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HCAC e-news January
2002 ~ Published by Home Care Association of Colorado NEW YEAR BRINGS The New Year is
just 10 days old but it has brought us news. Such as… 1. CMS REVISES POLICY ON ONE SERVICE DIRECTLY BY EMPLOYEES J In the State Operations Manual Transmittal 25
effective April 15, 2001 CMS changed the "one service
directly" requirement, limiting home health agencies to selection
of skilled nursing, physical or speech therapy as the service the
agency could provide 100% by employees. The National Association for
Home Care (NAHC) wrote several letters requesting that CMS reconsider
this policy change basing our request on the historical
interpretation of this requirement and the negative impact of the change
on home health agencies. As a result, CMS
issued a Memorandum (S&C 02-13) on January 7, 2002 reverting to the
original policy interpretation. In the memorandum CMS notified Regional Offices and State Survey Agencies that it is revising the policy at Section 2180 of the State Operations Manual. Home health agencies will once again be able to select the "one service directly by employees" from the entire list of covered home health services including nursing, physical therapy, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, medical social services, or home health aide services. The other qualifying services and any additional services may be provided either directly or under arrangement.
2. CMS CLARIFIES FOOT CARE POLICY
J NAHC had several
discussions with CMS staff regarding Cahaba's recent announcement that,
effective March 1, 2002, coverage of foot care, even to persons with
neurophathic or vascular problems, would be terminated. Cahaba indicated
that this decision was made in order to reach consistency
among all four RHHIs. NAHC provided information to CMS and Cahaba
from the HIM-11, Intermediary Manual, Carrier Manual, as well as an
October 17, 2001 "Decision Memorandum" supporting the
position that foot care to individuals with peripheral vascular disease
is not "routine" and therefore should be a covered Medicare
benefit. CMS has
just informed NAHC that it will advise the RHHIs that foot
care to individuals with disease and injuries of the foot is not
considered "routine" and therefore is a medically necessary
service that is covered under the Medicare home health benefit. 3. ACS (FORMLERLY CONSULTEC) SUSPENDS MEDICAID HOME HEALTH CLAIMS
L If your last Medicaid home health payment seemed smaller than usual, it was! Colorado Medicaid officials have informed HCAC that ACS started putting all claim type J's (home
health) on suspense beginning last Wednesday, January 2, 2002, in order
to fix a computer glitch that was not deducting units billed from the
number of approved units (on the PAR). As a result of the suspension,
many home health providers did not receive complete payments, or may not
have been paid for claims submitted. The
department has assured HCAC that the system is now fixed and that claims
covering Wednesday, January 2 to Friday, January 11th will be
processed this weekend and mailed or sent electronically on Wednesday,
January 16th.
Agencies that wish to pick up their
check must call Shelly Uhrig at (303) 866-5619 (or e-mail her at shelley.uhrig@state.co.us
NO LATER THAN 5 P.M. ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 11th.. Checks will be
available on Wednesday, January 16th at the Dept. of Health
Care Policy, 1575 Sherman Street, Denver. The security guard will direct
you to her office. 4. CURRENT
ISSUE OF HOME CARE AUTOMATION REPORT ATTACHED; ORDER YOUR
FULLYEAR SUBSCRIPTION FOR DISCOUNTED RATE OF $107! J The
first issue of the year of Home Care Automation Report is
attached as an added value for HCAC members. In this issue, ___________
reviews the recently enacted “delay” in the HIPAA transaction
implementation timetable, a look at clinical data collection, and
strategies for getting the most out of your point-of-care system.
Several new links and reports are now available through the HCAC Web
Site. Be sure to click on and get the details, any time, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. 1. The Medicare
State Operations Manual on Provider Certification for Home Health
Agencies, Sections 2180 to 2200, is a compilation of
directives, instructions and policies for State Surveyors issued by the
Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA). This manual,
which was updated in April 2001, is now conveniently available on
HCAC’s web site. Through cooperation with the Dept. of Public Health
& Environment staff, we are also attaching the entire manual with
this bulletin FOR MEMBERS ONLY. Please
note: The manual is attached in PDF format; you will need the latest
version of Acrobat Reader to read or download the manual. Acrobat Reader
can be accessed at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html If you wish to read or download this 37-page manual from the Internet, just click here for your printer-friendly copy: http://www.hcaconline.org/members/som1.pdf 2. Medicaid’s new Long Term Home Health PAR process has caused much increased work and oversight by Colorado’s home care agencies, as well as the Single Entry Points. If you would like more information on this new process, a 4-page Medicaid Bulletin on Long Term Home Health Prior Authorization (PARs Questions and Answers) has been posted on HCAC’s web site. Just click here for your printer-friendly copy of the bulletin: http://www.hcaconline.org/reports/index.htm 3. A report of the recent Colorado Medicaid HCBS and Home Health Performance Audit conducted by Colorado’s State Auditor was released to the Legislative Audit Committee in August 2001. If you would like to read the Audit summary (8 pages) and the complete report (approx. 110 pages), just click here for your printer-friendly copy: http://www.hcaconline.org/reports/index.htm 4. Medicaid 50a Information and Cost Reporting Forms: If you are still working on your agency’s 50a cost report or just want more information on the 50a process, go to our direct link to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing 50a Details, then go to the lower half of the page and click on the details you want: http://www.hcaconline.org/reports/index.htm HCAC WEB SITE LOGGING 30 VISITS A DAY Our association’s web site, http://www.hcaconline.org now averages some 30 visits each day, 7 days a week, or some 11,000 visits per year. Every attempt is being made to keep our membership pages and their web site links current, however we need your assistance. Please check our listings and notify us of any need for update what-so-ever. All HCAC links have been updated. Click on the links page for the latest
in important contacts at: http://www.hcaconline.org/links.html/ And have you checked out our HCAC
legislative gallery lately? More photos, more
legislators, more awards. We keep HCAC in the forefront for your
benefit! Another Membership Benefit Brought to You by |
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