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Cabinet for Health & Family Services
Office of Inspector General
Division of Health Care
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Home Health Agency Newsletter
August 2020
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The Kentucky Office of Inspector General is committed to the protection of patients and residents of healthcare facilities from the spread of infectious disease. Regarding any coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, you may refer to the following website for the most up-to-date news and information:
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Home Health QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted a Home Health COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet. This tip sheet is designed to assist providers in understanding the status of the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (QRP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Also provided is practical guidance to address Home Health quality data submission requirements starting July 1, 2020, now that the temporary Home Health QRP exemptions from the COVID-19 PHE have ended. Click here to find out more.
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Home Health Agency (HHA) Review and Correct Report Enhancements
An updated version of the HHA Review and Correct report is now available in iQIES. Click here to review the updates in this version.
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Coding Section GG
CMS has released three short video tutorials to assist providers with coding Section GG. These videos range from 5 to 10 minutes and are designed to provide targeted guidance using simulated patient scenarios. To access the videos, click on the links below:
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Corrected Provider Preview Reports and Star Rating
Preview Reports Have Been Reposted
Home Health Agency Provider Preview Reports and the Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Preview Reports that were posted previously on June 25, 2020 contained an error. The previous reports contained the HHA observed values instead of the risk adjusted values. The reports have been corrected and are now available. You can find both reports by selecting “My Reports” in iQIES. These reports preview data that will be displayed in the Home Health Compare website beginning around October 30, 2020. Providers are encouraged to save a copy of their preview reports for later reference. Providers have until August 20, 2020 to review their performance data. Corrections to the underlying data will not be permitted during this time; however, providers can request CMS review of their data during the preview period if they believe the quality measure scores that are displayed within their Preview Reports are inaccurate.
Learn more about the Home Health QRP data submission deadlines here and about the Home Health Star Ratings here.
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Updated Quarterly OASIS Q&As
July 2020 OASIS Q&A's are available in the OASIS Quarterly Q&As section of the CMS QTSO webpage.
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OASIS Data Specifications V3.00.0
The OASIS Data Submission Specifications Version 3.00.0 are now available in the downloads section of the Data Specifications website. This DRAFT version applies to the OASIS-E item set which is scheduled for implementation on January 1 one full year following the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Note that the implementation date for ITM_SET_VRSN_CD for OASIS E and SPEC_VRSN_CD for Version 3.00.0 both reflect a value of TBD within the specs. At the end of the PHE an Errata will be issued that provides the implementation date.
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OASIS Answers Home Health Training Webinars
The OASIS Answers, Inc. (OAI) "Just in Time" monthly home health training webinars are designed to provide the most innovative training to your clinicians, clinical leaders, quality improvement teams and auditors. These sessions will ensure that you are aware of and know how to apply the most recent, most relevant, and most accurate CMS home health information. Monthly topics are based on the issues that are most pertinent to agencies for the month and will be driven by CMS updates or changes that are critical to agency success.
Upcoming sessions are available in either a Live or Recorded format. Previously aired webinars are offered as a recording only. Take a peek and see how the OASIS Answers' webinar series can supplement your organization's training!
Click HERE to reserve your spot!
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Interested in Serving on an IDR Panel?
Kentucky requires one member of the IDR panel to be "a person currently engaged in the provision of Home Health Agency services who has no affiliation with the provider disputing a deficiency." Typically, a Home Health Agency Director is on each IDR panel. There is no payment or travel reimbursement for a Director serving on a panel. Directors will be rotated. If a Home Health Agency Director is interested in serving on a panel, a confidentiality statement must be signed prior to the participation in the first IDR panel.
Chrystal Daugherty, IDR/IIDR Coordinator
Office of Inspector General
116 Commerce Ave.
London, KY 40744
Fax: (606) 330-2054
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Home Health Agency Questions and Answers
Home Health Agency (HHA) Providers can access the Home Health and OASIS Q&As and other reference manuals on the HHA Providers Reference site.
These Questions and their responses have been developed over many years of experience training OASIS coordinators and are currently used as part of the Home Health Agency Surveyor Training program. They can and should be used by home health agency providers in training new staff on the basics of OASIS and also as a refresher for existing staff.
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OASIS Answers, Inc. is a team of experienced nursing and therapy professionals who concentrate their skills, experience and passion to meet the needs of clients at the state association, federal government, quality improvement organization, private industry, and individual provider levels.
Click here for the latest information on their webinars.
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OASIS CONTACT INFORMATION
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Chrystal Daugherty
Assessment/Coding Questions
Rhonda Littleton-Roe
Transmission or Technical Questions
Sam Crossfield
HHA Licensing or Regulation Questions
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Please note: Do not send any identifiable patient information through e-mail. This includes patient names, SSNs, dates of birth or any other data items considered identifiers or Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA. Please redact any PHI prior to sending.
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OASIS Data Specifications
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KARES
To enroll in KARES voluntarily, please click the icon above and follow the self-directed enrollment process.
For additional information about the program, please contact the help desk at (502)564-2159 or via email.
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Click here to visit the website or click here for guidance on how to verify and update home health demographic data.
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Reporting Complaints
Email addresses have been established for use by patients and the general public to report possible violations of regulatory requirements. Click Here for the email addresses and additional contact information based on the facility's location.
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Which Branch
is Serving You?
To provide the highest level of service, the Division of Health Care operates through four regional offices. Knowing the appropriate Branch to contact with questions and concerns will ensure you receive maximum service in minimum time. Review links below for detailed information.
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CMS Survey and Certification memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices.
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Medicare Learning Network
Let the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) be your home for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) education, information, and resources.
Visit the Medicare Learning Network for free educational materials for health care professionals on CMS programs, policies, and initiatives.
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QSEP: Quality, Safety & Education Portal
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG) Quality, Safety & Education Division launched the Quality, Safety & Education Portal (QSEP) on January 6, 2020. QSEP is a replacement of the Integrated Surveyor Training Website (ISTW), providing a user-centered, self-service training portal that makes it easier than ever to take control of surveyor training via training plans and improved reporting.
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Want to Know the Top 10 Citations for Home Health Agencies?
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Sign Up for This Newsletter
If you have received a copy of this newsletter from a friend or co-worker, you can click on the Sign Up button to enter your information and join our mailing list.
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Employment Opportunities
To search and apply for positions within the Office of Inspector General, please visit the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet's web page by clicking the sign above.
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DHC Leadership Team:
Inspector General
Deputy Inspector General
Director
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
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Commonwealth of Kentucky | Office of Inspector General | 275 East Main St., Frankfort, KY 40621
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The Office of Inspector General is the regulatory and licensing agency for all health care, day care and long-term care facilities and child adoption/child-placing agencies in the commonwealth.
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