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Many providers generally are familiar with prohibitions against fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including Medicaid waiver programs. Fraud involving billing for services that were never actually provided may be especially familiar.
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Sometimes a hospice's client satisfaction and staffing problems stem from repeated and often unnecessary off-hour calls by patients and families.
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The biggest change made during the reorganization of Gaston Memorial Home Care in Gastonia, NC, was the multidisciplinary team approach in which nurses and therapists report to a clinical manager. Not only is this approach helpful for patient care management, but the streamlined approach makes it possible for the agency to file accurate Request for Anticipated Payments (RAPs) earlier than the old system that relied upon utilization review nurses to approve claims.
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Organizations accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations can see detailed implementation expectations for the 2006 National Patient Safety Goals on the Joint Commission web site.
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While nurses and physicians have their roles to play in palliative care of dying patients, social workers also have a responsibility for assisting in pain management, experts say.
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Hospices can improve staff motivation and retention once administrators adopt a policy of open communication and mutual respect, an expert advises.
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) relaxed some rules and requirements for home health agencies that provide care to patients who were relocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
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Palliative care programs are growing in number and prominence at hospitals and hospices across the nation, as increasing numbers of health care providers want to focus on medicine ...
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If there is anything positive that comes out of the natural disasters of recent years, including hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it's the lessons hospices and other health care providers have learned about disaster planning.
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Whether a hospice is situated in a hurricane, earthquake, fire, flood, or tornado zone there's a lot managers can do to prepare for a disaster.
