Feds show lack of understanding in interpretation, industry says. You may have to change the whole way you do business if the feds stick by a new interpretation of telemarketing fraud for durable medical equipment. In a special fraud alert published in the…

Make sure your staffers get the most out of their in-service time. With OASIS C just beginning and the usual boatload of regulatory, operational, reimbursement, and clinical items needing attention, your training time will be at a premium this year. Make…

You may save money on your travel costs, depending on how you reimburse your staff. Your visiting staff are likely feeling the pinch when they head to the gas pump. The average U.S. price for gas is $2.74 per gallon, according…

A big chunk of your Medicare hospice payments could be at stake. If you wait for medical reviewers to ferret out your problems with the new physician hospice narrative requirement, you could be in a world of hurt payment-wise. Hospices actually seem…

Messed up certs translate to denied claims. The attestation statement for the physician hospice narrative is the latest threat to your hospice certification and billing, but it’s far from the only one. Be on guard to discover these common cert mistakes…

Industry points finger at confusing, overly complex documentation rules. You may think the seat can’t get any hotter for durable medical equipment suppliers, but the HHS Office of Inspector General just turned the heat up another notch. Three out of five…

High fraud profile makes home care providers’ uphill battle tougher. As lawmakers in Washington, D.C. continue to battle over the health care reform package, home care providers are working hard to keep the fallout from harming them and their patients. Senate…

Tip: You’re not off the hook if the breach is your vendor’s fault. Using electronic health records may cut costs and reduce errors, but they also can increase your compliance risks – and scrutiny from the feds. Wake-up call: You are accountable for…

Also, expect longer wait for outpatient therapy claim payments. The January Medicare claims system update has fixed a number of home health claims problems that were outstanding, regional home health intermediaries report. Claims affected by some of the problems are now processing…

Broad definition of ownership change could sweep your agency into Medicare’s newly enlarged fraud and abuse net. The feds are trying to cut down on home health agency flips, but thanks to some new rules your agency could get stuck in…