{"id":5988,"date":"2020-12-14T15:26:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T21:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.amityhealthcaregroup.com\/?p=5988"},"modified":"2025-07-04T04:06:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T10:06:22","slug":"december-11th-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.amityhealthcaregroup.com\/?p=5988","title":{"rendered":"Issue date: December 11th, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, everyone!<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0HAPPY HANUKKAH!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some home health related updates for this week:<\/p>\n

AMITY\u2019S NEWS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Next available CNA\/HHA and Skilled Nursing Competency\u00a0 is Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 and Thursday, December 17th, 2020. <\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to register your Skilled Nurses and\/or HHAs\/CNAs for a competency, please follow the links below: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Skilled Nursing Competency: https:\/\/staging.amityhealthcaregroup.com\/services\/nursing-competencies\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HHA\/CNA Competency:\u00a0 https:\/\/staging.amityhealthcaregroup.com\/services\/cna-hha-competency\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let Amity Healthcare Group to assist you with staying compliant with competency and ongoing training\/continued education requirements in a worry-free manner. <\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information, please call 303-690-2749 or email: ig@amityhealthcaregroup.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

NATIONAL NEWS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Important Dates to Remember<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

January 1, 2021 is just around the corner. Please remember the following important changes that are coming on January 1, 2021:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Home Infusion Therapy<\/strong>:\u00a0 As the result of provisions of the Cures Act, beginning on January 1, 2021 there will be a new Medicare benefit \u2013 Home Infusion Therapy(HIT). With the introduction of HIT, the professional services related to the provision of Part B infusion drugs via IV pump will no longer be covered under the Medicare home health benefit<\/strong>. As the result, if your organization is not accredited as a Home Infusion Therapy provider, you will no longer be able to accept patients who require administration of Part B IV drugs via IV pump (please note that only<\/u> administration of drugs via IV Pump is effected<\/strong>). If you have current patients on service who require administration of Part B IV drugs via IV pump, consider a plan to transition these patients to accredited HIT providers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Please see attached Home Infusion Therapy fact sheet and FAQ provided by NAHC<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Home Health No Pay RAPs<\/strong> : Home Health Agencies will be required to submit a request for anticipated payment (RAP) that will be paid at 0%, prior to each claim.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Penalty for a Delayed RAP<\/strong>: The No Pay RAP must be submitted and accepted into the system within 5 calendar days after the start of care date for the first 30\u2010day period of care in a 60\u2010day certification period and within 5 calendar days after the \u201cfrom date\u201d for the second 30\u2010day period of care in the 60\u2010day certification period.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Please see attached No Pay RAP fact sheet and FAQ provided by NAHC<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

        Most Common Home Health Claims Reasons for Denials<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

        Resource: CGS Administrators, LLC\u00a0 C2C Demo, originated November 2020<\/em><\/p>\n

        CGS published review of denials (most common reasons for denials) for the month of October, 2020. GGS prepares this information as a tool to assist providers in reducing the number of denials. Please utilize the information below for staff training and education, as may be appropriate.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Home Health – Documentation did not support the need for skilled services (88.89%)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          For any home health services to be covered by Medicare, the patient must meet the qualifying criteria as specified in \u00a730<\/strong>, including having a need for skilled nursing care on an intermittent basis (\u00a740.1, \u00a740.1.1)<\/strong>, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, or a continuing need for occupational therapy as defined in \u00a740.2 <\/strong>and\u00a0 \u00a740.2.1<\/strong>.\u00a0 Skilled nursing services are necessary only when (a) the particular patient\u2019s special medical complications require the skills of a registered nurse or, when provided by regulation, a licensed practical nurse to perform a type of service that would otherwise be considered non-skilled; or (b) the needed services are of such complexity that the skills of a registered nurse or, when provided by regulation, a licensed practical nurse are required to furnish the services. The service must be so inherently complex that it can be safely and effectively performed only by, or under the supervision of, professional or technical personnel as provided by regulation, including 42 C.F.R. 409.32<\/strong>.\u00a0 A patient’s overall medical condition, without regard to whether the illness or injury is acute, chronic, terminal, or expected to extend over a long period of time, should be considered in deciding whether skilled services are needed. A patient’s diagnosis should never be the sole factor in deciding that a service the patient needs is either skilled or not skilled. Skilled care may, depending on the unique condition of the patient, continue to be necessary for patients whose condition is stable.<\/p>\n

          The home health clinical notes must document as appropriate:<\/p>\n