Hospices Urged to Participate in CMS Pilot to Test Transmission of Hospice Election Data to Part D Plans

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For more than a decade, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other policymakers have noted with concern the growth in Medicare spending outside of the hospice benefit, while patients are on hospice care. One area of particular concern is […]

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OIG Workplan to Include OASIS Falls Reporting & Post-acute Transfer Policy

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The Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reported the addition of a new study and a new audit that should be of interest to the home health and hospice communities. These alerts to the public via daily updates of new audits and reports is part of the OIG Work Plan. The […]

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OIG Finds Inappropriate Service Denials by MAOs

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An Office of Inspector General (OIG) report determined that Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) sometimes delayed or denied Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ access to services, even though the requests met Medicare coverage rules. MAOs also denied payments to providers for some services that met both Medicare coverage rules and MAO billing rules. In the report, Some Medicare Advantage Organization Denials […]

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OIG Releases Brief on Potential Inappropriate Payments to Nonhospice Providers

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NAHC is creating materials to assist member hospices on this subject. Please stay tuned to NAHC Report The Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a data brief, Medicare Payments of $6.6 Billion to Nonhospice Providers Over 10 Years for Items and Services Provided to Hospice Beneficiaries Suggest the Need for […]

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OIG Releases Brief on Potential Inappropriate Payments to Nonhospice Providers

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NAHC is creating materials to assist member hospices on this subject. Please stay tuned to NAHC Report The Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a data brief, Medicare Payments of $6.6 Billion to Nonhospice Providers Over 10 Years for Items and Services Provided to Hospice Beneficiaries Suggest the Need for […]

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OIG Planning for Nationwide Hospice Eligibility Audit in 2023

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A nationwide audit of hospice eligibility, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries who have not had an inpatient ER or hospital stay prior to starting hospice care is planned for 2023 by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health & Human Services. According to OIG, previous compliance audits on hospice […]

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OIG Planning for Nationwide Hospice Eligibility Audit in 2023

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A nationwide audit of hospice eligibility, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries who have not had an inpatient ER or hospital stay prior to starting hospice care is planned for 2023 by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health & Human Services. According to OIG, previous compliance audits on hospice […]

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HHS Financial Report for 2021 Identifies Increases in Hospice Payment Error Rates

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Increases not “statistically significant”, according to HHS On an annual basis, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issues a financial report that provides fiscal and high-level performance results that allow for the assessment of HHS’ performance over the previous fiscal year.  Last week HHS issued its FY2021 HHS Agency Financial Report (Report) containing an overview […]

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HHS Financial Report for 2021 Identifies Increases in Home Health, Hospice Payment Error Rates

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Increases not “statistically significant”, according to HHS On an annual basis, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issues a financial report that provides fiscal and high-level performance results that allow for the assessment of HHS’ performance over the previous fiscal year.  Last week HHS issued its FY2021 HHS Agency Financial Report (Report) containing […]

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OIG Reports on Home Health Agency Infection Control Audit

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An audit of eight home health agencies (HHAs) by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that most had infection control policies and procedures that met the stndards set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and followed CMS COVID-19 guidance to safeguard Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, according […]

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