In this episode, Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske and Bryan Nowicki discuss the new wave of CMS Center for Program Integrity (CPI) audits that have been issued during the past couple weeks. These CPI audits remain focused on long length of stay patients and typically involve hundreds of claims valued at over $1 million. As Meg
The “rules of the road” for Provider Relief Funds continue to evolve. Recent actions by Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide further clarification in key areas that are helpful to hospices. In this episode we analyze the latest developments and share insights on calculating lost revenue and preparing for compliance reporting when it arrives. Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/eyr7q6c
Continue Reading COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: The Latest on Using and Reporting Your Provider Relief Funds
In this episode, Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske is joined by colleague Stephanie Kaiser for a rich conversation on what it means for a hospice board to carry out its fiduciary duties and how this relates to the role and responsibilities of hospice executives. Through counseling and training boards across the country, Stephanie has gained unique insights on the inner workings of boards, and breaks down what good governance looks like in action. Stephanie debunks common misconceptions on what defines a “good” board and provides practical tips on how hospice executives can and should engage and inform their boards. We also discuss when boards and individual members are liable and how to guard against such claims.
Continue Reading Working Together: Tips for Ensuring A Compliant Relationship Between You and Your Hospice Board
No employer wants a union. While unions have not had deep presence in hospice, hospice employers are not immune to unionization efforts.
In this session, Meg Pekarske is joined by her colleagues Jon Anderson and Tom O’Day, who offer their insights on what makes unions attractive to employees and what you can do about it.
Join Meg Pekarske’s conversation with Carla Davis, CEO of Heart of Hospice, where they discuss Carla’s path to hospice and her vision for the future of end-of-life care. They explore the question of what leadership looks like in “good” and “bad” times and what remains constant in times of change. Carla shares her insights
Many hospices understand the general framework established for use of relief payments from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, many questions remain about how to evaluate whether specific expenses and losses may be covered by the relief fund.
Join attorneys from Husch Blackwell’s Hospice & Palliative Care team and accounting professionals from Crowe as they discuss commonly asked questions from hospices across the country. They will share legal and accounting perspectives as well as practical considerations to help hospices as they operationalize their use of relief payments. Register here: https://bit.ly/2LNbLZ0
Continue Reading COVID-19 Town Hall for Hospices Legal and Accounting Perspectives on Commonly Asked Provider Relief Fund Questions
Consistent with NHPCO’s recent regulatory guidance, you may have received an unexpected payment on or about Friday, April 10th via Optum Bank with “HHSPAYMENT” as the payment description. That payment was from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (“Relief Fund”) which was set up pursuant to the CARES Act to provide $100 billion of relief funding to healthcare providers. The payment received is from the first $30 billion of the total $100 billion Relief Fund. The payment is not a loan; it is a grant that the hospice can use for qualified expenses and losses that meet a series of Terms and Conditions.
Continue Reading Tools for Your Hospice Toolbox: How to Evaluate, Allocate and Track the Use of CARES Act Relief Payments (An Introduction)
In today’s COVID-19 edition of the Hospice Labor and Employment Trends series, Meg Pekarske talks with colleague Tom O’Day about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). As one of Husch Blackwell’s healthcare-focused employment attorneys, Tom is uniquely situated to interpret the FFCRA for healthcare providers of all kinds, including hospices. Listen to our Hospice
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) confirmed that hospice physicians and nurse practitioners who serve as a patient’s attending physician (“NPs”) can use telehealth to perform medically necessary visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. To assist hospices in evaluating the feasibility of using telehealth for medically necessary visits with Medicare patients, Husch Blackwell has created a “Hospice Telehealth Flowchart.” The Flowchart addresses important operational considerations as well as the Medicare requirements related to rendering and billing for such telehealth visits.
Continue Reading Tools for Your Hospice Tool Box: Telehealth Flowchart for Billable Hospice Physician and Nurse Practitioner Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic