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COVID-19 Resource Center
HOME HEALTH and HOSPICE: HHS Announces 45-Day Compliance Deadline Extension for Providers, NAHC List Serve, May 22, 2020--The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on May 22, 2020 there will be a 45 day deadline extension for providers who are receiving payments from the Provider Relief Fund to accept the Terms and Conditions for Provider Relief Fund payments. This announcement means providers have now been granted 90 days from the date they received a payment to accept HHS Terms and Conditions or return the funds. All providers who have received Provider Relief Fund payments must agree to the program Terms and Conditions if they wish to keep the funds.
HOME HEALTH and HOSPICE: FDA Update on Antibody Tests, NHPCO COVID Polciy Update, May 21, 2020-- FDA on Thursday (May 21) listed 27 COVID-19 antibody tests that no longer are on the market under FDA’s March 16 policy that allowed tests to be marketed and distributed without FDA authorization as long as the manufacturers notified the agency. The list includes tests that were voluntarily withdrawn by the manufacturers, as well as those for which there are no pending Emergency Use Authorization requests or issued EUAs. The tests on the removal list will not be marketed or distributed, FDA says. The agency expects the list will continue to be updated.
HOME HEALTH and HOSPICE: From Headaches to ‘COVID Toes,’ Coronavirus Symptoms Are a Bizarre Mix, NHPCO COVID-19 Update, May 20, 2020--The new coronavirus that has infected millions of people around the globe can wreak havoc far beyond the lungs. Some of the symptoms of the disease it causes, COVID-19, are predictable enough: cough, fever, chills, headache. But the pathogen’s effects by no means stop there. Visit the website for Scientific American to learn more.
HOME HEALTH: RESOLVED: Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) Issued in Error for Pre-Claim Review Home Health Agencies, Palmetto GBA List Serve, May 20, 2020--A brief system issue caused fewer than 500 claims to go into Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) status (SB6001) on or about May 15, 2020. All of the claims that did into ADR status were released on or about May 19, 2020, and are now processing. Home health agencies that had claims go into ADR status or downloaded/received an ADR(s) should not respond and disregard the ADR. No provider action is needed.
HOSPICE: Medicare 2% Sequestration Suspension and the Hospice Aggregate Cap, NHPCO NewsBriefs, May 21, 2020-- As previously reported, Section 3709 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act suspended the 2% payment adjustment currently applied to all Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) claims due to sequestration.
Hospices that do not have a CAP liability will realize a two percent (2%) increase in Medicare payments for services rendered on or after May 1, 2020. Likewise, CAP hospices will realize a two percent (2%) increase as well.
HOSPICE and PALLIATIVE CARE: OCHCH Recives Grant to Provide Education to Improve Veteran Care—Recently OCHCH submitted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to NHPCO/We Honor Vets, for a grant to provide Trauma Informed Care education to Hospice and Palliative Care staff. OCHCH was one of 13 associations across the nation who were awarded a grant to do this important work.
OCHCH will partner with Hospice and Palliative Care providers, VA Medical Centers and local VA support groups to work together to improve Veteran Care. Trauma Informed Care for Vets education will be offered in June 2020 to Hospice and Palliative Care staff. More details about this education will be coming soon.
>>>RCD/PDGM UPDATES –
AT THIS TIME OCHCH IS NOT SCHEDULING ANY WEEKLY PDGM/RCD CALLS.
If you have PDGM or RCD QUESTIONS PLEASE SEND THEM TO helpdesk@ochch.org
Use PDGM or RCD as the subject title.
If you need OCHCH to contact Palmetto GBA regarding a PCR NON-AFFIRMATION,
Please e-mail a short description and the UTN and your provider number.
DO NOT e-mail any info that could be non-compliant with the HIPAA regulations
Please check out the toolkits for PDGM and also RCD
>>>RCD UPDATES –
NEW: Option to Stay in PCR, Palmetto GBA – For Home Health providers participating in the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD), you will now have the option to keep Pre-Claim Review (PCR) as your review choice for future cycles. This will avoid having to reselect PCR for each selection cycle. Providers can withdraw from this option and still change to another review choice in a future cycle.
New: RCD Tip: PCR Task Signed Documentation, Palmetto GBA – The Medical Review (MR) team has noticed an increased number of providers in Pre-Claim Review (PCR) who are submitting documentation (plan of care, therapy orders, etc.) that are not signed. As a reminder, for tasks 1 through 4, a signature is required. Documents submitted without a proper physician signature will result in a non-affirmation. Oral orders must be countersigned and dated by the physician before the home health agency submits the final bill.
We Are Going Green with RCD Cycle Results eLetters, Palmetto GBA – Palmetto GBA is going green with RCD Cycle Results eLetters. We will send home health agencies their RCD Cycle Results via eLetter in eServices. Please review and share with your staff.
RCD Tip: Using the Correct Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN), Palmetto GBA – If you are a part of a Home Health Agency (HHA) with more than one location and multiple PTANs, please make sure you are using the correct PTAN when submitting Pre-claim Review (PCR) requests.
RCD for Ohio’s Home Health Services Has Been PAUSED
Ohio Providers Transition to Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) Cycle Two, Palmetto GBA – Beginning May 1, 2020, you will be able to choose the next round’s review option. Typically, the selection period is open for a two-week period. Due to the current Public Health Emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19, the last day to make a selection has not yet been determined. Palmetto GBA will announce the last day to make a selection as soon as possible on their website and via email update. If you are not signed up for the Palmetto GBA email updates, please visit https://tinyurl.com/GetListserv to sign up.
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