Hospital Home Health articles from May 2004

Hospital Home Health archives from May 2004

Home health agencies can avoid fraud charges with compliance plans: Medicare law provides some new protections.(Medicare Reform Act)
May 1, 2004... The Medicare Reform Act passed in 2003 contains a number of new demonstration projects and administrative requirements that affect home health agencies, but the good news is that the myriad new fraud targets the new legislation identifies don't...

Be proactive: improve patients' quality of life: extra help for frail elderly, chronically ill.
May 1, 2004... (Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series that looks at innovative approaches to patient care and expansion of services by home health agencies. Last month's article examined partnerships with other community organizations. This...

Hippa: Q & A.(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance)
May 1, 2004... [Editor's note: This column addresses specific questions related to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) implementation, if you have questions, please send them to Sheryl Jackson, Hospital Home Health, Thomson American...

New Phase II Stark rules affect provider payments.(Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989)
May 1, 2004... As many providers already know, the Stark law prohibits physicians from making referrals to providers who render "designated health services" (DHS) if the referring physicians have an ownership or investment interest in, or compensation...

Workbook helps prevent needlestick injuries.
May 1, 2004... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has been criticized for not being more directive and aggressive on preventing needlestick injuries, has posted an impressive, interactive workbook on the issue. The document is on the...

Avoid PCA errors with education: don't let family members administer medication.(patient-controlled analgesia)
May 1, 2004... Medication errors associated with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps most often are caused by inadequate patient and staff education, misuse by well-intentioned family members, and improper patient selection, according to results of a...

Managing the patient care continuum: assess and improve continuum linkages.(Guest Column)
May 1, 2004... Health care delivery has grown more sophisticated and complex in response to changing patient needs and emerging technologies. Regardless of length and breadth of the patient care continuum, the goal should be to deliver seamless,...

Nursing organization adopts 2004 platforms.(American Organization of Nurse Executives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) in Washington, DC, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association, has unveiled its policy platforms. The major policies are * Foreign Nurse Recruitment AONE supports the lawful...

OSHA and CDC establish hand hygiene policies.(Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... To improve hand hygiene among health care workers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Health care workers only need to use traditional soap and water if their hands are...

CMS tightens claims processing requirements.(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has produced an educational article explaining the changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) claims processing requirements that will take effect July 6, 2004....

CE questions.
May 1, 2004... 5. According to Marie Infante, an attorney with Mintz Levin, what steps should you take when seeking advice from a Medicare representative? A. Ask three different people to see if they all suggest the same thing. B. Rely upon your...