States now required to conduct at least 50% of off-hour surveys on weekends for facilities with potential staffing issues

A list of facilities with potential staffing issues is being provided to CMS regional offices and state survey agencies to support survey activities for evaluating sufficient staffing, according to a memo released by CMS back in November, 2018. The memo states that “while CMS is encouraged by facilities’ efforts to improve staffing,” payroll based journal (PBJ) data has raised a few concerns, prompting them to inform state survey agencies of facilities with potential staffing issues.

CMS releases FAQs on interpretive guidelines for the revised home health CoPs

More than a year after the revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoPs) took effect and about four months after the release of related interpretive guidelines, CMS has provided agencies with additional clarifying guidance around the requirements.

Special deal: Get Your First Year of Biller’s Association Membership for $155!

The Billers’ Association for Long-Term Care (BALTC) is a membership community created specifically for professionals involved in the long-term care revenue cycle. This national association provides members with a resource of continuously updated tools, reimbursement and regulatory guidance, and education to help prevent revenue loss and documentation and billing errors so providers can withstand audits at any point in time.

With its involved expert advisory board members and active talk group, this engaged group of professionals is a great place for sharing and receiving best practices, tips, and tools with your peers!

• A weekly enewsletter that highlights regulatory changes and provides coding and billing guidance
• A subscription to our monthly newsletter, Billing Alert for Long-Term Care, which offers in-depth coverage of the industry and regulatory changes that impact the important role you play at your facility
• A quarterly webinar that breaks down recent regulatory changes
• A quarterly, electronic white paper on top billing and reimbursement issues
• An active list serv to collaborate and share ideas with fellow members
• To review all of the benefits of membership, please visit our webpage!

MedPAC — yet again — recommends a 5% home health payment reduction

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is once again recommending a 5% Medicare payment reduction for home health agencies.

Revenue integrity enthusiasts: Do you have what it takes to present at RIS?

The National Association for Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI) is currently seeking speakers to present at the 2019 Revenue Integrity Symposium (RIS), to be held October 15–16, 2019, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. RIS attendees will be eligible to earn CHRI CEUs and speakers will be eligible to earn additional CHRI CUEs. Speakers are welcome to present on all aspects of revenue integrity, Medicare compliance, and the revenue cycle in acute and long-term care settings. Click here to learn more.

New CMP amounts adjusted for inflation and quarterly updates to NCCI PTP edits available

New CMP amounts that have been adjusted for inflation and are effective October 11, 2018 were announced in a final rule published by CMS on January 22, 2019. The adjusted amounts apply to CMPs assessed on or after October 11, 2018. For SNFs, NFs and SNF/NFs, the CMP Analytic Tool instructions and calculations will be updated to reflect these changes. Appendix A of the final rule announcement contains the new rates, which have seen an increase.