring vaccines for all staff in long-term care and other health care settings.
PHOENIX, Arizona (July 13, 2021)—A number of legal and government entities will be hunting for fraud around COVID-19 relief programs, and the health care sector—the largest recipient of first-draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans—is dead in their sights.
WASHINGTON, DC (June 29, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule that would i
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2021)—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is issuing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect health care and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2021)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced important new information for recipients of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund (PRF). Below are the key changes:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2021)—As part of President Biden’s commitment to increasing access to vaccinations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an additional payment amount for administering in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulty leaving their homes or are otherwise hard-to-reach.