Join us for an enlightening conversation with Linda Scott, RN, MHA, is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 40 years of post-acute care experience.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Simplifying Clinical Documentation: Discussion on how AI can streamline the extensive data collection process during start of care visits, allowing nurses to focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.
- AI Tools: Linda shares insights on AI tools designed for secure clinical environments and the importance of HIPAA compliance in health care documentation.
- Training Future Nurses: Learn about the integration of AI into nursing education and how it prepares new nurses for the complexities of home health care.
- Generational Perspectives: There are varying attitudes toward AI adoption among different generations of nurses and the common frustrations they face with administrative tasks.
- Quality Improvement Programs: Find out how AI can enhance Quality Improvement Programs (QAPI) by automating data collection and analysis, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

About our Guest:

Linda Scott, RN, MHA, is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 40 years of post-acute care experience. Her career spans leadership roles in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, with a focus on improving patient care through innovation and technology.
Linda’s passion for home and community-based care began during her nursing training with the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Atlanta, where she saw the transformative impact of home health services. This experience guided her career to key roles at the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, and Columbia Homecare Group. In these positions, she developed strategies to drive growth, enhance patient care, and ensure regulatory compliance.
In 2017, Linda founded Scott’s Solutions, a consultancy supporting home care organizations with services ranging from interim management to regulatory compliance. She also leads customer success for Patrium Health, a platform using AI to simplify clinical documentation in home health.
As a public health nursing instructor at Georgetown University, Linda mentors students in applying nursing theory and critical thinking. A champion for technology and innovation, she strives to empower clinicians and advance the home health industry through cutting-edge solutions.

Join Michael and Hannah in this fun episode with Jess Chew, of Trella Health. 

Jess dives into the repeatable and scalable process that is driving outcomes for agencies in the post-acute space that are committed to growth.

The Referral Growth Methodology is a structured framework that home-based care providers use to identify and maximize organic and inorganic growth opportunities, improve organizational outcomes, correlate activity to overall performance, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

This "data first" model uses the implementation of 10 growth activities, which fall into four core components:

This approach enables agencies to conduct a critical self-examination of the business and allows leadership to analyze its strengths and weaknesses. That insight allows for a quick identification of vulnerabilities and provides an opportunity to address and reinforce those areas. At the same time, this introspection empowers agencies to quickly recognize and evaluate market threats, arming them with the ability to proactively mitigate potential risks.

This episode is brought to you by HealthRev Partners. 

In this episode, Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale engage in a detailed discussion with Robert W. Markette, Jr., CHC, HCS-C, a speaker and expert on workplace safety in home care settings. The conversation centers on the alarming statistics regarding injuries among home care workers, particularly focusing on the prevalence of violence in their home care work environment.

Key Highlights:

Overall, this episode serves as a critical reminder of the unique challenges faced by home care workers and underscores the need for effective training and safety protocols to protect them in their daily duties.

About our guest: For more than 20 years, Robert W. Markette, Jr., CHC, HCS-C has focused his practice on representing home health, hospice, private duty and DME providers in all aspects of their operations. With more than two decades of experience working with the these industries, Robert has developed a reputation for understanding the operational, compliance and legal/regulatory issues facing homecare providers.

Robert is recognized for his expertise in this space and is a frequent speaker on home health, hospice and private duty matters across the country. Robert has presented to the American Health Lawyers Association, the National Association for Home Health and Hospice Care, DecisionHealth as well as other national speaking events and numerous state trade association conferences and continuing education sessions.  Robert serves on the Board of the Association for Home Care Compliance.  Robert drafted the Homecare Administrator's Field Guide (currently in its 6th edition) and the Home Health Patient Rights Policy and Procedure Manual

Robert graduated from Hanover College with a degree in Computer Science and received his law degree from Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana. Robert is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Health Care Compliance Association and the Indiana and Oklahoma State Bar Associations. Robert is certified in health care compliance by the Health Care Compliance Board. Robert is on the Board fo the Association for Homecare Coding and Compliance. Robert is admitted to practice in Indiana and Oklahoma.

Listen to a special crossover episode that comes from our Coding Corner!

Coding Corner is a resource and community for your coding and OASIS review team. 

Subscribe here: https://healthrevpartners.com/coding-and-oasis-training/ 

Ready to level up with our Precepting Partnership Program that offers individualized guidance to your clinicians? Learn more here:https://healthrevpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HealthRev-Preceptor-OneSheet-V1.pdf 

In this episode, Stephanie and Tina cover the GG Items and Responses. It's also available as a Youtube presentation: https://youtu.be/ex7aDkCv3Os 

It is important to understand that the GG items and Discharge Function Scoring must be accurately calculated as this will have a significant impact on Value Based Purchasing. Agencies are Incentivized through VBP for the reimbursement of each patient. Reimbursement will be affected by a 5% increase or decrease in payment.

Some of the GOALS of VBP: -Reduce Hospitalization and use of Emergency Department -Reduce Spending -Increase Patient Mobility -Offer a more positive experience with Home-health The old measure of OUTCOMES will be replaced with a new Discharge Function Score. This score will be between 10-60. Previously, OUTCOMES were based on the M1800s (ADLs), M1400 (dyspnea), M2020 (oral med mgmt.), and M2420 (Discharge disposition). This score will now be based on: M1400 (dyspnea), M2020 (oral med mgmt.) AND: Mobility GG Items include Rolling, Lying, Transfer ability, and Ambulation. Functional GG Items – Eating, Oral Hygiene, and Toileting Hygiene. Keep in mind, dressing and grooming are no longer included. The score will now be a sum between 10 and 60. GG ITEM RESPONSE ITEMS 06 Independent – No assist needed at all 05 Set-up or clean-up assistance – No help needed during task completion 04 Supervision/Touching assistance – Verbal cueing, touching/steadying assistance, or supervision. Help may be throughout or intermittent. 03 Partial/Moderate assistance – Helper completes less than 50% of the effort 02 Substantial/Maximum assistance – Helper completes more than 50% of the effort 01 Dependent – when two helpers are needed, that equals DEPENDENT.

ANA (Activity not Attempted) IF USED in calculation, CMS will impute this data (best estimate of what the answer should be). Don’t give CMS the control, keep it with you!

07 Patient Refused – should not be used/rarely -needs additional documentation

09 Not Applicable “09 is baseline” No attempt during or prior to the assessment 10 Not attempted due to environmental limitations, ex. Lack of equipment and weather constraints

88 Not attempted due to medical condition or safety concern (current status but should be improved at D/C) “88 is current state” due to patient’s current medical condition.

In this episode, we sit down with Cindy, a seasoned professional from Affinity Home Care, to gain invaluable insights into the world of home health care. With an impressive 42-year career in the field, Cindy brings a wealth of experience as a nurse, auditor, and ADR specialist for her agency.

Cindy shares her top tips for new clinicians embarking on their home health journey, offering practical advice to help them navigate the challenges and opportunities in this rewarding field. Her guidance is particularly valuable for those looking to establish themselves and thrive in the home health care environment.

Drawing from her extensive experience, Cindy provides a candid and down-to-earth perspective on the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and its role in the industry. She discusses the organization's impact and relevance to home health professionals, offering a realistic view of what clinicians can expect from their attendance at NAHC- already planning to attend the Alliance conference in New Orleans!

Furthermore, Cindy delves into the crucial factors that contribute to job satisfaction for clinicians in the home health sector. She highlights key elements that can make a significant difference in one's career enjoyment and success, providing listeners with actionable insights to enhance their professional experience.

Home Health Revealed is brought to you by HealthRev Partners.  

In this episode, Bill English, CEO of Accurate Home Care tells us about his reason for attending the National Association for Home Care Annual Conference-- to find ways to increase profits through 3rd party vendors. And he tells us just which relationship he believes is the most significant when it comes to choosing vendor partners in home health. 

When it comes cost and time, he is looking for adding value to his team. And part of that will be bringing his team to future conferences. 

It's always great to hear from industry leaders. 

Home Health Revealed is brought to you by HealthRev Partners. 

In this episode, we hear from Jennifer McClennon, Manager of Business Strategy for the newly formed National Alliance for Care at Home. The organization combines the previous National Association for Home Care and Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Jennifer likes to think of herself as a "matchmaker" as she works with corporations that support members with products and services to help them service communities and families. 

We discuss the incredible foundation these organizations have created and the excitement for the future with the new Alliance. 

If you want to get involved with or learn more about the Alliance, visit https://allianceforcareathome.org/ or Jennifer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcclennon-msn/ 

Discover actionable insights on tackling aging accounts receivable, optimizing revenue cycle management, and preparing your agency for success. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your operations and ensure you're ready for the challenges ahead!

In this episode, Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale share their holiday excitement while discussing how home health agencies can level up! Tune in for practical advice on tackling aging accounts receivable, enhancing revenue recovery, and preparing for a successful 2025. With a mix of holiday cheer and industry insights, this is the perfect listen to kickstart your New Year!

A central theme in this episode is the discussion of aging accounts receivable (AR) and its significant impact on home health agencies. They share a compelling story about an agency that struggled with an outsourcing company that charged per claim but failed to collect payments, leading to a dire financial situation for the agency. This anecdote highlights the critical importance of choosing the right billing partner and understanding the nuances of revenue cycle management (RCM).

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own AR situations, with Mike emphasizing that many agencies may not be aware of how much money is tied up in unpaid claims. He stresses the need for a thorough analysis of aging AR and suggests that agencies should actively seek solutions to recover lost revenue. The conversation also touches on innovative strategies and services that can help agencies improve their financial health, making it a valuable segment for anyone in the home health industry looking to enhance their operations as they prepare for 2025.

Home Health Revealed is brought to you by HealthRev Partners. 

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Joe Russell, Vice President of Network Management and Contracting, at Strategic Health Care. In this episode, we explore Joe's journey from politics to healthcare, and his vision for the future of home health and managed care.

Joe brings a wealth of experience to the table, having served as the executive director of the Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice and founder of the groundbreaking Ohio Community at Home Network. We'll dive into his expertise in community-based care, public policy, and managed care, discussing how his background in politics has shaped his approach to healthcare consulting AND how we see AI playing a part in the future of home health. 

Don't miss out on this episode!

In this exciting episode, we sit down with Christa Walz, the new executive director of Adoray Home Health and Hospice and Vice Chair of the Wisconsin Association for Home Health Care. Christa shares her unique journey from physical therapist to executive leadership and talks about the value conferences can bring to developing a team. 

We explore the critical role state associations play in advocating for quality care and advancing the industry, as well as some of their post-covid membership challenges. She gets a little "nerdy" as she tells about getting a picture with home health legend Bill Dombi. This is a can't miss episode for anyone passionate about home health leadership and anyone who loves a Wisconsin accent!

Home Health Revealed is brought to you by HealthRev Partners!