Welcome to the HealthPRO® Heritage Blog

The Patient-Driven Grouping Model (PDGM) is almost one week underway! In order to assist with the transition to PDGM, CMS has updated OASIS data collection. These revisions include the addition of two new items and change twenty-three existing items as optional at some OASIS time points. Let’s breakdown the changes. 

PDGM Implementation is Tomorrow! 
In 2019, we've published extensive break-downs of the things you may need to know about therapy in Home Health Agencies and Senior Living facilities. 

Inclusion of therapy in an interdisciplinary care plan under PDGM represents one of the greatest opportunities to impact patient outcomes and patient satisfaction.

HealthPRO® Heritage at Home is fully prepared to bring its expertise and resources to home health agencies looking to strategize and succeed under PDGM. Among the many offerings to agencies are [+ downloadable checklist*]:

A common assumption among home health providers is that outsourcing rehab services is costly.  But a close look at the benefits of contracted therapy demonstrates a very different perspective. 

With PDGM less than 8 weeks away, it is imperative that we begin finalizing the details. One of the most important components under the new payment model is to receive an accurate primary diagnosis that falls into one of the 12 clinical groupings. We understand how critical it is to your revenue cycle to get it right the first time. And though the home health industry and our referral sources are clear that questionable encounters can no longer be used, they are tired of hearing what they CANNOT order. They are hungry to find out what IS available on the menu from which to choose, so HealthPRO® Heritage at Home developed resources for your referral sources to easily identify the top diagnoses per clinical grouping [download below].

October 31, 2019 – As expected, CMS finalized the significant payment model change for Home Health services starting in 2020. The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) will start with any new patient episodes on or after 01/01/2020.

With only 11 weeks left until the January 1, 2020 implementation date of PDGM, we are now into a time for final preparations. After months of education to help home health agencies prepare, execute, and succeed, we now summarize and offer what we believe will be the Four Pillars of Success under PDGM.  

With PDGM on the horizon in less than 100 days, agencies are hearing more chatter around three key areas: Face-to-Face (F2F) Encounters, Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE), and Review Choice Demonstration (RCD). All three will affect reimbursement as agencies will need to utilize best practices. Agencies must thoroughly understand the requirements of each process to sustain viability going forward.

LUPA (Low Utilization Payment Adjustment), the 4 letter word that we have all been trying to avoid under the current PPS system.  Just when we thought we had it under control, CMS has decided to add a whole other level of complexity with PDGM.  The challenge to managing LUPA’s under PDGM will be two-fold; a “moving LUPA” for each 30-day payment, and the need to meticulously manage visits within each of those 30-day windows to avoid that LUPA.