CMS Sends Brief Response on Congressional HHPPS Letter

A letter to CMS voicing deep concerns about the Home Health proposed rule with 133 signatures from members of Congress, including all nine US Representatives from Massachusetts, was sent in mid September.

CMS issued their response, which was more brief than usual and only served to thank the signers for sharing those concerns. CMS is obviously not sharing much as the finalized regulation is set to be released on November 1st.

The original congressional letter to CMS made a few major points. Concerns about the case mix cuts centered on the data CMS relied upon to make those adjustments, which were flagged as “outdated” and illogical. CMS essentially ignored the past five years of data and instead used a decade of data in the prior time period to make projections going forward.

The letter also raised concerns about the proposed Value-Based Purchasing Program (VBP) that will take place in nine states, including Massachusetts. Specifically, the five-to-eight percent penalty/reward window was put forth as much too severe and dramatic as was the immense list of quality measures that CMS proposed that agencies would track as part of the VBP.

Among those leading on the letter were Massachusetts Congressman and home health care champion Jim McGovern. The Alliance thanks Congressman McGovern and all in the state’s congressional delegation that signed on. More information will be announced following the release of the final rule.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org

Applications for Home Care NOI to Open on Nov. 2

According to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), the Notice of Intent (NOI) Application will open on Monday, November 2nd and will remain opened until necessary in order to conduct system and/or document updates.

The Homemaker NOI is the process Home Care agencies must complete if they are interested in contracting with the State’s network of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) to provide Homemaker and Personal Care services through the “State Home Care program.”

The posting for approved providers will be completed within 4-6 weeks of the submitted Application.

This link brings you to an update found on the NOI Announcements page:

http://hnoi-announce.800ageinfo.com/

Existing providers will need to confirm/update corporate data within their approved Application if any data has changed.  If a Provider’s information is staying the same, no action needs to be taken. The EOEA will keep rejected NOI Applications available for 90 days from the rejection date for purposes of re-submission. Otherwise, a new application will need to be created and submitted.

For any providers that were previously rejected in FY 15 and did not re-submit a rejected NOI Application within the 90-day period, they must create/submit a new FY 16 Application.

Please note the NOI Announcements page includes a link to the MassHealth FEW Provider Enrollment documents, including an overview document.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

2016 NEHCC Call for Speakers Now Open!

The Call for Speakers for the New England Home Care and Hospice Conference and Trade Show is now open with new opportunities to speak! The grid below provides detailed information about the different options available to potential presenters.

The NEHHC welcomes Speaker Presentation applications from a diverse audience of home health and healthcare experts.

call-for-exhibitors-875px

 

All proposals can be submitted by clicking below and must be entered by December 18th, 2015 for consideration.Call-Button-Rollover

For more information click HERE.

Home Health Interoperability and You!

The October 28th deadline to complete our Home Health HIT Adoption  survey is fast approaching.

The HCA Board of Directors and all of us involved in guiding this project do so with the belief that HIT represents the future of health care and home care.  So the question, you need to ask yourself is:  am I home care agency of the past – or am I positioning my agency for the future?

Completion of the survey itself can be part of an internal self assessment process to see where your agency is in terms of interconnectivity.  Completing the survey will assure that you will get a copy of a report with a roadmap to move your agency forward.

The survey can be completed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HIT_homecare.  If you would like we can also send you a printed copy as many of those who have already completed it are finding it easier to print out – share with members of their team and then have a single person collate and input the responses. Contact sdrakes@thinkhomecare.org to have this printable copy emailed to you.

To be sure you understand the questions and the survey’s value to you , we have scheduled an additional webinar for Wednesday October 21st from 10-11AM. You can register here.

Additionally, we have arranged for LIVE!!!  support for questions you may have while completing the survey please. You can contact project managers Jessica Hatch (jhatch@maehc.org) or Jennifer Monahan (jmonahan@maehc.org) via email or can call them directly at the times below.

Be the future and get connected!

 

 

Date Time Contact Person Contact Number
October 20 – Tuesday 9:00 – 10:00 am Jessica 339-222-6126
October 20 – Tuesday 2:00 – 3:00 pm Jessica 339-222-6126
October22 – Thursday 9:00 – 10:00 am Jennifer 603-717-5420
October 22 – Thursday 2:00 – 3:00 pm Jennifer 603-717-5420
October 23 – Friday 12:00 – 1:00 pm Jessica 339-222-6126
October 26 – Monday 12:00 – 1:00 pm Jessica 339-222-6126
October 27 – Tuesday 9:00 – 10:00 am Jennifer 603-717-5420
October 27 – Tuesday 12:00 – 1:00 pm Jennifer 603-717-5420

HCA is Coming to Western MA!

The Home Care Alliance will hold two member events in the western part of the state in November.  Check out details below:

  1. Wednesday, November 4th 2:00 – 5:00PM : Western MA Membership Forum
    • Meeting being held at Cooley-Dickinson VNA & Hospice in Northampton, MA
    • Join the staff of HCA for a networking meeting to discuss products, programs, policy positions and more for the home care industry!
    • To register for this FREE meeting click HERE.
  2. Thursday, November 5th 9:00AM – 1:00PM : Home Health 101
    • Meeting being held at the Lord Jefferey’s Inn in Amherst, MA
    • Home Health 101 is a 4 hour session presented by Colleen Bayard, HCA’s Director of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, that will review the  Conditions of Participation, Medicare and Medicaid requirements for home health care, as well as, an update on Face to Face, components needed for physician orders, Medicare’s undated definition of homebound, differentiating Medicare as an health insurance vs. quality oversight, therapy re-assessment update and more.
    • To register for this meeting click HERE.

For more information on all of our upcoming events be sure to go to our calendar on our website at http://www.thinkhomecare.org.

Hope to see you there!

For any questions contact Megan Fournier at mfournier@thinkhomecare.org or by phone at 617-482-8830.

 

HCA Returns from Productive Washington, DC Trip

Home Care Alliance staff and member agencies attended the Visiting Nurse Associations of America’s (VNAA) Public Policy Leadership Conference in the nation’s capital this past week and met with most of the state’s Congressional delegation.

Before and during the trip, the Alliance was able to secure support from eight of the nine US Reps on a letter to CMS voicing concern on case mix cuts and the impending Value-Based Purchasing demonstration. The ninth congressperson may still sign on, but it was still a productive trip where home health agencies from across the country were lobbying on the Physician Face-to-Face Requirement, allowing NP’s and PA’s to sign and certify home health plans of care, expanding palliative care career opportunities and showing the impact of proposed payment cuts.

Much of the activity was documented on the HCA’s Twitter page along with photos of congressional visits. The Alliance will be following up on our meetings and advocacy in DC and will continue to represent our members regarding the CMS proposed rule, Face-to-Face, and other federal issues. The HCA thanks member agencies that attended as well as our supportive Congressional Delegation, particularly Congressman Jim McGovern who co-led the letter to CMS.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

HCA Applauds Tele-monitoring Support from MassHealth

After years of advocacy with the legislature and working collaboratively with MassHealth, the Home Care Alliance proudly testified at a public hearing on proposed remote patient monitoring (RPM) payment rates and regulations this week.

Alliance Legislative and Public Affairs Director James Fuccione commented that reimbursement for RPM will strengthen the ability of home health agencies to carry out their mission of keeping people healthy at home and commended MassHealth for including a broad definition that will allow agencies to be creative in their use of the service. Dana Sheer, NP of Partners Healthcare at Home, also submitted comments in support of RPM and offered recommendations on clarifying language.

The Alliance asked for clarification on a number of points, including whether an “installation/removal” fee of $50 would be paid by MassHealth for both or on each end of the set-up and removal of RPM equipment. HCA suggested that the fee be raised to $75 and paid on both ends. Additionally, the Alliance asked for guidance on how to proceed when multiple patients in the same setting could benefit from RPM services. Comments from the Alliance suggested that RPM could go a long way in assisting patients with behavioral health and substance abuse issues as well.

In his testimony, Mr. Fuccione raised the ongoing concern regarding MassHealth rates for nursing, therapy, and home health aide visits, and urged MassHealth to expedite a review and update of those rates.  He noted that the Alliance has had several recent meetings with MassHealth staff focusing on that very subject. However, the hearing was centered on the tele-monitoring proposal and the Home Care Alliance is thrilled to have spearheaded the push for reimbursement.

Massachusetts is one of only a few state Medicaid programs with financial support for RPM, which will be effective this November. MassHealth explained at the hearing that they expect a savings just within the home health program of $1.4 million.

The Alliance’s comments are available here and more updates on any changes MassHealth may make based on our comments will also be sent to member agencies.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

Guest Blog Post: The Caring Force Announces Video Contest to ‘Broadcast Your Love of Human Services’

Guest Blog Post

by Christine Batista, Public Policy & Communications Associate, ‘The Caring Force’

The Caring Force has officially launched the  2015 Broadcast Your Love of Human Services video contest. And this year, the contest will take place on Instagram!

A few of us here at The Caring Force took the initiative to broadcast OUR love of human services by posting a video on our Instagram page. Now it’s your turn!

Get ready to Broadcast Your Love for Human Services by grabbing your phone and having some fun. Simply create a 15-second video, post it on Instagram, tag @thecaringforce and use the hashtag #BroadcastYourLove. In addition to your Instagram post, be sure to fill out the form on our Broadcast Your Love of Human Services Video Contest Homepage.

There is so much you can do in 15 seconds – all you need is a little creativity and a phone!

Here are just a few ideas:

  • Tell us why you love what you do.
  • Talk about the difference that human services makes in the lives of the people you serve.
  • Describe your advocacy experience. Did you attend our rally? Did you get a response from your legislator?
  • Tell us why you think it is important that human service workers come together to rally for our shared goals.
  • And most importantly, have fun!

Submissions will then be shared by The Caring Force Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts after the video submission deadline. The number of likes and retweets for each submission will be tallied as votes.

As always, each of the three finalists — selected by your votes and our panel — will receive two complimentary passes to our 40th Annual Convention & Expo: 40 Years Forward, and be entered to win a VISA Gift Card for your organization.

So start brainstorming and posting your video! You can share your video on Instagram from now until September 14. But don’t wait too long!

 

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

What Federal Court’s Overtime Ruling Means for Home Care in Mass

A federal appeals court affirmed a regulation set by the Department of Labor that opens overtime wage protections for 2 million workers nationwide, but in Massachusetts applies only to independently-hired personal care attendants (PCAs).

The Boston Globe ran an article on the court’s decision and spoke to the Alliance to confirm that Massachusetts laws already cover overtime pay workers employed by home care agencies.

To clear up lingering confusion of how this decision applies to some, but not all home care workers in the state, the Alliance sent out the following press release:

What Federal Court’s Overtime Ruling Really Means for Home Care in Mass.

State Rules on Overtime, Minimum Wage Already Shielded Home Care Agency Workers

 BOSTON, MA – While a recent Federal Court of Appeals ruling opens the door for 2 million home care workers to receive overtime pay protections across the country, in Massachusetts the ruling is business as usual for approximately 20,000 home care agency workers already protected under state law.

“For many years, home care agencies here in Massachusetts have been governed by the state regulation on paid minimum wage and overtime so this is nothing new in our industry,” said Home Care Alliance Executive Director Patricia Kelleher. “We are encouraged and pleased that the federal law has been upheld, and hope that it will prompt greater compliance and understanding among any agencies in Massachusetts that were confused about whether to follow state or federal guidelines”

Private-pay home care agencies – paid out-of-pocket by individuals and families to provide in-home supportive services – have for years been obligated to follow the Massachusetts rules on providing overtime pay and minimum wage protections. However, independently-hired and consumer-directed personal care attendants paid through MassHealth have not had such protections. In addition to minimum wage and overtime requirements, private-pay home care agencies are required to conduct comprehensive background checks on workers, carry liability insurance.  Those agencies with accreditation through the Home Care Alliance also provide worker training and supervision to deliver the best possible services.

“Different states have different laws, and the fact that Massachusetts regulations go above and beyond a majority of states is a benefit to our workforce,” said Kelleher. “Home care agencies support adopting appropriate state oversight in the interest of protecting both consumers and workers.”

 

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org

Follow-Up on the 2016 PPS Rule & Value-Based Purchasing Webinar

Huge thanks to Todd Montigney and Diane Link of BlackTree Healthcare Consulting for their webinar today.  They discussed the implications of the 2016 Medicare rate changes and the proposed Value-Based Purchasing Model.  Massachusetts is one of nine states randomly selected by CMS to test a Medicare payment model that would increase payments to agencies that score high on quality measures, and penalize agencies that score low.  Diane did a particularly good job of explaining how CMS will compare agency performance on 29 quality measures with statewide benchmarks to calculate an overall score to determine how much an agency’s payments will be adjusted up or down.

If you missed the webinar, you can download the Powerpoint presentation here and click here to listen to a recording of the session for the next 14 days.

The Alliance will be preparing comments to CMS on the proposed update to Medicare rates as well as on the Value-Based Purchasing proposal, and would like to hear suggestions from members.

Are you looking forward to VBP, or are you dreading it?  What do you think of the 29 measures CMS plans to track – too many?  And how about their proposal to adjust rates in 2018 by as much as 5% up or down based on agencies’ quality scores in 2016?

Give us your thoughts by emailing to Alliance Executive Director Pat Kelleher by September 1st.  Or better yet, submit your own comments to CMS here.