Office of Inspector General  
Division of Health Care  
Issue: #01-SE-2018

                  March 2018


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Visit the Medicare Learning Network for free educational materials for health care professionals on CMS programs, policies, and initiatives. 
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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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  Leadership Team  
Inspector General
Assistant Director

Melanie Poynter
Assistant Director

Andrea Willhite
Assistant Director

Dudley Ellis
Pharmacy Consultant



HOME HEALTH AGENCY
NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the Division of Health Care's Special Edition-March issue of the Home Health Agency Newsletter.  This newsletter is a valuable vehicle to keep you updated on current events affecting Home Health Agencies.  
 
Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you think would benefit.  They can continue to receive this newsletter by joining our mailing list using the link at the bottom. We look forward to serving you through this communication vehicle.  
Quality, Safety and Oversight (QSO) Group
Memo-1This group was formerly known as the Survey and Certification (S&C) Group in CMS.  The memos were formerly known as S&C memos, but are now called QSO memos.  A few recent memos are listed below, as well as, the link to the main site.

This memorandum revises Appendix B of the SOM pursuant to new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for HHA which were effective January 13, 2018: New Aspen tags for each condition and standard for the new CoPs are attached to this memorandum. Revised Level I and Level II standards, based on the new CoPs, are attached to this memorandum. 

***Revised Attachments A & B to Reflect Removal of Tags G670, G700, G848 and G940; Addition of G956 and G984*** 

New HHA Conditions of Participation, which were effective January 13, 2018, no longer contain a definition for HHA Subunits.   The Subunits existing at the time of the effective date of the regulations will become freestanding HHAs unless they notify the State Survey Agency (SA) and the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) that they wish to become a Branch of the Parent. 

Emergency Preparedness Regulations
Important Reminders about Emergency Preparedness Regulations

S&C 17-29



CMS recently shared toolkits created by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a possible helpful tool for all provider types impacted by the new emergency preparedness regulations.
OASIS Users - Software Upgrade
There will be a CMS upgrade to the Juniper Gateways and the Client software currently used by the QIES user groups who remotely log into CMSNet for required reporting.  This upgrade will occur on March 17th for Kentucky.

Please read the additional information on how to prepare for this software upgrade.
New Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)
Several OASIS systems or products have been updated to accommodate the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Number. 

The new MBI is part of the New Medicare Cards initiative (formally known as the Social Security Number Removal Initiative (SSNRI)) and will replace the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) ID.

View details
jHAVEN v1.3.0
jHAVEN v1.3.0 is now available for download under the related links section at the bottom of this webpage

jHAVEN v1.3.0 includes the following enhancements:
  • OASIS C-2 Data Set (effective 01/01/2018)
  • v2.21.1 OASIS Data Submission Specifications
  • v7118 Home Health PPS Grouper
  • NEW Get Help Menu Item
  • MySQL/Hibernate Upgrade
CASPER and OASIS User's Guide
The following OASIS documentation has been updated:

CASPER Reporting User's Guide

  • Sections 1, 4 and 6
OASIS Submission User's Guide
  • Section 5
OASIS User Guides
OASIS Quality Improvement Reports
This document contains additional information related to the updated OASIS Quality Improvement reports in the CASPER Reporting application, which were made available to users on February 5, 2018.
Surveyor Training Website
Click to view training options

This CMS website provides training information to include the preceptor manual, the State Operations Manual and other documents.

As always, the survey and certification process is a collaborative effort between CMS and providers. This website will allow providers the opportunity to take the same courses as surveyors.
Reporting Complaints
  
Email addresses have been established for use by patients and the general public to report possible violations of regulatory requirements.  

Each DHC Enforcement Branch has an assigned email address to receive this information.   Review the map in the above article to determine the appropriate Enforcement Branch.  Click Here for new email addresses and additional contact information.
 
Which Enforcement Branch is Serving You?
  To provide  the highest level of service, the Division of Health Care operates through four regional offices. Knowing the appropriate Enforcement Branch to contact with questions and concerns will ensure you receive maximum service in minimum time.  Review links below for detailed information.
 
 
Contact Information  
OASIS Automation and Education Coordinator (OEC/OAC) Contacts
For Coding or Assessment issues:

Contact Jennifer Smith, Kentucky's OASIS Education Coordinator, by phone at 502-564-7963, extension 3301 or via e-mail

For Transmission or Technical Issues:

Contact Rhonda Littleton-Roe at 502-564-7963, extension 3300 or Rhonda.Littleton@ky.gov.
KARES
Enroll Now!

To enroll in KARES voluntarily, please click the icon below 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  
Unbridled Spirit   
                                                                                                          

The Office of Inspector General is Kentucky's regulatory agency for licensing all health care, day care, long-term care facilities, and child adoption/child-placing agencies in the Commonwealth. 

If you would like more information, visit our website at chfs.ky.gov/os/oig.
  
If you have an idea for a future article, e-mail Rhonda Littleton-Roe at Rhonda.Littleton@ky.gov.