Monthly Archives: November 2020
Nurse Registry – not just Home Health Agency “Lite”
The nurse registry (NR) business model has evolved a great deal in CCG’s 20 years of business. In our early days, the NR was a faster, cheaper-to-run alternative to the home health agency model, and still allowed for the provision … Read Full Post
There is Room for Home Care in Hospital-at-Home Programs
CMS recently announced “unprecedented flexibilities” in providing acute hospital care for patients in the home, but the concept of “hospital at home programs” isn’t new at all. Johns Hopkins in Baltimore has operated such a program since 1994 and found … Read Full Post
WWR – Kaiser agrees to pay $6.4 million to settle claims it received inflated Medicare Advantage payments
Kaiser joins the undignified ranks of the companies investigated for committing fraud. This timely article from Healthcare Finance News doesn’t use that word, but it describes the finding that Kaiser “knowingly submitted” false diagnoses to inflate its payments, which is … Read Full Post
What We’re Reading – Employees are eager to get back to the workplace—if it’s safe
We were a little surprised to read a recent article stating that more than half the respondents to a survey are ready to return to the workplace. It seems they miss interacting with co-workers (55%) while another 43% look forward … Read Full Post
What We’re Reading – During COVID, holiday gift-giving can be HR’s ‘time to shine’
This year has rocked the workplace like no other, and although we’re probably all glad to see 2020 end, the issue of holiday traditions looms large. Many companies of all sizes are foregoing expensive holiday parties this year for many … Read Full Post
E/M Codes Are A-Changin’ for 2021
Evaluation & Management codes, which have long been the bane of physicians and billers, determine the payment for the most common outpatient medical services. Each E/M code level corresponds to an expected fee, and historically, code selection has depended on … Read Full Post
What We’re Reading – The Average Cost of Hospital Care for COVID-19
Wide variations in hospital costs for COVID-19 patients were discussed in an article from Healthcare Finance News. The author cited claims research from February through August and revealed the average cost of hospital care varied by age and length of … Read Full Post
Independent Contractor Guidelines are Changing
The Fair Labor Standards Act, enacted in 1938, requires – among other things – employers to pay their employees overtime for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek; this rule does not apply to individuals who work as independent … Read Full Post
Penalty for Delayed RAP Submission in 2021
In an earlier blog, we briefly touched on the challenges for the home health industry this year and the news just keeps getting – er – worse. For those who may not know, the Request for Anticipated Payment (RAP), which … Read Full Post