WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 19, 2020)—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has joined a prestigious group of like-minded organizations urging the United States Senate to include Medicaid Home and Community Based Services in the next COVID-19 relief package.
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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 19, 2020)—As noted last week, HHS opened the application portal for CARES Act relief for Medicaid/CHIP-only providers. The new round of relief is for health care providers who have directly billed their state Medicaid/CHIP programs or Medicaid managed care plans between Jan.
Bram Sable-Smith, Wisconsin Public Radio, June 17, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Stacy Ellingen, 34, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, lost two of the three caregivers she depends on to dress, shower, eat and use the bathroom. The caregivers — both University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh students — returned to their parents’ homes when the university canceled in-person classes.
Washington D.C. (June 17, 2020)—As Congress prepares another COVID-19 relief package, a major association of care providers for older Americans launched a nationwide “Act For Older Adults” campaign to demand that it include comprehensive relief measures to safeguard older adults and care workers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2020)—While there are undoubtedly new challenges that all providers have had to deal with during this public health emergency (PHE), some hospices have dealt with exceptional challenges in serving residents of facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living, etc.).
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 12, 2020)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has earmarked $15 billion in relief funding for health care providers serving patients under Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs.
Editor's note: This article will be updated with new information about the novel coronavirus outbreak as it relates to home health, home medical equipment and the aging-in-place community as we receive it. Please make sure you check homecaremag.com/coronavirus for longer articles, news releases and other updates on a daily basis. Note that date stamps are Central time.
Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News
Doctors are fighting not only to save lives from COVID-19, but also to protect patients’ brains.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2020)—On June 2, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to modify aspects of various innovation models being administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) in response to COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).
SAN FRANCISCO (June 8, 2020)—There are 13 million pushes of passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) in North America each year, according to surveys conducted by WHILL, a mobility service company. At $45-$60 a push, this adds up. Add in the current COVID-19 pandemic with social distancing guidelines, PRM operation is difficult to manage.
Exploring rehab in the COVID-19 world
WATERLOO, Iowa (June 5, 2020)—VGM & Associates have released three new resources to help members navigate the new business climate post-PHE. These resources include the latest edition of the VGM playbook, a remote guide to help members transition into a virtual working environment, and a re-opening checklist to help businesses prepare for the new environment.
BRADENTON, Fla, (June 5, 2020)—Tyton Design & Development, originally a wheelchair accessory manufacturer, announced that they are focusing on providing facemasks throughout the United States. Due to recent events, the average person is at a loss to find proper protection during the pandemic. Tyton decided to do its part for the community, and now the nation. Already providing thousands of masks across Florida, Tyton decided to open its doors to individuals across all fifty states.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (June 5, 2020)—QS/1 announced the launch of the iQ Virtual Series. This online educational experience will take the place of the much anticipated 2020 iQ Conference, canceled earlier this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The iQ Virtual Series will offer product training, industry education, continuing education credits, and provide an ongoing educational platform for QS/1 customers.
Building a solid telehealth program starts with getting the word out
Preparing for the worst
BIRMINGAM, Ala. (June 2, 2020)—The coronavirus crisis has not had a huge impact on M&A activity, said Mertz-Taggart, a health care services M&A firm in their quarterly update. Rather, Q2 transactions have been predictably impacted by the Patient Driven Groupings Model.
ASSOCIATED PRESS (June 2, 2020)—Will temperature checks of employees make workplaces safe?
No, not completely. They can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections but shouldn’t be the only safety measure employers take.
Some employers are following White House guidelines to screen workers for a fever with daily temperature checks to help prevent the spread of infections.
AAHomecare advocates for HME industry
Working to protect & serve CRT users during and after the pandemic
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (May 29, 2020)—3B Medical is pleased to announce completion of independent lab testing of Lumin used to decontaminate an N95 respirator. Lumin, a UV sanitizer, has a measured UVC irradiance output of roughly 2,000 mJ/cm2, well in excess of the dose requirement to kill most bacteria and viruses. This latest test study by Microchem utilized an N95 respirator inoculated with Human Coronavirus.
Shore up your defenses against risks of all kind
LAS VEGAS (May 27, 2020)—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Home Care & Hospice Financial Managers Association have decided to hold the Financial Management Conference (FMC) as a virtual meeting in July 2020. While the association was looking forward to seeing members in person in Las Vegas, the safety of guests is the paramount concern, so the conference has been moved online.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2020)—AAHomecare is currently working on comments for the Interim Final Rule (IFR), Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 public health emergency that was published on April 6, 2020. This IFR provided relief on coverage for respiratory products and allows non-physician healthcare professionals to prescribe DME under Medicaid.
Back home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Richard and Denise Victor would get to see their four grandchildren almost every day. One set of kids lives around the block; the others are half an hour away, all close enough for frequent visits and sleepovers.