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HCAC
e-news HCAC WORKS FOR YOU (while
you are busy providing 3 million home care visits each year 1.
TAKE A LOOK AT HOW YOUR TRADE ASSOCIATION WORKS FOR YOU AND YOUR
HOME CARE AGENCY August
2 – Met
with Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) staff
to fine-tune the Medicaid cost report
that will soon be required of all Colorado Home Health and HCBS Medicaid
providers. The department will use the simple, convenient, two-page
report form that was submitted by HCAC’s Reimbursement/Regulatory
Council; reports will be submitted annually on the same schedule as
Medicare cost reports (5 months after close of agency’s fiscal year);
and will make use of much information from the Medicare cost report. August
6 – Attended
Legislative Audit Committee meeting at the State Capitol where
legislators discussed the need for criminal
background checks for all direct care givers providing Home
Health and HCBS services in Colorado. Legislation describing when and
how background checks will be conducted is expected to be introduced in
the 2003 session. August
7 – Hosted
a meeting in HCAC offices with Mike Oliva, chairman
of the Colorado Board of Medical Services, regarding recent
changes in the Medicaid program. This meeting was followed by another
with U.S. Secretary of Health & Human
Services Regional Director Joe Nunez who pledged to keep home
health issues before Secretary Thompson. (go to www.hcaconline.org for photo) August
8 – HCAC’s
14-member Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting and included Jim
Hamlin, the new Deputy Director of the Health Facilities Division
of the Dept. of Public Health & Environment, for lunch and a
question and answer session. August
9 – Testified
before the Colorado Board of Medical Services
in support of the consumer-driven compromise which resulted in Medicaid
home health rates being restored to June 30, 2002 levels as of September
1, 2002. Restoration of CNA, RN and Therapy rates was the number one
goal of a special industry focus session held on July 9th.
HCAC asked the department to work with the home care industry to change
the Private Duty Nursing reimbursement schedule and to simplify and
revise the Home Health PAR process. Also testified in support of the
Medicaid Cost Report rule discussed above. August
20 – Sponsored
all-day seminar on “HIPAA Regulations for the
Home Care Manager.” More than 60 attendees rated speaker Gene
Tischer, Esq., as “excellent” and asked to have the topic presented
again next year. HCAC members can order “The
HIPAA Privacy Rule: Compliance Resources for Home Care Agencies”
for a discount price by visiting: http://www.homecarehipaaresources.com August
22 – Met
with a coalition of organizations interested in developing strategies
for improving Colorado’s Medicaid program. Also attended meeting of
the Legislative Joint Budget Committee
where the state’s budget shortfall was discussed. Then attended
celebratory luncheon with members of the consumer group ADAPT whose
14-day demonstration on the lawn in front of HCPF helped restore home
health rates. This was followed by a meeting with U.S.
Senator Wayne Allard who continues to support elimination of the
pending 15 percent reimbursement cut for Medicare home health services. August
23 – Met
with HCPF Executive Director Karen Reinertson
who agreed to work with HCAC on the long term home health PAR process,
Private Duty Nursing rate methodology, the transition from 120 to 60 day
definition of acute care clients; informal reviews of repayment
requests, and agency discharge letters. August
27 – HCAC
Reimbursement/Regulatory Council met with representatives from Total
Longterm Care which has been designated as Denver’s new Single
Entry Point agency. TLC committed to helping HCAC improve the PAR
process. Also met with Health Facilities
Division Director Ellen Mangione, MD; Deputy Director Jim Hamlin; and
Cathy Davenport regarding survey issues. (This meeting occurs
every two months and members are encouraged to submit concerns to the
association office.) August
28 – Attended
meeting called by Colorado Foundation for
Medical Care regarding CMS’s new Home Health Quality
Initiative. Home health agencies are invited to participate. If
interested call Geri Fahrenbrink at (303) 695-3300 x3138. August
29 – Represented
the home care community at a gathering to honor Medicaid Director Richard
Allen upon his retirement from HCPF. Allen left the department
after 25 years of service. That
was August! Watch
for more details in the next issue of the
management report! VISIT HCAC’S WEB SITE TODAY! www.hcaconline.org This
e-news is brought to you as a benefit of your membership in
the Home Care Association of Colorado |
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Home Care Association of Colorado
Last edited by cjf on 08/17/05 |