PBJ submission guidelines updated, new FAQs answered

CMS has released updates to the PBJ Policy Manual (V2.2) and the PBJ Policy Manual FAQ. These updates reflect changes to submission guidelines and provide answers to additional FAQs. The updated documents, dated December 21, 2016, highlight changes in red text.

Second year of home health utilization and payment data released

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the second annual release of the home health agency Public Use File (PUF) on the Home Health Agencies Data webpage with data for 2014.

The hospice aide’s role in caring for patients with cancer

Caring for hospice patients who have undergone lengthy, intensive, and ultimately unsuccessful treatments can be a complex process. Care following surgery depends a lot on the invasiveness of the procedure, while care following radiation and chemotherapy typically focuses on alleviating the side effects of those treatments, which commonly include weakness and fatigue, appetite and weight loss, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and diarrhea. Providing small amounts of food and fluids frequently, along with medications that target specific symptoms, can often diminish these side effects.

OSHA’s new electronic submission and anti-retaliation laws affect nursing homes and assisted living facilities

Effective January 1, 2017, OSHA will require businesses in industries with high injury and illness rates, including senior living facilities and nursing homes, to electronically submit work-related injury and illness reports to OSHA for publication on OSHA’s website.

Will CMS’ ban of pre-dispute arbitration agreements stand in court?

In the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) final rule published in October, the agency threw long-term care facilities a curveball by proposing to eliminate pre-dispute binding arbitration agreements. In response to the surprise proposal, on October 24, 2016, the American Health Care Association filed a motion to have the requirement revoked, stating that “banning these agreements would remove a critical legal remedy beneficial to both residents and [nursing facilities].”

Upcoming CMS Events

Thursday, January 5, 2017, 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET - Special Open Door Forum: Home Oxygen Clinical Data Elements Conference Call

Thursday, January 12, 1:30 – 3pm ET - IRF-PAI Therapy Information Data Collection Call

Tuesday, January 17, 1:30 – 3pm ET - ESRD QIP: Payment Year 2020 Final Rule Call

Wednesday, January 18, 8:30am – 4:30pm ET - Hospice Quality Reporting Program Provider Training

Thursday, January 19, 1:30pm – 3:00pm ET - Home Health Quality of Patient Care Star Rating MLN Connects Call

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017, 2:00pm-3:00pm ET - The next Home Health, Hospice and DME Open Door Forum

Product Spotlight

Medicare Boot Camp®—Long-Term Care Version

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