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Home Health Care News

Can home health care agencies bill Medicare Part B for outpatient services? 

 

Outpatient Therapy Services BillingYes. According to CMS, outpatient therapy services may be provided by a home health agency to patients who are not homebound or otherwise are not receiving services under a home health plan of care (POC). These services are not paid under the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS). The reimbursement for the outpatient therapy services is calculated using the Medicare Physician’s Fee Schedule (MPFS).

Choosing EVV Software

 

How do I choose EVV software?As the 21st Century Cures act moves to the forefront of home health agency staffs, many agencies find themselves trying to prepare for the inevitable. According to their official website www.medicaid.gov, all U.S states are required by law to implement an approved electronic visit verification system for all Medicaid-funded personal care services by January 1, 2020, and home health care services by January 1, 2023. Any non-compliant states will face financial penalties unless they have an authentic delay reason or burden which prevented their compliance.   To meet state requirements, when selecting a software vendor for EVV compliance, agencies performing personal care and home health services need to be sure to do their homework.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and State Survey Agencies (SSAs) are conducting targeted infection control surveys of select home health and hospice providers to ensure providers are following proper infection control practices during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Organizations are being identified for the surveys through collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

Using Home Health Software Can Reduce Person-to-Person Contact & Facilitate Remote Work Across the country these past several days, many states are implementing stay-at-home or essential-travel only orders for their citizens. For Home Health professionals, the encouragement to practice social distancing to protect ourselves, our families...

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Last week in Albuquerque, a classroom full of students sat learning proper methods in caring for elderly patients. This has become common in states across the U.S, as a surge in immigrant workers entering the home health and homecare workforce, has greatly diversified a workforce of approximately 3 million people who help older ailing adults remain in their homes without hospitalization. These older patients rely on homecare agency workers to assist them with basics such as bathing, getting dressed, and taking their medications on time.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the healthcare sector and the businesses that operate within it consistently since its onset. At ALORA, we continue to serve our customers & partners at the highest level. In this blog we outline some of the things we are doing to ensure business continuity, employee safety, and customer service through the challenges the Coronavirus continues to present...