Hospice Election Period Changes
This month is bringing some significant changes to the way hospice providers handle election periods. Effective July 2, 2018, the Common Working File (CWF also known as FISS DDE) has …
Medicare Beneficiary Numbers – New Medicare Numbers and IDs
Medicare numbers are now in the process of being replaced. Member’s current HICN will be replaced with an alphanumeric combination called the Medicare Beneficiary Number (MBI). MBIs will be randomly …
Hospice News: California Aide-in-Dying Law
The controversial law which allows patients to expedite the dying process has been put on hold by a state judge in California. Physicians are barred from prescribing any lethal drugs …
Department of Labor Lawsuits – Home Health
The DOL has filed new lawsuits against 5 different home health and home care providers across the county. In the suits filed, the DOL is going after providers for failing …
Hospice Quality Assurance Updates and Tips
Quality of care tracking and reporting is becoming a much larger component of operations for hospices. CMS is actively working on providing more data to the public through various methods …
Hospice 2019 Proposed Rule
Most hospices will like some aspects of the proposed rule for 2019 but some might not. These are just proposed changes for 2019, not what will actually happen. However, the …
Humana Moves Forward with Kindred Purchase and Walmart is Interested
Humana has been allowed to move forward with the ability to purchase a 40% stake in Kindred at Home. The insurer also has the first right to purchase the additional …
Home Health Agency Appeals ZPIC & Wins
Home health agencies know that overzealous survey and fraud programs can do more harm than good. A Texas agency knows this all too well. Family Rehabilitation Inc. located in Texas …