Home care is always on our mind, and in this part of the country at this time of year football is often on our minds too. Imagine if in the middle of the game the rules of the game changed. Instead of 10 yards you need to go 20 for a first down. And at halftime, they decide you don’t get four plays to get first down, you only get three. And imagine if you are no longer able to pass the ball unless the receiver has first run through the backfield.
Image courtesy of Yahoo Sports
The number of crazy analogies could go on and on but we’d risk losing the non-football fans. The rules have changed for home health. And getting a firm grasp on those 2011 changes are a must for providers. And the other changes coming with the Affordable Care Act will make the PPS 2011 rule look like a Super Bowl compared to an elementary school game.
HCLA has two workshops on our schedule that will help you to adapt to the changes in the rules. By providing you and your agency with a stronger foundation and understanding of the new rules the decisions you make will be based on facts that will give you choices about how to best adapt to the new environment.
Jan Spears will be in Monroe next Wednesday, January 26th, and Baton Rouge on January 27th, speaking to the 2011 Rule changes. Go to this link for more details: Analysis of PPS Home Health Rule for 2011: What Steps are Successful Agencies Taking?
And mark your calendars for March 3rd, 2011. Richard Dixon will take us through the Affordable Care Act, and its implications on healthcare and home health. Duane Blackwell will also present that day on a cost report study HCLA has put together comparing Louisiana agencies by region in the state, with other states and parts of the country. The information promises to be a revealing look at our state’s numbers and practices. Information on that workshop will be posted later this week.
Remember the rules of the home health game are changing rapidly. Will your organization’s understanding of the new approaches allow you to adapt in a timely manner?
The Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) has just released MLN Matters Special Edition Article #SE1038 (“Home Health Face-to-Face Encounter: A New Home Health Certification Requirement”) to remind physicians who certify a patient’s eligibility for home health benefits that the Affordable Care Act mandates that they, or an allowed non-physician practitioner (NPP), document that they have had a face-to-face encounter with the patient. 