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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
February 2022
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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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CHANGES TO THE HOME HEALTH AGENCY AND PERSONAL
SERVICES AGENCY REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT
ON FEBRUARY 10, 2022
In accordance with the 2021 passage of SB 61, which established new dementia-specific training requirements for staff of home health agencies and personal services agencies, amendments to the following administrative regulations became effective on February 10, 2022. A summary of the new changes is provided as follows:
902 KAR 20:081. Operations and services; home health agencies.
No later than May 11, 2022, all current home health aides who provide care to patients who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia must complete at least six (6) hours of initial training followed by three (3) hours of annual training in dementia care.
For all new home health aides hired after May 11, 2022, aides must complete the initial 6-hour dementia care training prior to providing services to any patient that exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. In addition, each home health agency must obtain approval of its dementia care training curriculum from the Department for Aging and Independent Living. For details regarding the dementia-specific training requirements, please refer to 902 KAR 20:081, Section 5(5)(b).
The home health agency regulation was also updated for compliance with the 2021 passage of SB 154 to allow advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to supervise home health services.
906 KAR 1:180. Operation and services; personal services agencies (PSA).
No later than May 11, 2022, all current direct-care staff who provide care to clients who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia must complete at least six (6) hours of initial training followed by three (3) hours of annual training in dementia care.
For all new direct-care staff hired after May 11, 2022, staff must complete the initial 6-hour dementia care training prior to providing services to any client that exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. In addition, each personal services agency must obtain approval of its dementia care training curriculum from the Department for Aging and Independent Living. For details regarding the dementia-specific training requirements, please refer to 906 KAR 1:180, Section 7(2).
The personal services agency regulation was also updated by adding a cross-reference to KRS 209.032 and 922 KAR 5:120, state rules enacted in 2014 and 2015 respectively that require personal services agency staff to submit to a check of the adult caregiver misconduct registry.
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Preview Reports and Star Rating Preview Reports
for the April 2022 Refresh
- Percent of Residents Experiencing One or More Falls with Major Injury
- Application of Percent of Long-Term Care Hospital Patients with an Admission and Discharge Functional Assessment and a Care Plan that Addresses Function
The claims-based quality measures within this preview report remain frozen. CMS decided to delay the resumption of public reporting for these measures. This delay allows time to analyze the impact of the required comprehensive exclusion of Q1 and Q2 2020 claims data on risk adjustment and reporting. CMS is targeting the July 2022 refresh of Care Compare for the resumption of HH claims-based measure updates on Care Compare. For additional information, please see the HH QRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet in the downloads section of the HH Quality Reporting Training webpage and the FY 2022 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Update Final Rule (HH Rider).
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Updated Draft OASIS-E Instrument
The updated draft OASIS-E All Items Instrument is now available in the Downloads section of the OASIS Data Sets webpage.
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Second Edition Home Health QRP Public Reporting Tip Sheet
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Updated Quarterly OASIS Q&As
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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.
Jennifer Smith, RN
Contract RAI/Oasis/IDR-IIDR Coordinator
Office of Inspector General
Division of Health Care
275 E. Main St., 5E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
Fax: (502) 564-6546
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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 |
For questions regarding OASIS Assessment, Coding, Transmission or Technical Issues,
For questions regarding HHA Licensing or Regulations,
contact Rose Thompson via e-mail.
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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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Quality, Safety & Education Portal
CMS's QSEP provides the full curriculum of surveyor training and guidance on health care facility regulations. All training is available on-demand on a top-notch self-service portal. 24/7 access means you have the freedom to learn what you want, where you want, when you want.
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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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