Hospice Coding Accuracy Compliance with AHCC (Association of Home Care Coding and Compliance)
Join us on the Home HealthRevealed Podcast for a special episode in collaboration with AHHC. Dive into the realm of hospice coding, exploring the challenges and importance of accurate documentation in end-of-life care.
Discover insights from AHCC Talk, a valuable resource for home health and hospice agencies. Stay tuned as our panel discusses hospice coding and compliance, emphasizing the significance of staying updated on regulatory changes and best practices.
Enhance patient outcomes by prioritizing accurate coding practices in hospice care settings. Don’t miss out on the 2024 home health catalog with a 15% discount coupon. Subscribe to AHCC Talk for regular updates on compliance in hospice coding. Thank you for supporting Home Health Revealed.
Optimizing Hospice Excellence: Quality Care, Staff Retention, and Accreditation with Deanna Heath
Join Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale as they talk with Deanna Heath, Senior VP of Client Experience at Kantime and a hospice expert with extensive experience in the field. Deanna discusses her background, emphasizing her passion for quality assessment and performance improvement in hospice care.
The conversation covers topics related to hospice care, including the complex needs of patients and their families, the importance of the initial meeting with patients, and the role of caregivers. Deanna emphasizes the significance of active listening during the admission visit and the need for personalized, compassionate care.
The discussion shifts to challenges in hospice care, focusing on patient and family needs where Deanna provides insights into the diverse needs of hospice patients and highlights the importance of a comprehensive assessment that includes physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. The role of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) is discussed, emphasizing the collaboration needed to address patients’ holistic needs.
The conversation touches on training for hospice clinicians, with Deanna stressing the importance of standardized training and ongoing education to ensure consistent and high-quality care. The podcast also explores technology’s role in maintaining consistency across large service areas, including electronic health records and telemedicine platforms.
Deanna shares her thoughts on addressing challenges related to staff turnover and training, emphasizing the need for genuine care, support, and proper hiring practices to retain dedicated hospice staff. The discussion includes Deanna’s insights into evaluating agencies based on their authenticity.
The conversation delves into accreditation and certification programs, such as CHAP and ACHC, and the importance of these accreditations in maintaining quality and standardization. Deanna mentions the evolving landscape of hospice care with a focus on outcomes and the potential for hospice care indexes in the future.
The podcast concludes with a discussion on common mistakes and areas for improvement in hospice agencies, with Deanna highlighting the significance of care planning, medication management, and the importance of deprescribing unnecessary medications.
Throughout the episode, Deanna subtly (or maybe not-so-subtly) promotes Kantime by mentioning its features, such as real-time documentation and training capabilities. Overall, the podcast provides valuable insights into the challenges and best practices in hospice care, featuring Deanna’s expertise and passion for improving patient and family experiences.
This podcast is brought to you by HealthRev Partners.
Unleashing Leadership Potential: Navigating Stress, Focus, and Energy for Optimal Performance with Vicki Landers
Join us as Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale talk with Vicki Landers of In Progress Coaching.
Vicki combines her background in healthcare, coaching, and energy leadership to help leaders overcome challenges, gain mastery over invisible influences, and enhance their performance while creating a positive impact on their teams and patients.
Vicki discusses the invisible influences that contribute to leadership stress, which include external factors like physical well-being, environmental surroundings, and social interactions, as well as internal factors like spiritual alignment, emotional expression, and mental engagement. These influences can either support or hinder a leader’s performance.
She emphasizes the importance of focus in leadership, which involves being fully present and accepting the current situation. By reframing stress and embracing the present moment, leaders can enhance their performance and move forward with solutions.
Regarding personal development, Vicki acknowledges that leaders may feel uncomfortable taking the time for introspection and change. However, she encourages leaders to embrace the opportunity to make conscious choices about their career and seek coaching as a means to gain clarity and navigate the middle of their careers.
Vicki introduces the concept of energy leadership, which involves viewing the world through different energy lenses. There are seven levels of energy, ranging from victimhood to self-mastery. Each level has a core thought, emotion, and action associated with it. Leaders can use the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) assessment to understand their default energy lens and make conscious choices about how they want to show up as leaders. This shared language can be used to create awareness and foster growth within teams.
Home Health Revealed is brought to you by HealthRev Partners, inspiring possibilities to touch more lives.
Leaders who are in the trenches! On the ROAD at Missouri Alliance with Home Health Revealed!
This Home Health Revealed episode takes place ON THE ROAD!
Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale set up the recording booth in the middle of
the Missouri Alliance for Home Care Annual Conference to hear from home health leaders
and committee members who are in the trenches of home health. Hear their
challenges and some of the creative solutions they are using to meet those
challenges.
Brooke Kendrick with NorthEast
Independent Living of Hannibal Missouri is on the task force at the
Missouri Alliance for HomeCare. She discusses leadership challenges that come
with staffing and how her agency is taking advantage of state regs that have
lowered initial training requirements. She is working to meet increasing
demands and get workers in homes quicker.
Her agency has also been able to raise wages to attract and
retain staff. Her commitment to the industry is making a difference in the care
offered in Missouri.
Carol Hudspeth from MAHC (Missouri Alliance for Home
Care) gives insight into the consideration and prep it takes to create the
experience for the annual conference. MAHC members have access to educational
opportunities and advocacy. Check out information about membership and resources
at Homecaremissouri.org. And
plan ahead for the 2024 gathering at Margaritaville.
Stephanie Truex from Johnson County Community Health Services
is working hard to overcome the discrepancy between reimbursement and staffing
wages. She has particular interest in data and the home health value based purchasing
model that is impacting her agency.
In the effort to hire and keep talent,
when hiring, she looks for some particular attributes that might be surprising.
Peggy Bone with Elara Caring, (who also happened
to be our “home room mother” for our conference presentation) has a drive to
help her team be the best PEOPLE they can be by proving flexibility within home
health. Elara Caring has put talent acquisition and referral programs in place
that are helping their agencies across the US. And if that isn’t enough, she is also star of
the “Peggy Road Show!” to check in on clinicians in a more personal manner and
give them shouts on the FOND board!
She is on the MAHC board and in charge of membership. If you’re interested in learning more about the
benefits of membership, she’s the one you want to talk to!
Home Health Revealed is published by HealthRev Partners.
Grow your agency and expand your mission with a high power revenue cycle management partner.
Home Care Software Solution: What You Need to Know to Choose the Right EMR with Kristen Duell
Hannah Vale and Michael Greenlee as they talk with Kristen Duell, the EVP at Kantime. She has over 17 years of experience and is a wealth of knowledge in the health care/tech space. She loves helping people grow, learn and accomplish their goals.
Home health agencies have to find the right EMR (Electronic Medical Record) software system. Kristen talks about the real questions agencies should consider when choosing an EMR solution that works best for them.
She discusses topics like how user friendly a solution is, if it’s able to grow and scale with you, considering payer diversification and the ability to flow all the way through to billing.
Kristen defines the most common functionalities that agencies should look for when making a decision about implementing an EMR solution.
One of the most important aspects is the implementation process. Kristen talks candidly about her experiences with implementation.
What should agencies look for from a clinical documentation standpoint?
Online training has become an essential piece of continuing to hire and expand your organization.
Other resources for agencies includes reports, analytics and data.
The decision-making process is complex. Kristin gives the top 3 questions agencies should ask when making the decision to adopt an EMR solution.
Kantime is the #1 home health and hospice EMR Solution. They offer a web-based management system in the post-acute care space: private duty, home health, pediatric, hospice and palliative care and self-direction.
Request a Demo from Kantime to learn more!
Home Health Revealed is sponsored by HealthRev Partners. Grow your agency and expand your mission with a high power revenue cycle management partner.
Mention this podcast and receive up to $500 off your first three invoices with a coding or billing 12-month service agreement. Request a Quote.
Barbara Karnes on Dementia and the End of Life | Neutralizing the Fear of Dying
“People don’t understand that there’s a normal, natural way of dying. My materials are written to guide and support anyone who finds themselves addressing end of life situations. The goal is to help people have a positive experience so everyone involved will have a sacred memory to carry with them.” – Barbara Karnes, RN
In this episode, Hannah Vale and Barbara Karnes talk about dementia and the end of life. Hospice doulas are playing a very important role in end of life care. Learn the signs to look for to know when a patient should call an end of life or dementia doula.
Barbara also talks about how interdisciplinary care teams can reduce the fear of dying by educating their patients and families and doing some things that are practical.
Learn about her resource and an exciting new project that will be released in 2024!
Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.
If it has to do with death and dying, Barbara Karnes, RN is talking about it. Her articles have been featured in The NY Times, USA Today, The Huffington Post, Thrive Global, & The Washington Post, among others. Awarded the NHPCO Innovator award for her decades as an end-of-life educator and for her iconic booklet, GONE FROM MY SIGHT: The Dying Experience (aka: “the little blue hospice book”).
Barbara’s career spans four decades and began as an early hospice pioneer during the AIDS crisis. In addition to the many years she has spent at the bedside caring for patients and their families as a nurse, Barbara has also served as executive director of hospice and various home-health agencies. She has also worked through the hospice ranks as patient care manager, clinical director, staff, nurse, and volunteer. Barbara is a dedicated end of life educator, training professionals, authoring resource materials, booklets, movies, and her fabulous blog.
You may find Barbara’s end of life resources for patients, families, and caregivers on her website: www.bkbooks.com
Barbara’s Social Media Platforms:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
LINKEDIN
Family Support Bundle and other resources we talked about on this podcast can be found on Barbara’s website.
Website: bkbooks.com
Office #: 360.828.7132
Barbara’s email address: barbara@bkbooks.com
Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death.
In 2015, Barbara’s film New Rules for End of Life Care was featured in film festivals around the world and was the recipient of 10 prestigious film awards.
Barbara’s other award-winning publications and films include:
The Eleventh Hour: A Caring Guideline to the Hours to Minutes Before Death
A Time to Live: Living with a Life-Threatening Illness
My Friend, I Care: The Grief Experience,
You Need Care Too: Self Care for the Professional Caregiver
How Do I Know You? Dementia at E
Revolutionizing Hospice Care Costs, One Patient at a Time with BetterRX
Dive into hospice care cost management with our latest podcast episode featuring Jared Stong, PharmD, Founder and Chairman at BetterRX, delving into the heart of the matter.
BetterRX opens the conversation by shedding light on the challenges of medication management in hospice care, emphasizing the delicate balance between addressing symptoms effectively and controlling costs. With insightful strategies for optimizing drug regimens and deprescribing, BetterRX introduces a groundbreaking approach that tailors medications to each patient’s unique needs, steering clear of unnecessary expenses.
The discussion takes an innovative turn as BetterRX explores the role of technology in improving medication management. From formulary plans to streamlined communication, discover how technology simplifies processes, providing immediate recommendations and enhancing collaboration among hospice providers, hospitals, and specialists.
Listen in as BetterRX shares a real-world example of successful collaboration, illustrating how a united front among healthcare organizations can improve patient outcomes while effectively managing costs. Uncover the challenges providers face in coordinating care and the strategies they can implement to strike the delicate balance between cost control and quality.
The episode concludes with a thought-provoking exploration of ethical considerations in cost-saving measures. BetterRX emphasizes the importance of maintaining patients’ comfort and dignity in end-of-life care, leaving listeners with key takeaways and best practices for providers and families.
As the hosts wrap up, BetterRX offers insights into the future of hospice care cost management and collaboration. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation that transcends dollars and cents, focusing on the impact of thoughtful care on patients’ lives. Discover the keys to achieving a harmonious balance between cost control and compassionate end-of-life care.
KPIs and Reporting Needs | 2023 End of Year Series: Practical Tips and Inspirational Insights for a Powerful Year-End
Michael and Hannah discuss the importance of real-time data in the Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) process for home health and hospice agencies as they approach the end of the year. They emphasize the significance of having access to up-to-date financial information, especially when outsourcing RCM services.
Learn the critical questions agencies should ask their RCM partners regarding real-time financial data accessibility and communication of accounts receivable status. They stress that relying on outdated data, such as monthly or quarterly reports, can hinder decision-making and necessary adjustments.
The discussion revolves around the benefits of real-time data, including maintaining a healthy cash flow, tracking claim statuses, identifying and rectifying errors promptly, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
The role of real-time data in assessing the efficiency of RCM processes is outlined, identifying bottlenecks, and improving overall operational efficiency. They encourage agencies to ask detailed questions of their Electronic Health Record (EHR) or RCM partner to ensure the granularity and timeliness of the data received.
Michael and Hannah conclude by highlighting how real-time data facilitates proactive issue resolution, helps monitor the performance of outsourced RCM companies, and ensures compliance with privacy regulations in the healthcare industry. They stress that access to current and accurate data is indispensable for informed decision-making, optimizing revenue generation, and maintaining the overall integrity of the revenue cycle management process.
Handling Denials and Appeals | 2023 End of Year Series: Practical Tips and Inspirational Insights for a Powerful Year-End
Michael and Hannah guide us through a crucial aspect of home health or hospice agency management: the billing and collections process. As the year wraps up, they emphasize the importance of a detailed breakdown, focusing specifically on handling denials and appeals.
Effective management of denials and appeals is essential for financial stability and maintaining quality care standards. Understanding the reasons behind each denial is the first step, achieved through meticulous review of payer feedback to identify patterns and systemic issues hindering reimbursement.
Hannah highlights the significance of comprehensive documentation for successful appeals. Ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with payer requirements is crucial. Regular training sessions to keep staff updated on regulation changes foster a culture of compliance, reducing the likelihood of errors.
The establishment of clear internal processes as a daily compass, defining roles, setting timelines, and establishing communication channels. Monitoring denial trends enables identification of root causes and implementation of corrective actions, fortifying the agency against financial risks.
Often overlooked is the aspect of communication with payers, a crucial element in denial management. They stress the strategic use of technology not only to react to denials but proactively shape a resilient reimbursement process.
Hannah concludes by underlining the significance of proactive denial and appeal management, urging listeners not to put it off.
Don’t miss the next episode: a discussion on KPIs, reporting, and analytic tools within RCM (Revenue Cycle Management). Join them for insights into shaping a sustainable future for home health agencies.
Navigating Eligibilities and Authorizations | 2023 End of Year Series: Practical Tips and Inspirational Insights for a Powerful Year-End
In this podcast episode, hosts Hannah and Michael unveil a series aimed at helping listeners end 2023 on a strong note and kickstart 2024 with momentum. They delve into crucial topics such as optimizing revenue collection and conducting a detailed breakdown of the billing and collections process for home health or hospice agencies. Michael introduces a special offer from HealthRev Partners for agencies looking to recover uncollected funds, emphasizing its importance for financial stability and performance analysis. Interested? Contact connect@healthrevpartners.com for more info.
Hannah walks through the steps for entering 2024 with financial peace of mind through HealthRev Partners’ Revenue Recovery Agreement. Michael and Hannah share insights on the intricacies of the billing process, stressing the significance of accurate documentation from the patient’s referral. They offer practical tips, such as verifying insurance cards and understanding payors.
Michael shifts the focus to measures agencies should take regarding their internal teams or partners, including qualifications of coders and reviewers, familiarity with Medicare guidelines, and EHR expertise. Hannah highlights the addition of HealthRev’s eligibility and authorizations service, underscoring its role in preventing revenue loss. Michael stresses the importance of getting this aspect of revenue cycle management right and suggests considering outsourcing.
The next episode, which will cover the handling of denials and appeals in the healthcare revenue landscape.