PPS PLUS University

MedPAC report on home health services. MedPAC made its annual report to Congress on Medicare Payment Policy earlier this month. According to the report, access to home health is readily available to beneficiaries. The number of beneficiaries using home health services is steadily increasing. The demand for services has also led to an increase in agencies providing home care services. MedPAC reports that the average cost per episode increased by less than one percent yielding a margin for freestanding agencies of over 16 percent. Since cost per episode is low, MedPAC recommends to Congress that the update to payment rates for home health services in 2008 should be eliminated. The complete report may be viewed at: http://www.medpac.gov/publications/congr

National Home Care & Hospice Policy Conference set for April 22 – 25. This year’s conference will be held in Washington, DC. The conference will provide the latest regulatory and legislative information impacting the home health industry. An entire day will also be set aside to address legal issues in hospice and home care. For more information: http://www.nahc.org/Meetings/Pol/07/welcome.htm

Hotel reservations are now being accepted for NAHC's Annual Meeting. The NAHC annual meeting will be held in Denver, CO this year October 6-10. Hotel reservations at the prime locations fill up quickly so we recommend making your reservations early. You may contact the housing bureau by phone 800-880-9047 or fax your housing reservation form to the bureau. For more information and to obtain a copy of the form: http://www.nahc.org/Meetings/am/07/hotel.htm

CMS Open Door Forum scheduled for Wednesday, April 25th. This forum is specifically focused on topics involving home health, hospice, and durable medical equipment providers. Past forums have covered home health PPS, competitive bidding for DME and the Medicare Hospice benefit. To register and learn more about the forum: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/17_ODF_HHHDME.asp

HIPAA National Provider Identifier (NPI) Rule deadline is May 23, 2007. All covered entities must be in compliance with the NPI provisions by the stated deadline. The NPI Final Rule requires covered entities to submit the NPI on standard electronic transactions effective May 23, 2007, regardless of the date of service. The only exception is small plans which must be in compliance by May 23, 2008. Providers are urged to obtain their NPI today to avoid possible disruptions in cash flow later. CMS is offering a training package on NPI that will help educate providers and staff. More information: http://www.cms.hhs.gov
House passes budget bill without Medicare and Medicaid reductions. The bill passed by the House last month approved a $2.9 trillion fiscal year budget resolution without the millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid cuts proposed by President Bush in his budget. A final budget is expected to be negotiated with the Senate by May 1st.
The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s Disease increasing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This is a 10% increase over the last count conducted in 2002. The figures report that one in eight people 65 and older have the disease, and one in two people over 85. The report also states that the Medicare spends nearly three times as much for dementia patients’ care ($13,207) as the average beneficiary ($4,454). For more information: http://www.alz.org/

National Nurses Day is May 6th. According to the Department of Labor, there are 2.7 million licensed RNs in the United States along with 700,000 LPNs, 600,000 Home Health Aides, and 1.4 million nurses’ aides. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2004 that registered nurses top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002 to 2012. National Nurses Day opens National Nurses Week (May 6 -12). For more information and a media kit: http://nursingworld.org/pressrel/nnw/nnwfacts.htm