Also in this week`s HCP Insider... - New York State Association of
Transcription
Also in this week`s HCP Insider... - New York State Association of
January 4, 2013 13-01 Wage Theft Deadlines, HCP Session Advocacy to Eliminate Annual Notice Requirements 2 State Remains on Track to Expand Mandatory MLTC Enrollment in January 3 LTHHCP Enrollment Remains a Statewide Option for Now; DOH Issues Clarification on 1915(c) LTHHCP Waiver 5 Also in this week’s HCP Insider... Updated MLTC Application Tracking Document Available............................................................. 3 Maximus/NY Medicaid Choice Consumer Contact Information............................................. 4 Recording of UAS-NY Overview Webinar Available.... 4 HHS Issues Tips on Securing Health Information on Mobile Devices................................................ 5 HCP Managed Care Survey on Payment Issues........ 5 IRS Proposed Regulations on Employer Shared Responsibility for Health Coverage Released............ 6 CMS Open Door Forum Scheduled for Jan. 9........... 6 NYS Medicaid Update - December 2012................. 6 MLN Matters....................................................... 7 Fiscal Cliff Spares Home Care; Addresses Physician Cut; Sequestration Still to Come.............. 8 DOH Issues DAL on Hurricane Sandy Respiratory Health and Related Illness Information.... 8 Emergency Rule Consolidates MMC Regs................ 9 HCP Chapter Public Policy Briefings........................ 9 Contributors Christy Johnston, President, ext. 813 Catherine M. Tully, Senior Policy Advisor, ext. 811 Megan Tangjerd, Associate for Public Policy, ext. 818 Claudia Hammar, Senior Vice President, ext. 809 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] HCP, 20 Corporate Woods Blvd, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12211 518.463.1118 fax 518.463.1606 www.nyshcp.org The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance Wage Theft Deadlines, HCP Session Advocacy to Eliminate Annual Notice Requirement As required under the Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2010 (the “Act”), which went into effect on April 9, 2011, employers must provide all employees with an annual notice of wages by February 1 of each year. HCP to Push for Legislative Relief Again in 2013 From its initial passage in 2010, HCP voiced its opposition to the Act’s annual notice requirements, citing that, while well-intentioned, the provisions within the Act are costly and burdensome for home care agencies, requiring them to incur ongoing costs associated with education and legal guidance, training of human resources workers, updating recordkeeping and payroll systems, and securing additional space for record retention. At the start of the 2012 Legislative Session, HCP worked with Senator John A. DeFransisco (R- Syracuse) and Assembly Member Dennis A. Gabryszak (D- Cheektowaga) to introduce legislation that would repeal the Act’s onerous annual notice requirement. The legislation passed the Senate in late February; however, as the 2012 session came to a close, the bill remained in the Assembly Labor Committee. HCP has been in contact with the bill’s sponsors, and all parties are ready to push for a quick introduction of new legislation in the 2013 Legislative Session. HCP will work with retained lobbyists Weingarten, Reid & McNally to advocate for its passage and ask HCP members to do so as well. Notice Requirements Notices must include the employee’s rate(s) of pay, designated pay day, the employer’s intent to claim allowances (like tip or meal allowances) as part of the minimum wage, and the basis of wage payment (whether paying by hour, shift, day, week, piece, etc.), as well as the official name of the employer and any other names used for business (DBA) and the address and phone number of the employer’s main office or principal location. Notices must be provided to employees at the time of hiring, annually on or before February 1st of each year of employment, and within 7 days of a wage change if the change is not listed on the employee’s pay stub for the following pay period. The notice must be provided in the employee’s primary language, as identified by the employee. Employers must have each employee sign and date the completed notice. Employers must provide a copy to each employee. The HCP Insider is published weekly for the sole benefit of HCP members. Copyright © 2013 New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The HCP Insider • New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. • 20 Corporate Woods Blvd., 2nd Floor • Albany, NY 12211 • 518.463.1118 • [email protected] The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance Template notices in several languages are available on the Department of Labor’s website at http://www.labor. ny.gov/formsdocs/wp/ellsformsandpublications.shtm. Updated MLTC Application Tracking Document Available A Wage Theft Questions and Answers (Q&A) document is also available at http://www.labor.ny.gov/ workerprotection/laborstandards/PDFs/wage-theftprevention-act-faq.pdf. The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has posted an updated Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) program application tracking document to the MRT website. State Still on Track to Expand Mandatory MLTC Enrollment in January The excel spreadsheet, which is available at http://www.health. ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/ docs/2012-12-19_master_new_app_ tracking.pdf, provides information on the status of new programs seeking approval, expansions to existing programs and pending applications. This week, New York State Department of Health (DOH) officials provided the first update of the new year on the State’s transition to mandatory managed long term care (MLTC). The call was mainly focused on stakeholder questions; however, Director of Long Term Care Mark Kissinger provided the following implementation updates: • The MLTC transition begins, as anticipated, in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties this month. No announcement letters have been mailed yet in these regions; DOH staff reported that letters to eligible personal care recipients are expected to begin going out mid-month. The transition in these regions will take place county-wide, not by zip code as was the case in New York City. • In addition to personal care recipients, eligible individuals residing in New York City and in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties who receive private duty nursing (PDN), adult day health care, consumer directed personal assistance or Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) long term care services will also begin receiving announcement letters this month. • The State’s request to amend its 1915(c ) Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) waiver, which will permit it to make mandatory the transition of eligible LTHHCP service recipients to MLTC, is still pending approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). DOH staff emphasized that until Federal approval is received, the LTHHCP remains a viable option for eligible consumers. (See related article on page 5) • Maximus has reported to DOH that approximately 19,800 mandatory letters have been mailed to personal care recipients in New York City to date, with 953 individuals having been auto-assigned to a MLTC plan. The State’s enrollment broker continues to move through the eligible population in New York City—and hopes to have completed the transition in that region by the end of 2013. • As reported on recent MLTC implementation conference calls, additional MLTC plan approvals are upcoming. While DOH staff had no approval announcements to make on the call, the list will include new plans, additional lines of business for current plans, and expansions of alreadyapproved plans into additional counties. • DOH posted updated contracting documents to the MRT website on December 27. As detailed in a DOH memo to MLTC plans, both the Standard Clauses for Care Management Administrative Services Contract and the Care Management Administrative Services Contract Guidelines for MLTC Plans have been revised as follows: • Section I of the CMAS Contract Guidelines identifies an effective date as September 1, 2012. That date is corrected to December 1, 2012. A typographical error is also corrected. • Section III of the CMAS Contract Guidelines for MLTC Plans contains mandatory contract provisions that are replicated in the CMAS Standard Clauses. A number of edits to Section III of the Guidelines were not extended to the applicable item in the Standard Clauses document. The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance The majority of the call was dedicated to Q&A, with discussion focused on several hot button issues, Including: Maximus/NY Medicaid Choice Consumer Contact Information • Some callers noted that coding issues are being experienced, particularly among nursing home Consumers who receive mandatory discharges and spend-down cases. Participants on managed long term care (MLTC) the call voiced the problem as a continuity of care enrollment notices are directed in those issue that puts clients at risk. DOH responded that communications to contact the State’s the problem has been identified and that Maximus enrollment broker, Maximus/ New York has completed training with the MLTC plans and Medicaid Choice, for more information HRA partners on proper coding procedures. The and to get answers to any questions they issue, however, is a Medicaid eligibility issue, under may have. the authority of HRA. HRA is the entity that must modify the code so that plan enrollment may be Several HCP members have requested successful, so providers experiencing similar issues the consumer contact information for should contact their local Medicaid eligibility office. Maximus to provide to inquiring clients: DOH encouraged those with similar experiences to share specific details through mltcworkgroup@ New York Medicaid Choice health.state.ny.us. 1.888.401.6582 or TTY • Related to the news that eligible PDN, adult 1.888.329.1541 day health care, consumer directed personal Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 8:00 pm assistance, and CHHA long term care service Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm recipients will begin the process of transitioning to mandatory MLTC this month, participants on the call questioned the process of determining eligibility for individuals in those programs. It was Recording of UAS-NY Overview shared that depending on the program, eligibility will be determined through either a retrospective look at Webinar Available claims data (CHHA and Adult Day Health) or looking at prior authorizations (PDN and personal care). The Department of Health has • Stakeholders also inquired how “mutual households” posted a recording of the Uniform are to be handled under MLTC. For instance, in Assessment System for Long Term a household where one consumer is eligible for Care in New York State (UAS-NY) mandatory MLTC and one is excluded, how will the Overview Webinar held December 14, situation be handled? DOH responded that there is no 2012. Final modifications on the systematic solution in place and that situations would new assessment tool are currently need to be resolved on a case-by-case basis. Providers underway, with implementation should work with the MLTC plan, CASA and HRA in throughout the State expected to these instances. With the MLTC transition policy in begin this year. DOH anticipates the New York City set to expire on March 1, 2013—which Statewide transition to be completed would also eliminate the requirement that MLTC plans by Spring 2014 (HCP Insider, reimburse the agencies they contract with at their 12/14/12). former HRA rate—many on the call questioned whether DOH is considering extending the policy. Kissinger said To access the webinar recording, that no decision has been made, and that DOH will be click here. assessing the outcomes of the policy and likely won’t make a decision until March. Affected stakeholders are To view the PowerPoint presentation encouraged to provide their input and may do so by from the webinar, click here. emailing [email protected]. Upcoming MLTC implementation conference calls will take place on a bi-weekly basis. Conference call details and call-in information is available on the MRT website at http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/ medicaid/redesign/supplemental_info_mrt_proposals.htm. It was noted that while there was a hotline for consumer complaints, there is no email account. DOH indicated that until a dedicated complaint email account is created, complaints may be emailed directly to [email protected] with “complaint” in the subject line. Please contact Megan Tangjerd with questions. The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance LTHHCP Enrollment Remains a Statewide Option for Now; DOH Issues Clarification on 1915(c) LTHHCP Waiver The Department of Health (DOH) has provided clarification regarding continued access and services available under the 1915(c) Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) waiver in relation to the State’s plan for implementation of mandatory Managed Long Term Care (MLTC). The letter, dated December 20, 2012 and available by clicking here, states that current LTHHCP services to enrolled participants and enrollment of new waiver participants will continue Statewide until Federal approval on the State’s proposed amendments to its 1915(c) LTHHCP waiver and the Partnership 1115 wavier is received from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). DOH had hoped to get approval before the close of 2012; however, the State’s request is still pending as the new year begins. Once the proposed waiver amendments, which were submitted to CMS on June 13, 2013, are approved, the State will be able to begin to “shut the door” on the LTHHCP. At that time, new LTHHCP enrollments will cease in counties with mandatory MLTC and current enrollees will begin transitioning to MLTC. This process will continue as MLTC is made mandatory in additional counties throughout the State, as sufficient capacity is established. HCP Managed Care Survey on Payment Issues: Responses Needed! A key issue identified by members of HCP’s newly established managed care work groups is that of securing proper payment/ reimbursement from managed care organizations or managed long term care (MLTC) plans. Many providers are already experiencing significant cash flow issues, with more expected as the transition moves forward. HHS Issues Tips on Securing Health Information on Mobile Devices A new educational initiative, Mobile Devices: Know the RISKS. Take the STEPS. PROTECT and SECURE Health Information, has been launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Educational resources for health care providers and organizations include practical tips on ways to protect patients’ protected health information when using mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and smart phones. Visit www.HealthIT.gov/mobiledevices for more information, tips, and steps on protecting and securing health information when using a mobile device. Did you miss CHC’s Webinar Regulation on Limits on Executive Compensation & Administrative Expenses? This webinar is available for purchase now in the HCP Shoppe! To purchase this program, click here and log in using your HCP user name and password to get the discounted HCP member rate. To best address this critical issue with the Department of Health (DOH), it is important that HCP collect as many specific scenarios as possible to share with Department officials. The more information and details HCP can provide, the better the chance of getting this issue on DOH’s radar as a problem requiring quick action and thoughtful resolution. To assist in this effort, HCP has put together a brief survey asking members to share the payment/ reimbursement/cash flow issues their agencies are experiencing. CLICK HERE to access the survey. Please respond no later than Tuesday, January 8, 2013. Please be as specific as possible when describing the scenarios your agency has encountered in securing payment from managed care organizations or MLTC plans. The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance Thank you in advance for your feedback. HCP will be utilizing the responses received in meetings with DOH, the Administration and Legislators in the coming weeks. CMS Open Door Forum Scheduled for January 9 Please contact Megan Tangjerd with any questions or if you are interested in participating in one of HCP’s managed care work groups—regulatory, payment/ reimbursement, contracting and waivers. The next Home Health, Hospice & Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, January 9, 2013, from 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET. IRS Proposed Regulations on Employer Shared Responsibility for Health Coverage Released On January 2, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) moved forward with the implementation of the employer mandate of the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act (PPACA) with the release of a proposed regulation on shared Responsibility for Employers Regarding Health Coverage. The proposed rule, which reiterates earlier guidance shared last year, speaks to the shared responsibility for employers regarding employee health coverage and would affect only employers that meet the definition of “applicable large employer” as described in these proposed regulations. The proposed rule discusses in section X of the preamble, that employers may rely on these proposed regulations for guidance pending the issuance of final regulations or other applicable guidance. To participate, dial 1.800.837.1935 and use conference ID 78868196. FT/PT Nursing Leadership Opportunities BAYADA Home Health Care has exciting clinical leadership opportunities for Registered Nurses in our Garden City, NY office. Utilize your hands-on clinical expertise while developing management skills. Requirements include: current NY RN license; at least 2 years verifiable clinical experience; home care a plus; supervisory experience a plus. BAYADA provides nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, hospice, and personal home health care services to children, adults, and seniors in the comfort of their homes. We offer competitive salary & benefits. To apply, please apply on line or email your resume to Heather Ratcliffe at hratcliffe@ bayada.com. EOE. HCP will more closely review the regulations and work with HCP Associate members to develop information and education that will be helpful to members as the details of the requirements are released. Public comments on the proposed regulation are due by March 18, 2013. The proposed rule is available on the Federal Register website at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/01/02/201231269/shared-responsibility-for-employers-regarding-health-coverage. New York State Medicaid Update – December 2012 This week the Department of Health (DOH) released the December edition of the New York State Medicaid Update. This edition may be accessed at http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/ program/update/2012/dec12mu.pdf. Highlighted below are some of the articles of interest to the home care community. Care at Home (CAH) III, IV and VI Care Management Providers As previously reported, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the DOH are working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to combine CAH III, IV and VI into a single 1915c waiver program – OPWDD Care at Home Waiver. CMS has not yet approved the The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance consolidation therefore the effective date has changed from January 1, 2012 to April 1, 2013 (pending Federal approval). MLN Matters New: The Update reports that the policy and billing guidelines previously set forth in the November 2012 publication (see HCP Insider, 11/29/12) remain unchanged except for a new implementation date of April 1, 2013. CAH III, IV and VI providers should begin billing for OPWDD Care at Home Waiver services as of April 1, 2013. Children who are currently served under CAH III, CAH IV and CAH VI, who have coverage on April 1, 2013, will be automatically enrolled in the new waiver. There should be no disruption in services. Questions about the new OPWDD Care at Home Waiver can be addressed to OPWDD, Lynda Baum-Jakubiak at 518.474.5647, or the Division of Program Development and Management at 518.473.2160. New York Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Update As of December 14, 2012, the New York Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program has paid over $218 million in Federal incentive funds to over 3,800 New York State hospitals and health care practitioners. MM8154 – Remittance Advice Remark and Claims Adjustment Reason Code, Medicare Remit Easy Print, and PC Print Update http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-andEducation/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/ MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8154.pdf MM8135 – Quarterly Update to the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version 19.0, Effective January 1, 2013 http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-andEducation/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/ MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8135.pdf MM8137 – January 2013 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 14.0 http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-andEducation/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/ MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8137.pdf Revised: MM8005 – Implementing the Claims-Based Data Collection Requirement for Outpatient Therapy Services — Section 3005(g) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Jobs Creation Act (MCTRJCA) of 2012 http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-andEducation/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/ MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8005.pdf The program is currently accepting attestations from eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals (EHs) for both adoption/ implementation/upgrade (in providers’ first year of participation) and meaningful use (for providers’ second participation year). EPs have until March 31, 2013 to attest to MEIPASS for Payment Year 2012 as their first or second participation year. Information on revised EP participation (years one and two) are available via webinars and review enhancements recently made in the MEIPASS application. Eligible providers interested in registering for the New York Medicaid EHR Incentive Program should visit https://www.emedny.org/meipass/ or attend one of the information webinars hosted by the DOH throughout the month of January. Eligibility requirements include being enrolled as a fee-for-service Medicaid provider, having an active ePACES login, and calculating Medicaid eligibility requirements. eMedNY Website to get Facelift During the month of January, DOH and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) will implement changes to the eMedNY website (www.emedny.org). The changes are mostly cosmetic, but DOH and CSC welcome feedback on the new format and suggestions for additional enhancements to the eMedNY website. Please use the contact form located at https://www.emedny.org/contacts/emedny.aspx. The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance CSC Training Schedule and Registration Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) offers free in-person or webinar training sessions for providers and their staff that includes information for claim submission, Medicaid Eligibility Verification, and the eMedNY website. For information on programs visit http:// emedny.org/training/index.aspx or contact the eMedNY Call Center at 800.343.9000. Fiscal Cliff Spares Home Care; Addresses Physician Cut; Sequestration Still to Come Director of Patient Care Services Sunnyside Citywide Home Care Services, Inc./Sunnyside Home Care Project, Inc. seeks a Director of Patient Care Services responsible for the administration of all client services. In the absence of the Associate Executive Director for Home Care, this positon will have overall administrative and clinical responsibility of two home care programs and will be responsible for the administrative management under the Department of Aging (DFTA). Registered Nurse with management experience and home care background preferred. Send resume and cover letter to M. Vitale, HR Director [email protected], or fax to (718) 706-2475. Equal Opportunity Employer. The legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama this week, which averted the economic consequences of the “fiscal cliff” by stopping income tax increases and delaying across-the-board spending cuts, did have some changes to address health care issues, but essentially left Medicare home health alone. As reported by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), in addition to the tax issues addressed, the bill includes the Medicare “doc fix” which saves physicians who treat Medicare patients from a 27.5% cut in their payments for another year. The cost of the “doc fix” will not affect home care or hospice. Other Medicare providers, particularly hospitals, face various payment reductions that will be used to cover the increased spending on physician services, including a $10.5 billion “coding adjustment” that will be in effect from 2014 through 2018 and is intended to recoup past over-billing by hospitals. In the short term, the health care provider industry was not directly affected by the enacted legislation, however the deal only delayed the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester for two months. A comprehensive plan to replace the sequester and reduce the deficit will need to include new revenue in addition to spending cuts. Congress will need to raise the Federal debt ceiling so that government can keep paying its bills. Scrutiny of the Medicare and Medicaid programs and reductions in payments will continue to be on the table and will be the subject of significant advocacy efforts on the part of HCP and other home care organizations throughout the country in the coming year. DOH Issues DAL on Hurricane Sandy Respiratory Health and Related Illness Information On December 12, 2012, a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL: DHCBS 12-07 Subject: Respiratory Health and Related Illness in Areas Impacted by Hurricane Sandy) was sent to home care and hospice administrators and provided information on respiratory health and related illness and on influenza vaccinations. The letter, from Division of Home and Community Based Services Director, Rebecca Fuller Gray, notes that the information in the Provider Health Advisory, Respiratory Health and Related Illness in Areas Impacted By Hurricane Sandy, was posted on the Health Commerce System on December 5, 2012, and should be shared with all staff and patients (see HCP Insider, 12/7/12). The DAL notes that home care and hospice providers should pay particular attention to the potential exposure to mold for both patients and staff that are providing services or residing in areas impacted by the storm. In cases where patients and families continue to use generators or alternative power sources The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance to power and heat their homes, patients and staff should be aware of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning (see HCP Insider, 11/9/12). HCP Chapter Public Policy Briefings The letter also stresses that DOH Commissioner Shah reminds New Yorkers who have not been vaccinated for influenza that it is not too late to get their annual vaccination and that health care providers and local health departments continue to have ample supplies of flu vaccine. HCP staff is currently scheduling public policy briefings with HCP Chapters during February. Administrators are urged to encourage staff and patients to obtain the influenza and the pneumococcal vaccines and that all health care workers should be vaccinated against influenza and other communicable disease to protect their health and the health of their patients. Hudson Valley Chapter Thursday morning, February 7 (time TBD) Location: The Esplanade, White Plains Contact: Chapter President Geri Brooks, 914.681.1285 Emergency Rule Consolidates MMC Regs The following Chapter has confirmed its meeting: Further details on other Chapter briefings will be provided as dates, times and locations are confirmed. Please contact Megan Tangjerd with any questions. As part of the cost saving actions recommended by the Medicaid Redesign Team, an emergency rule has been proposed by the Department of Health (DOH) that will repeal old and outdated regulations and consolidate all managed care regulations to make them consistent with statute. The proposed regulations reflect current program practices and requirements, consolidate all managed care regulations in one place, and conform the regulations to the provisions of Social Services Law section 364-j. The proposed regulations identify the individuals required to enroll in Medicaid managed care (MMC) and identify the populations that are exempt or excluded from enrollment. The proposed regulations also contain provisions, which apply to both the Medicaid manage care and the Family Health Plus programs, specifying good cause criteria for an enrollee to change managed care organizations (MCOs) or to change their primary care provider, explaining enrollees’ rights to challenge actions of the MCO or social services district through the fair hearing process, establishing marketing/ outreach guidelines for MCOs, and identifying unacceptable practices and sanctions for MCOs that engage in them. DOH intends to adopt this emergency rule as a permanent rule and will publish a notice of the proposed rule making at a future date. A copy of the emergency rule can be found at http://docs. dos.ny.gov/info/register/2013/jan2/pdf/rulemaking.pdf. The emergency rule will expire March 17, 2013. Early Bird Deadline Extended to January 11! The HCP Insider January 4, 2013 © All Rights Reserved back to at-a-glance Webinar “Alternative Sanctions” Against Home Care Agencies for Survey Deficiencies Thursday, January 24, 2013 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET **1-1/2 Contact Hours Offered** The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a final rule that will implement, for the first time, a range of alternative sanctions against home health agencies (“HHAs”) found to have deficiencies constituting noncompliance with Medicare conditions of participation (“COPs”). Who Should Attend Chief Operating Officers Directors of Patient Services Registered Nurses Administrators This webinar will cover the following: Informal Dispute Resolution The Alternative Sanctions What Are the Alternative Sanctions and How Do They Work? o o o o o o Suspension of Payment for all New Patient Admissions and New Payment Episodes Directed Plans of Correction Directed In-Service Training Temporary Management Some Basic Rules You Need to Know About Alternative Sanctions Factors CMS Considered in Selecting Alternative Sanctions Provider Appeals of Sanctions Imposed For Noncompliance Lessons from the SNF World CMS Next Steps & Monetary Penalties This program is presented by the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina in partnership with Community Health Care Services Foundation, Inc. (CHC). New York State providers will benefit from this presentation, while understanding that New York State laws and regulations may differ from the information included in this presentation. CHC customers outside of New York State and North Carolina are advised to adhere to all pertinent state and local laws. Presenter Kenneth L. Burgess, JD, Poyner Spruill, serves as the head of the firm’s extensive Health Law Section. Mr. Burgess is a frequent national lecturer and author of industry manuals, national trade journal magazine articles and similar training tools. He serves Poyner Spruill clients by focusing on legal issues impacting the health services sector. In this role he has advised clients on licensure, certification, survey, fraud and abuse, operations, risk management, certificate of need and business issues. His past experience includes serving as Senior Counsel to the national long term care trade association in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for administering the Association’s legal assistance fund litigation, and overseeing all regulatory, facility operations, and clinical staff of the association. Nurse Contact Hours Protocol One and one-half contact (1½) hours are available for this webinar. A facilitator from each participating agency will be responsible for copying and distributing the materials, which will be attached to your confirmation, to the participants and ensuring that each participant requesting contact hours prints their name on the roster. Participants must remain on the webinar until its conclusion. At the conclusion of the webinar, the facilitator will be responsible for collecting the evaluations and rosters and returning them to this office. There must be an evaluation for each name on the roster. Certificates of completion will be emailed to each agency facilitator once the evaluations and rosters have been received. The Association for Home and Hospice Care of NC is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. “Alternative Sanctions” Against Home Care Agencies for Survey Deficiencies Webinar Presented by: Kenneth L. Burgess, JD Thursday, January 24, 2013 ****3:00 pm to 4:30 pm ET**** THREE SIMPLE WAYS TO REGISTER BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW: 1. Register Secure On-line at: www.chcfoundation.org 2. Fax this completed form below to 518.463.1606 3. Mail completed form and payment to CHC, 20 Corporate Woods Blvd., 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12211 Payment must be received in full in advance. Please register by Thursday, January 17 to ensure that you receive e-mailed confirmation details. Please type or print legibly all information below. Agency: Contact Person: Agency Facilitator for Nurse Contact Hours: Address: City/State/Zip Code: Phone: Fax: ( ( ) ) E-mail (mandatory field): Number of Participants Expected to Attend from your Agency: THIS PROGRAM WILL BE AVAILABLE AS A LIVE PROGRAM, LIVE PROGRAM WITH A DVD, OR AS A DVD WITH HANDOUTS ONLY. NURSE CONTACT HOURS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASES OF THE DVD/HANDOUT PROGRAM. Registration Fees This fee includes one dial-in connection. Additional fees will be charged if there are multiple dial-ins. Cancellations received five days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $50 administrative fee. No refunds will be made after that date. There are no refunds for no-shows. HCP Chapter Members: Live Program-$179 Live Program w/DVD-$209 DVD & Handouts Only-$179 HCP Members: Live Program-$189 Live Program w/DVD-$219 DVD & Handouts Only-$189 Non-Members: Live Program-$279 Live Program w/DVD-$309 DVD & Handouts Only-$279 PAYMENT METHOD [__] Check (payable to CHC) [__] VISA [__] MasterCard 0124133000 [__] Discover Cardholder’s name (print) ____________________________________________________________________________ Card Number________/________/_________/_________3-4 Digit Security Code _______ Exp. Date ______________ Cardholder Signature__________________________________________________________________ nd CHC, 20 Corporate Woods Blvd., 2 Floor, Albany, NY 12211 www.chcfoundation.org CHC is a non-profit affiliate organization of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. (HCP)