Four Important Dates for Home Care
Aug. 12th –Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum (ODF)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a home health, hospice and DME Open Door Forum on Wed., Aug. 12, from 2 to 3 p.m. The agenda will include: Home Health & Hospice Payment Policy Updates, Hospice Quality Reporting Final Rule Update, Home Health Quality Reporting Proposed Rule Update, HHCAHPS/Hospice announcements that include Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) and Hospice CAHPS, Claims Processing Update, DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, Overview of Coordinated Care for Joint Replacement Proposed Rule, and Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) – New regulation and Chapter 5 manual revisions.
To participate: Dial 1-800-837-1935
Conference ID: 6833152.
Aug. 15th - CHHA Cost Report Due Before Aug. 15
As a reminder, the Department of Health (DOH) posted a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) for the 2014 cost report and the cost report software for non-hospital-based Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs) to the Health Commerce System (HCS) website. The DAL and its related attachments include detailed information about the electronic certification system, which is to be utilized in connection with the 2014 cost report. The certifications are available on the HCS website.
The DAL highlights changes to the 2014 Cost Report for those agencies reporting only CHHA expenses and including any expenses of an affiliated Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP). The DAL notes that current services and charges are listed on Schedule I. The DAL also details the requirements for the accountant and operator electronic certifications, how to file the report, and numerous contacts for questions and assistance.
Please note the 2014 CHHA Cost Report must be filed with DOH no later than Sat., Aug. 15, 2015.
If you have any questions regarding this DAL, please contact Charles Tobey or Tim Casey in the BLTCRS home care unit at 518-473-4421.
Aug. 15th - LTHHCP Cost Report Due Before Aug. 15th
As a reminder, the Department of Health (DOH) posted the 2014 cost report software for Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) agencies to the HCS. Included in the Dear Administrator Letter (DAL), and its related attachments, is information about the electronic certification system. The certifications are also available on the HCS website.
Please note the 2014 LTHHCP Cost Report must be filed with DOH no later than Sat., Aug. 15, 2015.
Any questions or concerns on accessing HCS, the electronic certification process, or for completing and submission of the cost report, contact Russ Smith at DOH at 518-473-4421.
August 19 - LeadingAge Conference Call on Calendar Year (CY) 2016 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) –
In case you weren’t able to participate on Aug. 6, LeadingAge national will be hosting another conference call on Aug. 19 at 12 p.m. to discuss questions and concerns regarding the HH PPS. This call is open to all LeadingAge state affiliates and LeadingAge NY members have been invited to participate. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have requested comments on several areas in the proposed rule, including implementing the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HH VBP) model in Jan. 2016.
The call in number: 866-266-3378
Conference ID: 2025089406
Participant Code: 5277
Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871