New PDGM Adjustments Make It Tougher to Reach ‘Medium’ or ‘High’ Functional-Impairment Levels

Home health operators have to navigate numerous regulatory and policy changes to stay in business. Two major ones surfaced within days of each other last week. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the home health final payment rule on Nov. 2, then the federal government announced COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health […]

OSHA Cracking Down on Workplace Violence Against Home-Based Care Workers

Due to the nature of the job, home-based care workers face the risk of experiencing workplace violence. It’s paramount for providers to enact measures that will protect these workers and avoid liability for negligence, legal experts caution. Workplace violence is defined as an act or threat of violence. This ranges from verbal abuse to physical […]

[Updated] CMS Getting Closer to Vaccination Guidance for Home Health Agencies, Other Medicare-Medicaid Providers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed last week that it was in the rulemaking stage of a collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the establishment of a federal vaccine mandate. Last Monday, Dr. Lee Fleisher, CMS’ chief medical officer and director of the Center for Clinical Standards and […]

OSHA’s Virus Protection Program Could Put Home Health Agencies Under the Microscope

In response to an executive order from President Joe Biden, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a national emphasis program aimed at protecting workers from COVID-19 while on the job. OSHA, part of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is responsible for assuring “safe and healthy working conditions” for most workers in […]