Home Health & Hospice Week

HHAs, hospices also get regulators' attention. In an environment of increased scrutiny for  Medicare fraud and abuse, home care providers are taking center stage. The HHS Office of Inspector General investigated durable medical equipment suppliers more than any other provider type in its last reporting period, according to the watchdog agency's latest semiannual report to Congress. The OIG issued six reports about DME fraud and abuse in the last six months, on topics ranging from wheelchair reimbursement and coding to DME used during nursing home stays to negative pressure wound therapy pump pricing. Two more reports addressed inhalation drugs and albuterol.In comparison, the OIG issued two home health agency reports --one about overlap of Medicare and Medicaid payment and one about Medicaid personal care claims in New York City. Hospices also were the subject of two OIG reports, both involving hospice care for nursing home residents. In contrast, hospitals and physicians [...]