WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim file rule with comment period (IFC) which includes pertinent regulatory revisions for long term care (LTC) facilities in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Homecare
HomeCare magazine knows that the coronavirus outbreak will impact almost every aspect of how homecare businesses operate. This page is a way to stay abreast of the latest developments surrounding the virus as it affects home health agencies, home medical equipment providers and the aging in place community. We’ll post news updates, industry developments, evolving risks and online resources as we become aware of them, so check in regularly for up-to-date information.
LOS ANGELES, (September 1, 2020)—The City of Los Angeles Department of Aging and Element3 Health jointly announced the launch of the End Loneliness Initiative, a collaboration aimed at curtailing the rise of social isolation and loneliness in older adults that is growing in the face of ongoing "shelter in place" measures. Loneliness and isolation had been a significant factor in older adults' health before COVID-19 and has been exacerbated by the ongoing crisis.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 28, 2020)—The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) submitted a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar on the need for clear and timely guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to state Medicaid and CHIP programs when HHS elects to end the current public health emergency (PHE).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 28, 2020)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new targeted distribution of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund that allocates funds to providers that treat uninsured patients during this public health emergency, in April. This funding allows providers that serviced uninsured patients on or after Feb. 4, 2020 to receive payment at Medicare allowables.
NAHC to CMS: Roll Back 2020 Rate Adjustment Based on Faulty Prediction of HHA Behavior
WASHIGNTON, D.C. (August 25, 2020)—Providers were expecting to receive quarterly reporting instructions from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on Aug. 17, for funds received under the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) program. However, HHS has announced a delay in this information as they are still refining data elements and formulating a template to be used for reporting. The reporting system is still expected to be available Oct. 1, 2020.
SPRINGFIELD, N.J., (August 25, 2020)—Seniors In Place, a health care service firm, has opened its first COVID-19 testing center, giving its certified home health aides and registered nurses critical access to being tested. Seniors In Place is one of a very few home health aide agencies in New Jersey with its own testing center.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 25, 2020)—Sanitation and disinfection are top of mind as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues. For SoClean, the company behind the CPAP sanitizer of the same name, sanitation is getting kicked up a notch with new products to clean the home. CEO Bob Wilkins shares with us.
Managing senior care through technology
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (August 18, 2020)—Millennials are financially impacted the most during COVID-19. A new healthinsurance.com multigenerational survey polled millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers about their perspectives on everything from health care and the economy to technology and social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GARDENA, Calif. — Daisy Conant, 91, thrives off routine.
One of her favorites is reading the newspaper with her morning coffee. But, lately, the news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has been more agitating than pleasurable. “We’re dropping like flies,” she said one recent morning, throwing her hands up.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (August 14, 2020)—A trio of Representatives from Florida have sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concerns with the decision to move forward with the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) program in Florida.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 12, 2020)—The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has a COVID-19 Portal covering various COVID-19 topics. Among them is a set of FAQs that is updated periodically.
TAMPA, Fla. (August 12, 2020)—The 2020 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo, originally planned for Tampa, Florida, will be a virtual event this year. The Conference is scheduled to take place the week of October 19, 2020 and registration will open later in August.
BILLINGS, Mont. (August 12, 2020)—Computers Unlimited, developers of TIMS Software for the home medical equipment industry, has formally announced that it will continue its annual Users Group Conference this September, moving it to a virtual experience, due to COVID-19 concerns.
California lawmakers are barreling toward an end-of-month deadline to pass or kill bills amid the biggest public health crisis the state has faced in a century.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an application deadline extension for the Phase 2 general distribution to Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and dental providers, as part of an effort to provide financial relief to health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 7, 2020)—Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) introduced the COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020 (S. 4423), designed to establish additional flexibilities related to delivery of respite care services during public health emergencies (PHEs) such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Mobile applications can make feedback instant & easy to implement
When equipment absolutely has to be there
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 4, 2020)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Provider Relief Fund changes reopening applications for Medicare-based relief funding and extending the Medicaid-based relief application deadline.
By Kristin Easterling
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 4, 2020)—Home health providers are working to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and with more patients choosing the home setting, home health agencies need the tools to manage their employees. HomeCare set down with Matt Fairhurst, CEO of Skedulo to talk about interoperability in the age of coronavirus.
