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HCAC e-news May
2002 ~ Published by Home Care Association of Colorado HHS
HOLDS TRUE TO OPEN DOOR POLICY The U.S. Dept.
of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been “walking the talk” since
Secretary Tommy Thompson took the reins last year and committed to
opening channels of communication with Medicare/Medicaid providers and
beneficiaries. Following are some examples: 1. HHS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM TO HOLD HEARINGS IN
DENVER ON MAY 15 & 16. J Not only did
Secretary Thompson appoint one of Colorado’s own home health agency
administrators to his Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform, he is
bringing the committee to Denver on May 15 and 16 for public hearings. According
to Advisory Committee member Judy Sutherland, CEO of Visiting Nurse
Corp. of Colorado, the hearings will held at the Marriott Denver City
Center hotel, Colorado Ballroom “E” at 1701 California Street in
downtown Denver. Following the hearings on Wednesday, Sutherland has
arranged for HCAC member agencies to take committee members on home
visits. HCAC member agencies are encouraged to attend
all or part of the hearings to hear about the committee’s findings on
regulatory reform, HIPAA Simplification and Patient-Provider
relationships. As part of the agenda, there will be an opportunity for
public comment both on Wednesday, May 15 from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and on
Thursday, May 16 from 10:45 to 11:25 a.m. Visit www.regreform@hhs.gov
(type Regulatory Reform) for details or contact Anne Kane of the CMS
Region VIII office at (303) 844-7122 with questions. 2. CMS HOLDS “OPEN DOOR” TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALLS
J Another example
of HHS/CMS’ new communications efforts, are the Home Health Open Door
telephone conferences. If you haven’t participated in one of these
excellent conferences, now’s the time to start. Visit www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor/schedule.asp
for the schedule. 3. HCAC SPEAKS OUT AT CMS “OPEN DOOR LISTENING SESSION”
J As reported in
the Spring 2002 issue of the
management report, Home Care concerns were heard loud and clear when
CMS Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) came to Denver earlier this year. When asked if there is
any relief in sight for elimination of the onerous and burdensome
paperwork for home health nurses, Ruben King-Shaw said, “Yes – and
very shortly because this is a high priority for the (Bush)
Administration.” Health care observers took that to mean that relief is in sight for revisions to the OASIS requirements. Keep tuned for more “walking the talk.” VISIT HCAC’S WEB SITE TODAY! 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 updates.
All HCAC links have been updated. Be sure to click on and get the
details, 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! |
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