Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, post-acute care organizations have had to pivot. For Philadelphia-based Mercy LIFE — a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organization within the Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic system — that has meant closing its adult day centers and shifting care into the home for its 800-plus participants. Buses usually used for […]
The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) was supposed to be the biggest disruption to hit the home health industry in decades. That is, until the coronavirus took the nation by storm. Just as agencies were getting a handle on the revolutionary new payment reform, they had to pivot yet again to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. […]
Securing direct reimbursement for telehealth visits and a Medicare rate increase are among the top advocacy priorities for home health providers during the coronavirus outbreak. While they share some common goals, home-based care providers that predominantly work under Medicaid have priority lists of their own. David Totaro is the chief government affairs officer for Moorestown, […]
Weeks after Medicare providers began receiving their CARES Act relief payments, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is asking states to send in their Medicaid reimbursement data. The move gets the ball rolling for Medicaid providers — including many home health and personal care agencies — to receive relief payments of their own, […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced plans to suspend its advance payment program and reevaluate its accelerated payment program. It’s a decision that some home health industry insiders feel is too premature. CMS typically offers expedited Medicare payments to help providers during times of natural disasters. The agency initially expanded […]
Home care is one of the fastest-growing segments of the long-term care sector. Even so, the segment is still made up of mostly small businesses, a new report reveals. Overall, about 78% of home care providers employ fewer than 50 workers, according to a Tuesday report from PHI, a New York-based direct-care workforce advocacy organization. […]
The state of Iowa did not sufficiently monitor its health home care program providers for at least four years, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in improper reimbursement, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) found upon review. The Medicaid health home care option allows states flexibility in creating programs that produce care coordination and […]
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elara Caring has announced it will be rolling out telephonic home visits and telehealth services for its skilled home health and hospice patients. Elara Caring is making the move to solve a number of pain points related to the coronavirus outbreak, including an industry-wide personal protective equipment (PPE) […]
Florida became the first state to secure an emergency Medicaid waiver from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help providers maintain operations during the COVID-19 national emergency. If Medicaid-reimbursed personal care services providers are to stay afloat during the ongoing pandemic, several more states will have to follow suit. Generally, states […]
The shutdown of a major nonprofit home care provider in one state has motivated lawmakers to seek emergency action to the tune of $8.5 million. The move is a reminder of how important home-based care has become for state policymakers. Maine State Senator Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, recently announced plans to introduce emergency legislation that, […]