CMS Resource for Home Care Agency Employee Recruitment and Retention

On October 24, CMS circulated a document to help home care agencies recruit and retain personal care aides.  The resource was published by the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston and reflects findings from interviews with home care agency leaders and personal care aides.  The report makes recommendations related to preparation of aides for visits with new clients, supervision, scheduling, wraparound services and emotional supports, communication, and integration of aides into the care team.  

Read or Download the Report

Live Webinar | The CY2023 Home Health Final Rule: Leading Your Agency Through Change

Wednesday, November 16 | 11:00am - 12:00pm MT

Presented by Cindy Campbell, MHA-Healthcare Informatics, BSN, RN, COQS, CHHCM, Director of Operational Consulting, WellSky

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Final Rule ‘Blunts Immediate Impact,’ But CMS-Home Health Industry Core Disagreement Remains

Home Health Care News / By Joyce Famakinwa
 
Nearly five months after the unveiling of the proposed payment rule caused a stir among home health stakeholders and advocates, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final payment rule on Monday.
 
Back in June, CMS proposed a 4.2% aggregate decrease for 2023, a cut the industry at large felt would be devastating.
 
Though CMS will still usher in other cuts and permanent adjustments related to the rebalancing of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the final rule comes with an increase in the aggregate by 0.7%, or $125 million compared to 2022.
 
While many in the industry acknowledge that CMS has made efforts to address the concerns of providers, most are still stressing that the methodologies CMS is following will eventually crush providers and access to care .
 
“CMS has rightly recognized the challenging operating environment providers are currently navigating and reduced payment cuts from the 7.69% proposed in June to the 4% announced today,” LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO said in a statement. “That, along with the 4% market basket update that addresses rising costs of providing services, indicate CMS is cognizant of current realities. We appreciate that — but at the same time, we remain concerned.”
 
CMS also decided to take a phased-in approach to the behavioral adjustment and only impose about a 3.5% adjustment for a 30-day period. This is an overall $635 million decrease in reimbursement for agencies.
 
“Agencies need to understand that this is only ½ of what will be imposed after this year,” J’non Griffin, senior vice principal of coding and the OASIS department at SimiTree, told Home Health Care News in an email. “The remaining permanent adjustment, along with any other potential adjustments needed to the base payment rate to account for behavior change based on data analysis, which are all required by law, will be proposed in future rulemaking.”
 
In the wake of the proposed payment rules release, many took aim at the behavioral adjustment methodology CMS used. With the final rule out, it is still viewed as problematic.

[The HH PPS Final Rule is available at https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-23722.pdf]

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November is Home Care & Hospice Month

During the month of November, the home care and hospice community honors the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, we call upon all Americans to commemorate the power of caring, both at the home and in their local communities, and ask them to join with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) by celebrating November as Home Care and Hospice Month.

In addition, Home Care Aide Week takes place the second full week of the month, November 12-18, 2022. Join us in honoring these compassionate, tireless workers who play an invaluable role for their clients as caregivers, companions, and friends.

“Home care and hospice nurses, therapists, aides, and other providers who choose to use their lives to serve our country’s aged, disabled, and dying. This noble work deserves our recognition and praise and we celebrate November as Home Care & Hospice Month for that very reason.”  – NAHC President William A. Dombi

Fast Facts

• Home care providers will travel about 8 billion miles to deliver the best health care in the world;
• Ninety percent of Americans want to age in place, and home care is the preferred method of health care delivery among the disabled, elderly, and chronically ill; and
• Home care provides high-quality, compassionate care to more than 5 million Americans annually.

Advocacy
Home Care & Hospice Month is the perfect time to connect with your elected officials; visit the NAHC Advocacy Center to learn more.