Welcome to the HealthPRO Heritage Blog

A Breakdown of the CMS OASIS-E Guidance Manual

Posted on: May 23, 2022

On May 16, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Draft OASIS-E Guidance Manual. In which CMS announced that the OASIS-E implementation has been delayed due to the public health emergency and is currently scheduled to be effective as of January 1, 2023.

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Tags: Home Health

Home Health Final Rule Release and How to Prepare for VBP

Posted on: November 3, 2021

CMS published the final rule for CY2022 making official the nationwide expansion of the HHVBP Model. The HHVBP Model is one of four Innovation Center models that have met the requirements to be expanded in duration and scope since 2010. Given this expansion, CMS is also ending the HHVBP Model for participants in the original model’s nine states. The first performance year of the expanded HHVBP Model will be CY 2023, with quality performance data from that year used to calculate payment adjustments under the expanded Model in CY 2025. Throughout 2022, CMS will provide technical assistance to HHAs to ensure they understand how performance will be assessed as finalized in this rule. To take an in-depth look at VBP click here: What is Value Based Purchasing?

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Tags: Home Health, Home Health Agency, #homehealth

HealthPRO Heritage Expands & Diversifies with Acquisition in South

Posted on: December 3, 2020

December 3, 2020. HealthPRO Heritage (“HealthPRO”) completed the acquisition of Southern Flex Rehabilitation & Consulting ("SoFlex") on November 1, 2020.

SoFlex, based in Metairie, LA provides contract therapy services to home health agencies, assisted living communities, in-patient facilities, and schools. The Company has expanded consistently since founded by owner Jeff Hebert in 2003.

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Tags: Acquisitions, senior living, Home Health, Pediatrics

HHS Announcement: More Provider Relief Funding Available

Posted on: October 9, 2020

HHS announced $20 billion in new funding for providers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Phase 3 distribution was made possible through the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (which allocated $175 billion in relief funds to hospitals, skilled nursing, home health and other healthcare providers.) Skilled nursing & home health providers and others who have received Provider Relief Fund payments (and some who were previously ineligible providers) are invited to apply for additional funding to cover operating expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Tags: snf, senior living, LTC, Home Health, CMS Update 2020, COVID-19

RCD Resumes for Home Health Services

Posted on: September 24, 2020

CMS began enforcement of Review Choice Demonstrations (RCD) on August 3, 2020. Home health providers in North Carolina and Florida were able to select their initial choice between August 3, 2020 and August 17, 2020. Home health in all demonstration states (Illinois, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida) with billing periods beginning on or after August 31, 2020 will be subject to review under the choice selected.

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Tags: Home Health, PDGM, Home Health Agency

Twelve New PDGM Home Health Clinical Pathways

Posted on: September 8, 2020

Earlier this year in quarter one, the National Association of Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) released preliminary data specific to the early PDGM claims and trends*. This was our first opportunity to be able to begin benchmarking performance compared to the trends that were occurring across the home health industry. HealthPRO Heritage at Home then performed a deeper investigation into each specific PDGM clinical grouping and determined...

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Tags: Home Health, PDGM

Home Health Proposed Rule for CY2021

Posted on: July 3, 2020

On June 26, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Home Health proposed rule for 2021.

There were little to no changes with the PDGM payment model and it’s clear that PDGM is here to stay.  Additional highlights from this proposed rule are listed below:

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Tags: Home Health, PDGM

Home Health Pledge & Plan Amid COVID

Posted on: June 25, 2020

As the number of new COVID-19 cases rise and fall across the country, HealthPRO Heritage at Home reminds you that we are prepared above & beyond. Our 3-prong approach + Partnership Pledge provides support in the case of a second wave, or if infections increase in your market.

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Tags: Home Health, PDGM, COVID-19

Home Health Clinical Excellence

Posted on: June 10, 2020

For 15+ years, HealthPRO Heritage at Home has served the therapy needs of home health agencies who have counted on us as a trusted partner to address the challenges and opportunities unique to home health.

As the industry navigates changes brought by PDGM and COVID-19, HealthPRO Heritage at Home is well prepared to support partners with meaningful guidance and sophisticated resources that fortify operational success, financial growth, and clinical excellence, including:

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Tags: Home Health, PDGM, COVID-19

The Dangers of Therapy Underutilization Part 2: The Effect of Patient Outcomes on Star Ratings

Posted on: March 6, 2020

The Patient Driven Grouping Model (PDGM) was implemented January 1, 2020 and changed reimbursement models of Medicare home health services from therapy utilization driven to patient characteristics. While this has allowed for a focus from quantity to quality, some home health agencies are restricting therapy visits and placing their quality measures, Star Rating, and most importantly patient outcomes at risk. CMS calculates Star Ratings through several areas therapy may influence including, ambulation, bed transfers, bathing, discharge location, and rehospitalizations.

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Tags: Home Health, Senior Living Community, PDGM, Patient-Driven Grouping Model, Home Health Agency