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Hospice Insider

Payment:
Warning: A Drastic Cap Cut May Be In Your Future
MedPAC also considers wage adjustment for caps. Hospices that bump against or exceed thei... Read more
Lawsuits:
Don't Get Lulled By Favorable Court Ruling On Terminal Prognosis
You don't have a ‘free pass,' lawyers warn. The recent court decision in the AseraCare ... Read more
Program Integrity:
Disenrollment Threat Looms Large Under New PI Rule
Are you performing your required due diligence on those you work with? Get ready to enter... Read more
Enrollment:
Surprise! Meet Your 'Affiliates' Under New Rule
Broad definitions may lead to some unexpected partners. A new burden has fallen into hosp... Read more
Compliance:
Deeds Long Past Still Make It Onto The Disclosable Event List
Check out the new criteria for required reporting. Once you figure out who your affiliate... Read more
Regulations:
These 4 Actions Now Can Get You Thrown Out Of Medicare
Certain name changes are on the list. Under Medicare's stepped-up efforts to root out fra... Read more
Hospice News:
Your Potential Source Pool For Drug Orders Just Got A Little Deeper
Newly issued regulation addresses PA issue. The latest Physician Fee Schedule final rule ... Read more
Hospice News:
Get Your Cap Reporting Ducks In A Row Now
Stay of top of preparing for your aggregate cap reporting, if your cap year ended with Sep... Read more
Hospice News:
Revised Post-Acute Data Files Include Info From Thousands Of Hospices
A new wealth of data is now at your fingertips. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Se... Read more
Hospice News:
Billion-Dollar Hospice Sale In The Works
Private equity firm Towerbrook Capital Health and health system Ascension Health have comb... Read more
Hospice News:
Nonprofit Consolidation Continues
In North Carolina, Hospice of the Piedmont in Asheboro and Hospice of Randolph in High Poi... Read more
Hospice News:
Medicare Premiums, Deductibles Increase For 2020
Your Medicare patients will pay more in the new year for the program. The standard monthly... Read more
Regulations:
Don't Overlook These Hidden Addendum Pitfalls
Take the signature requirement seriously or risk losing payment. Along with the new Notic... Read more
Lawsuits:
New Court Ruling Could Make Hospices' Lives Easier
Whistleblowers may pose less of a threat under new court decision. A ruling in the long-r... Read more
Labor Law:
Double-Check Your Employees In Light Of Increased Overtime Threshold
Although the change's impact should be minor, you're better safe than sorry. Employers ca... Read more
Business:
Along With Higher Inpatient Pay Rates Come Facility Openings
Reminder: Oct. 1 brought lower RHC rates, higher GIP and inpatient respite rates. Multipl... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Massive Hospice Kickback Scheme Features Bribes Including NBA Tickets
Feds announce charges in 3 separate hospice cases. Doctors, nurses, an executive, and mor... Read more
Billing:
Check Your MBI Status As Usage Continues To Climb
Focus on new Remittance Advice Remark Code N793. Get with the Medicare Beneficiary Initia... Read more
Hospice News:
Medical Reviewers Zero In On Inpatient, Non-Cancer Stays
Will your stats put you on MAC's radar? If you're wondering what hospice topics are catch... Read more
Hospice News:
Discharge Final Rule Reminds Hospitals Of Hospice Duties
A new discharge planning rule that has some big effects for other types of providers will ... Read more
Hospice News:
Get The Latest HOPE Tool Details Here
If you missed the last Special Open Door Forum on the new Hospice Outcomes & Patient E... Read more
Hospice News:
Visits In Last 3 Days Of Life Measure Is Now Public
If you haven't done so yet, head over to Hospice Compare to see your recently updated qual... Read more
Hospice News:
Another Nonprofit State Network Launches
Local hospice networks continue to gain traction. In California, Elizabeth Hospice in San ... Read more
Elections:
Use Your Extra Time Until Election Statement Changes Wisely
CMS sticks to its guns on cost-sharing info. Hospices' attention may be grabbed by the bu... Read more
Regulations:
Brace Yourself For Added Election Burden Next Year
A relaxed timeline to issue the document is one bit of good news in an otherwise tough reg... Read more
Reimbursement:
Addendum Will Carry Serious Payment Risks
Plus: CMS way underestimates burden for the new document. At the top of the list of hospi... Read more
Compliance:
Learn Your Election Statement Addendum Duties
You need to become an expert on what's related — and what's not. You've got about a yea... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Beware Claims Audits Related To Drug Coverage In Wake Of OIG Report
Hospices aren't covering the meds they should, according to federal agency watchdog. You ... Read more
Compliance:
Stay Out Of Drug-Related Hot Water With These 4 Tips
Head off issues ranging from survey dings to reimbursement-seeking pharmacies with prudent... Read more
Hospice News:
DC-Area Hospice Shells Out $3.1 Million Settlement
Feds cite ineligible patients and faulty documentation. Hospice and palliative care provi... Read more
Reimbursement:
Routine Home Care Rates Cut 2.72% In Rebalancing
Final rule follows through on proposed increases to GIP, CHC, and IRC. Providers that mos... Read more
Payment:
This Year's RHC Cuts Could Be Just The Beginning
Routine Home Care rebasing is not the reason for cuts. If you think this year's Routine H... Read more
Finance:
Hospice Cost Report Data Led To RHC Cuts
You must prioritize your cost report accuracy. Hospice providers' days of being cavalier ... Read more
Regulations:
Medicare Ditches 1-Year Lag For Wage Index
Don't expect to receive the same consideration as hospitals for wage index matters. A new... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Multiple Areas See Double-Digit Wage Index Swings In 2020
Volatility continues. If you're wondering why industry members have been advocating for p... Read more
Regulations:
Medicare Bumps Election Statement Addendum To Next Year
Plus: Final rule also addresses assessment tool, quality. Hospices gained a few small win... Read more
Industry Note:
Lawmakers Demand Tougher Hospice Surveys
CMS should draw up a list of hospices for expanded scrutiny, letter urges. Hopes that two... Read more
Industry Note:
ZIP Code Glitch Returns NOEs
A claims system glitch has been returning numerous Notices of Election to hospices in erro... Read more
Survey & Certification:
Hospice Survey System Under Fire In 2 New OIG Reports
Two new HHS Office of Inspector General reports on hospice surveys and patient harm could ... Read more
Compliance:
OIG Urges 11-Point To-Do List To Change Hospice Surveys
Watchdog agency wants your survey details posted on Hospice Compare. The HHS Office of In... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Condition-Level Deficiencies Are On The Rise For Hospices
Care planning-related deficiencies top surveyors' lists. The survey climate for hospices ... Read more
Regulations:
Hospices Get More Breathing Room On Assessment Tool Onset
Plus: Don't miss this vital letter bearing bad news from your MAC. Medicare's work on the... Read more
Hospice News:
Revisions To Your Forms Based On Nondiscrimination Regs Proposed
Trump administration rolls back Obama-era requirements. If you changed your patient notic... Read more
Hospice News:
Trump Administration Celebrates Regulatory Relief
You may feel like you're drowning in paperwork and red tape, but the Centers for Medicare ... Read more
Hospice News:
Put Your Peepers On This Free PEPPER Report Training
To help you use your new hospice PEPPER report to its fullest, you can now tune in to a re... Read more
Hospice News:
Joint Commission Accreditation Is OK In CA
The California Department of Public Health has approved Joint Commission accreditation as ... Read more
Hospice News:
Medicare Has Tweaked Its Appeals System
On July 8, multiple changes to Medicare appeals rules took effect. Those revisions range f... Read more
Hospice News:
Louisiana Medicare Fraudster Pleads Guilty To State Charges As Well
A former hospice owner has been sentenced in state court to five years in prison after ple... Read more
Hospice News:
HHS Awaits Permanent Inspector General
The Department of Health & Human Services has yet to fill its Inspector General positi... Read more
Hospice News:
Timeline For HETS Switch Heats Up
The first step of the elimination of ELGA, ELGH, HIQA, and HIQH inquiries is here. Effect... Read more
Hospice News:
Update Your Diagnosis Codes Come Oct. 1
Your staff responsible for coding may be keeping an eye on how Medicare is monitoring codi... Read more
Quality:
Medicare To Dip Into Your Claims Data For More Quality Measures
Live discharge rate is likely to debut on Hospice Compare sooner rather than later. If Me... Read more
Finance:
Double Down On Cost Report Accuracy
Don't forget: Your reimbursement rates depend on cost report data. If you are looking at ... Read more
Regulations:
Medicare Mulls Hospice Star Ratings
Plus: Why aren't you submitting Notices of Election electronically? Your CAHPS data may b... Read more
Targeted Probe and Educate:
Heads Up: Extended Monitoring Continues After TPE
Providers continue to fail TPE miserably. The latest numbers for Targeted Probe and Educa... Read more
Whistleblowers:
Court Decision On Whistleblowers Could Give Rise To More Suits
Intervention by the feds no longer affects timeline. A new U.S. Supreme Court decision co... Read more
Hospice News:
Educate Yourself On Hospice Carve-In For Medicare Advantage
MA change takes aim at LOS issues. If you want to respond to Medicare's call for comment ... Read more
Hospice News:
MAC: Let Your Claims Process, Even When NOE Exception Is Pending
Don't let claims for your hospice patient's entire stay get derailed just because the firs... Read more
Hospice News:
Understand Changes To Hospice Compare
If the recent changes to Medicare's Hospice Compare website have left you confused, you ha... Read more
Hospice News:
MAC Urges Providers To MBIs
Don't fall behind your peers in transitioning over to using Medicare Beneficiary identifie... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospice Service Lauded In Face Of Natural Disaster
A natural disaster is giving hospice nurses another reason to shine. Last month, two nurse... Read more
Hospice News:
Land Of Lincoln State's Largest Nonprofit Continues To Grow
JourneyCare, Illinois' largest nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider, has purchas... Read more
Hospice News:
West Virginia Hospice Plans New Inpatient Unit
CAMC Memorial Hospital and HospiceCare will team up in Charleston, West Virginia, to open ... Read more
Hospice News:
Tune Into New CMS Podcast
You can take a break from listening to Serial, Hidden Brain, and other popular podcasts to... Read more
Hospice News:
Revamped RAC Program Shows Improvement, CMS Claims
Recovery Audit Contractors have hounded some providers to the point of closure, but Medica... Read more
Regulation:
Get Ready For Major Payment Level Rebalancing
Tip: Look at your GIP contracts closely for a break. Hospices that furnish mostly Routine... Read more
Compliance:
Hospice Proposed Rule Addresses Quality
New ‘iQIES' coming soon. Medicare's proposed rule for hospice changes in 2020 contains ... Read more
Notices of Election:
Warning: Changes To Election Statement Could Reduce Hospice Utilization
Cost-sharing is just one of the 4 new elements Medicare wants to require. Hospices will n... Read more
Notices of Election:
Here's What Medicare Wants To See In New NOE Addendum
Emphasis is on unrelated items and services. Along with a proposed election statement exp... Read more
Regulations:
Addendum Time Frame Tops The List Of Its Problems
Being a condition of payment could severely punish hospices. While hospices are all for h... Read more
Hospice News:
Proposed Rule Contains Wage Index Change
Plus: Give CMS your 2 cents on alternative care delivery models. A revision to how Medica... Read more
Hospice News:
OIG Keeps The Heat On Hospices
Hospice oversight continues to ramp up, and a recent HHS Office of Inspector General repor... Read more
Hospice News:
It's Time To Pick Up Your New PEPPER
The newest hospice PEPPER report is now available. The free benchmarking report from Medic... Read more
Hospice News:
Medicare Costs On The Rise
Don't be surprised to see Medicare officials trying to tighten budget belts even further. ... Read more
Quality:
Part Of Measure For Visits When Death Imminent Won't Go Public For A While — Or Maybe Ever
Hospices can see their own 7-day data. Hospice Compare soon will show your stats for hosp... Read more
Regulations:
Changes To Hit Hospice Compare In May
Plus: Check our your preview report now. Hospices finally will see some relief in the Hos... Read more
Budget:
MedPAC Wants Medicare Rates Slashed
The influential advisory body to Congress isn't content with just a rate freeze any more. ... Read more
Know Your Facts:
Spending, Utilization, Profit Margin, And More Are Up For Hospice Industry
Medicare's total outlay for 2017 spiked 6 percent. If you're wondering why the hospice in... Read more
Targeted Probe and Educate:
Hospices Grapple With Punishing TPE Review
Use a new resource to make sure you don't waste TPE education call. The same turnaround d... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Lively Hospice Market Sees Activity Nationwide
2 nonprofits merge in Tarheel State. Two publicly traded home care and hospice chains are... Read more
Hospice News:
Edit Change Aims To Correct NOTR Headaches
Claims system will reject certain notices starting in July. Medicare has tweaked new bill... Read more
Hospice News:
MAC Focuses Medical Review On Neuro Diagnoses
If you serve patients with Non-Cancer Diseases of the Nervous System in your hospice, you ... Read more
Hospice News:
Earlier Hospice Enrollment Saves Money, Report Emphasizes
If just 20 percent of Medicare decedents used hospice for two weeks before death, the prog... Read more
Hospice News:
HHS Launches Random HIPAA Audits
More HIPAA audits are on the way — but they won't affect you directly yet. The Centers ... Read more
Hospice News:
Take The Time To Update Your EP Plan In Light Of CMS Letter
If the Zika virus, Ebola, and other types of infections aren't covered in your Emergency P... Read more
Hospice News:
Heroic Hospice Nurse Recognized By Local Press
Winter may have officially wrapped up, but the goodwill generated by hard-working hospice ... Read more
Hospice News:
2 More Inpatient Facilities Close
The trend of shuttering inpatient units continues. Example #1: Family Hospice & Palli... Read more
Lawsuits:
Lawsuit Over Cap Calculations Appears Headed To Federal Court
As expected, PRRB sides with CMS over including sequestered funds in cap methodology. Hos... Read more
Per Beneficiary Cap:
Medicare Presents A Convincing Argument On Cap Math
Without sequestered funds in calculation, over-cap hospices aren't penalized by reduction,... Read more
Compliance:
Beware These Immediate Jeopardy Survey Changes That Could Impact You
Should you worry more about IJ determinations under new regs? Hospices aren't singled out... Read more
Survey & Certification:
Stay On Top Of These 6 Immediate Jeopardy Manual Changes
Make sure you steer clear of the most serious survey risk. Whether your next survey is a ... Read more
Billing:
MBI Change Gives Rise To Sequential Billing Errors
Plus: Use zeroes to become an MBI hero. Now that all existing Medicare beneficiaries have... Read more
Hospice News:
Who Benefits From Bundling Demonstrations? It Varies By Demo Type, OIG Says
Providers should hope for more voluntary bundling tests. How likely is mandatory bundling... Read more
Hospice News:
GIP Under Yet Another Microscope
Hospices can thank the HHS Office of Inspector General for new scrutiny on high-paying cla... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospices Hope For RHC Rate Resolution
Will Medicare's latest claims system update finally clear up problems related to Routine H... Read more
Hospice News:
Compare Data Updated In February
Take a look at your most updated Hospice Compare data, which is now up on the website, the... Read more
Hospice News:
HQRP Info Is At Your Fingertips
If the holiday rush kept you from tuning in to Medicare's training webinar on hospice qual... Read more
Hospice News:
National Chain Builds Its Hospice Business
Amedisys Inc. has agreed to purchase RoseRock Healthcare, a hospice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, th... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospices Open Inpatient Units In Busy Markets
The number of hospice inpatient facilities is increasing. In Texas: Hospice of Wichita Fa... Read more
Quality:
Watch For Your Stats On 'Visits When Death Imminent' Measure
Plus: Tune in for a HEART update. Medicare appears to be on track for a May public debut ... Read more
Medical Review:
Proving Terminal Prognosis Continues To Trip Up Hospices In TPE
Another quarter brings another round of dismal results. HHH Medicare Administrative Contr... Read more
Managed Care:
Certain MA Plans May Offer Hospice Starting In 2020
But at least the carve-in is only a limited experiment — for now. Hospices have long be... Read more
Billing:
CMS And MACs Tackle NOTR Problems
Medicare fixes 1 NOTR problem, but more may be lurking. Hospices are getting a helping ha... Read more
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Hospice Market Activity Brisk Nationwide
Another statewide nonprofit alliance is formed. Cold months have contrasted with a hot ho... Read more
Industry Note:
MedPAC Wants Your Pay To Drop 2 Percent Next Year
The unfavorable recommendation is now official. As expected, the Medicare Payment Advisor... Read more
Industry Note:
Another Newspaper Puts Hospice In The Hot Seat
The latest high-profile newspaper article lambasting the hospice industry comes in the for... Read more
Industry Note:
Growing Majority Of Claims Use MBIs Now
The percentage of claims using beneficiaries' new MBI numbers is nearing two-thirds. For ... Read more
Targeted Probe and Educate:
Hospice TPE Failure Rate 100% At This MAC
Use this expert advice to head off, or defend against, TPE probes. The Targeted Probe and... Read more
Medical Review:
One Denial Reason Dominates TPE Results
See the TPE probe details. HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor CGS reviewed two hospic... Read more
Payment:
MedPAC Readies Recommendation That Congress Cut Hospice Pay 2% In 2020
Hospice payment reform may need to go further, commissioners also suggest. Soaring Medica... Read more
Audits:
New RAC Hospice-Related Topics Zero In On Hospice Bundling
Hospitals, DME suppliers may come looking to you for their payments. Recovery Audit Contr... Read more
Finance:
You Can't Afford To Be Late On Cap Self-Reporting
Caution: It may take extra time to get your PS&R data this year. If you fail to submi... Read more
Regulations:
Emergency Preparedness Burden Could Diminish Under Recent Proposed Rule
A real disaster would preempt your next training exercise. A rule published earlier this ... Read more
Hospice News:
Hospice Chain Acquired By Humana Settles Whistleblower Charges For $5.9 Million
Former clinical director is one of the qui tam relators. Two former hospice employees wil... Read more
Hospice News:
DOL Wage & House Division Offers Opinion On Aide Compensation
If you don't want to risk a punishing lawsuit from your aides about their compensation, yo... Read more
Hospice News:
How Does Your CNA Pay Stack Up?
Visiting Nurse Association hospices pay certified nursing assistants nearly 10 percent mor... Read more
Hospice News:
More TPE Probes On Deck For Hospices
The annual Comprehensive Error Rate Testing report may affect you more than you'd expect. ... Read more
Hospice News:
Know The OC 27 Ropes To Avoid U5181 Returns
If you're running into U5181 claims returns and can't figure out why, you may want to look... Read more
Hospice News:
Give The Feds Feedback On Accrediting Organizations That Offer Consulting
Do you think there's something shady about accrediting organizations and the financial rel... Read more
Payment:
Hospices Lead The Pack In Claims Payment Errors
 But Medicare's improper pay rate for hospices has fallen significantly. Hospices lo... Read more
Reimbursement:
Get Clues For Review Target Areas From State Error Rates
Highest-ranking states may surprise you. Medicare's payment error rate for hospices and h... Read more
Compliance:
OIG Takes Another Run At Hospice Program Integrity Recommendations
Watchdog agency reiterates advice to toughen surveys, implement alternative sanctions, and... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
OIG Adds Wide-Ranging Hospice Topic To Work Plan
Don't be surprised if OIG investigation leads to tougher surveys. With Medicare hospice p... Read more
Emergency Preparedness:
Medicare Considers Lightening Your Emergency Preparedness Load
Recent months' string of natural disasters emphasize why EP changes matter. Hospices used... Read more
Quality:
New Hospice Compare Composite Measure Now Live
Plus: Take a look at your preview report before it's too late. Hospices' scores for the n... Read more
Industry Note:
High-Profile Novus Case Sees More Guilty Pleas From DON, Marketers
Nursing head admitted to falsifying documentation, among other misdeeds. Nine defendants ... Read more
Industry Note:
Although HIS Has Stayed The Same, Your Should Check Out Updated Guidance
Access new guidance on completing Hospice Item Set questions accurately in the updated HIS... Read more
Industry Note:
New Claims Rejections, Returns May Be Errors — But Don't Jump To Conclusions
Beware a new payment glitch hitting hospice claims. “Hospice claims are incorrectly reje... Read more
Industry Note:
Regional Chain Makes 2 Buys
Bristol Hospice, a portfolio company of Webster Capital, has bought the Colorado operation... Read more
Industry Note:
Medicare Issues Statistical Sampling Marching Orders To Contractors
In hopes of increasing consistency across contractors, Medicare recently sent new statisti... Read more
Reader Question:
Here's How To Give CMS Your Ideas On Reducing Burden
Do you wish you were seeing more benefit from Medicare's Patients Over Paperwork initiativ... Read more
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