ASAP
A Weekly Publication Of HCA Home Care Association of New York State
Legislative Issues Public Policy
News
Volume 20, No. 25 June 26, 2015
F2F Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate This week, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced the “Home Health Documentation and Program Improvement Act of 2015,” which aims to assist providers coping with the federal Face-to-Face (F2F) mandate by creating a single form for certification purposes. In addition, the legislation addresses past claims denials by requiring the Medicare contractors to re-review claims denied after January 1, 2011. It also waives the F2F mandate for all home health services provided to patients who receive home health immediately upon discharge from a hospital or skilled nursing facility. See F2F p. 4
NY Legislative Session Concludes The regular schedule for the 2015 State Legislative Session concluded late last night with agreements on several major items that consumed the bulk of the final weeks. These major focus items included: extension of New York City (NYC) rent control, mayoral control of NYC schools, extension of the 421-a incentive program, $250 million in new support for nonpublic schools to cover mandated costs, and restructuring the cap on charter schools. As reported last week, HCA was successful this year in gaining passage of critical bills that would mitigate unchecked, massive cuts under the state Department of Health’s rebasing plan for the CHHA Episodic Payment System. See CONCLUDES p. 2
Inside ASAP F2F Legislation introduced in the US Senate.....................................1 NY Legislative Session Concludes......................................................1 Get your Agency Ready for ICD-10 Billing under Managed Care......3 Save the Date for CFO Retreat: September 17 & 18.............................3 Hiring Announcements.....................................................................4,7 Value Based Payment Initiative Proceeds.............................................5 Winthrop Hosts Home Care Visit with Rep. Rice.................................5 ASAP Web Stories on MAC Updates, CMS Forum and More............5 Major Improvements Sought for M.D. Order Regs.............................6 HCA, Partners to Meet with DOH on QIVAPP Issues...........................6 HCA’s Work Continues on Uniform Billing..........................................7 HCA Preps Comments on 2016 Hospice Proposed Rule...................8 HCA Meets with New State Medicaid Inspector General..................8 HCA to Serve on Congressional Veterans Advisory Board................9 Managed Care Update........................................................................9 DSRIP Update.....................................................................................10 Did You Complete the Palliative Care Survey We Sent You?............11 HCA Forum Concentrates on Upstate LHCSA Needs, Issues..........11
Summer ASAP Schedule Beginning this week, HCA will be publishing ASAP every other week for the summer. There will be no ASAP next week – for the July 4 holiday – and our offices will be closed on July 3. We will be sure to alert you of important updates, as needed, by e-mail. The ASAP schedule for the remainder of the summer is as follows: July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21. We will resume weekly ASAP on September 4.
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