NHPCO Episode 116 (Hospice FY2022 Final Rule)

In this month's podcast, JR talks with NHPCO's Judi Lund Person and Jennifer Kennedy about the FY22 Hospice Wage Index Final Rule. Along with basic information about the wage index values and rates, Judi and Jennifer take a deeper dive into how the final rule will affect providers - from regulatory areas of interest for CMS to changes in public reporting and data. Listen now.

Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model

Fourth Annual Evaluation Report Key Takeaways:

The first four years of the implementation of HHVBP (2016-2019) have resulted in cumulative Medicare savings of $604.8 million, a 1.3% decline relative to the 41 non-HHVBP states, as well as improvements in quality. These impacts were observed during 2019, the second year for quality based payment adjustments, as well as the initial three years of the model. We will continue to evaluate the impact of HHVBP on quality and Medicare spending as the maximum payment adjustments become larger each year.

The Two Page Overview:

• · Findings-At-A-Glance (PDF)

The Report (includes an Executive Summary):

• · Fourth Evaluation Report (PDF)
• · Go directly to the Executive Summary (PDF)

Additional Supporting Materials:

• · Technical Appendices (PDF) - Methods and Supplemental Tables

Program – OASIS Interim Guidance [Recorded] Webinar (Advanced Webinar)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) invites Home Health providers to listen to the [recorded] Home Health Quality Reports Program’s OASIS Interim Guidance Webinar. In an effort to provide an overview of important OASIS data collection clarifications, CMS has developed this webinar to highlight some of the more significant OASIS guidance refinements that have been made available in recent Quarterly Q&A releases.

Please note that this webinar is NOT intended to provide basic or comprehensive OASIS training. The training materials can be accessed via the Home Health Quality Reporting Program Training page.

White House Takes on Non-Compete Agreements, Potentially Hurting Home-Based Care Employers

Home Health Care News / By Andrew Donlan
 
This article is an exclusive feature available as a part of your subscription to HHCN +
 
President Joe Biden’s recent executive order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy” has, overall, 72 separate initiatives that it is looking to push forward.
 
But one of the main ones takes on something that is very prevalent in home-based care, often from the executive level on down: non-compete agreements. Specifically, the executive order requests the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to “ban or limit” non-compete agreements all together.
 
“[This will] make it easier to change jobs and help raise wages by banning or limiting non-compete agreements and unnecessary, cumbersome occupational licensing requirements that impede economic mobility,” the executive order reads.
 
Although nothing is set in stone, if the White House’s wishes materialize — either partially or fully — it will significantly change the way businesses operate from a hiring standpoint.

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