Annual Meeting Educational Sessions

Sunday, October 3, 2010
   100 Series: 11:30am–1:00pm
   200 Series: 1:15pm–2:45pm

Monday, October 4, 2010
   300 Series: 8:00am–9:30am
   400 Series: 2:30pm–4:00pm
   500 Series: 4:15pm–5:45pm

Tuesday, October 5, 2010
   600 Series: 8:00am–9:30am
   700 Series: 2:30pm–4:00pm
   800 Series: 4:15pm–5:45pm

Sunday, October 11, 2009; 11:30am-1:00pm

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

101–Urinary and Central Venous Catheter Care: Best Practices for Infection Prevention

Central venous and urinary catheters are primary sources of preventable infections. Clinical staff often under appreciate the morbidity associated with catheters and their own role in infection prevention. Research and case scenarios demonstrating implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce infection risk will be shared with participants.

Objectives:

• Identify risk factors for infections in home health care patients;
• Describe at least three evidence based interventions to reduce the risk of catheter related bloodstream infections in patients with a central venous access device; and
• Discuss at least three evidence based interventions to reduce the risk of UTIs in patients with an indwelling urinary catheter.

Faculty: Lisa Gorski, MS, HHCNS, BC, CRNI, FAAN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Wheaton Franciscan Home Health & Hospice, Milwaukee, WI .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Therapy

102–Maximize the Impact of the Entire Rehabilitation Team: Strategies for Clinical and Financial Success

An effective rehab team involves all therapy disciplines. This session will provide real life tools to ensure appropriate and cost effective utilization of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, and therapy assistants. Learn the positive benefits of partnerships between therapy disciplines themselves and with both nursing and home health aides.

Objectives:

• Examine objective clinical criteria used to make referrals to each of the therapy disciplines:
• Discuss challenges and benefits of utilizing therapy assistants; and
• Cite the positive benefits of partnerships between therapy disciplines, nursing and home health aides.

Faculty: Cindy Krafft, PT, MS, COS-C, Assistant Director of Operational Consulting, Fazzi Associates, Peoria, IL; Lisa Sholts, BS, OTR, Rehabilitation Manager, OSF Home Care, Love Park, Ill. .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Clinical & Disease Management, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

103–ICD-10 and its Effect on Home Health Agencies

ICD-10 is proposed for 2011 implementation. This session provides an introduction to the history and structure of ICD-10, how it links to ICD-9-CM and how the implementation affects an agency. While it seems far in the future, the significant differences in the two systems mean that many changes are needed prior to implementation.

Objectives:

• Highlight the history of ICD-10;
• Discuss ICD-10 impact on systems, personnel, documentation and revenue; and
• Identify what agencies should be doing now to prepare.

Faculty: Ann Rambusch, MSN, HCS-D, RN, President, Rambusch3 Consulting Serivces, Round Rock, TX.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Leadership/Ethics

104–Managing Your Management Time for Maximum Results!

Your effectiveness as a manager is evaluated based on the performance of your team not on how hard you work! This presentation will teach you the questions to ask and the strategies to employ to improve your effectiveness through better management of your time. Whether you are a new manager or a seasoned leader, the information you will learn in this presentation is guaranteed to improve performance of you and your team.

Objectives:

• List performance traits that indicate you are not managing your management time well;
• Employ tools that will allow you to motivate your team and improve work performance; and
• Discuss how leaders spend their time to achieve improved team performance and desired results.

Faculty: Norma English, RN, BSN, MSN, Chief Operating Officer, CareSouth Homecare Professionals, Inc., Augusta, GA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PD).

Marketing & Business Development

105–Predictable Sales: A New Form of Business Intelligence

This seminar unveils a new form of business intelligence, one that facilitates predictable revenue. Using strategy, prospecting and pipelines, the speakers provide detailed insight into the specific techniques that drive success. Successful sales people understand that the sales process follows a predictable pattern in the midst of a variable environment. Upon completion of this session, attendees will have a solid understanding of how to apply business intelligence to their own agency's sales efforts.

Objectives:

• Discuss the application of business intelligence to sales in the home care industry;
• Describe the fundamental components of home care sales business intelligence; and
• Cite the steps involved in using sales business intelligence to predict future admissions.

Faculty: Heather Rooney, BA, President, H2 Marketing, Seattle, WA; Hank Ross, MBA, Chairman and CEO, Ross Health Care, Chickasha, OK.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Telehealth & Technology

106–Transformation from a Paper World to a Paperless EMR Requires more than Technology

Conversion to a complete electronic medical record is more than just using software and computers. Determining best practices with EMR implementation and ongoing processes must demonstrate continued financial and clinical ROI in addition to proving the validity and reliability of an EMR for improved quality care and patient outcomes.

Objectives:

• Describe the key elements of an EMR and available technology necessary to promote interoperability, compliance with regulatory requirements, and a truly paperless environment;
• Discuss the key organizational elements of success in the adoption and use of technology to demonstrate true clinical and financial ROI; and
• Describe what a complete EMR might look like from an agency process perspective.

Faculty: Kim Wipf, RN, MS, CCRN, Senior Manager- Solution Manager, Cerner BeyondNow, Kansas City, MO; Debbie Lauer, BS, RN, Clinical Systems Supervisor, St. Joseph's Hospital Home Health Service, Chippewa Falls, WI.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Private Pay

107–Partnering with Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies and Hospices

Learn how to develop a productive relationship with Medicare certified home health agencies and hospices. Attendees will gain insight on how to create value with home health ageinces and hospices.

Objectives:

• Describe key education elements needed by home health and hospice agencies to communicate value of private duty servies;
• Identify strategies used to partner with home health agencies and hospices.
• Maximize cross referrals between private duty companies that are part of a home Health or hospice organization.

Faculty: Karon Austin, MPA, RN,CHCE, Vice President of Operations, Visiting Angels, Havertown, PA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

108–Assess Quality and Improve Performance: Tools for Success with the New QAPI CoP

Learn how one Hospice built their QAPI program using an electronic record to identify their quality focus, implemented tools for systematic data collection, and improved program performance.

Objectives:

• Discuss the progression from monitoring quality to improving outcomes;
• Describe how a standardized tool captures quality data and how that data is utilized for performance improvement; and
• Demonstrate successful utilization of quality measures, data items, and data collection.

Faculty: Richee Frias, RN, BSN, Senior Solution Designer, Cerner BeyondNow, Kansas City, MO; Maria Lawson, BA, MS, Senior Systems Analyst, Gilchrist Hospice Care, Hunt Valley, MD.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Hospice

109–Hospice Compliance Issues

Hospice compliance issues are identified in the OIG work plan including relationships with SNFs and utilization patterns. Presenters will examine key risk areas and discuss sample internal audit programs. This session will end with care studies designed to engage the audience in discussion of real life compliance issues.

Objectives:

• Integrate the elements of the OIG model compliance plan into their compliance audits;
• Integrate the Local Coverage Determinations into their admission assessment process; and
• Define the relationship with SNFs based on the contract requirements, design appropriate plans of care and discuss ethical issues.

Faculty: Terry Cichon, CPA, Sr. Mgr & Dir. of Healthcare Operations, FR&R Healthcare Consulting, Inc., Deerfield, IL; Janet Sullivan, RN, BSN, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Northshore University Healthcare Home & Hospice, Skokie, IL.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Financial

110–Monitoring the Home Health Billing Department

This session will review the details of billing department's responsibility. Areas of focus will be covered from a manager's point of view. Managers, supervisors, directors should attend to ensure that they are maximizing the agency's billing department potential.

Objectives:

• List the responsibilities of each billing staff member;
• Detail documentation required in order to appropriately bill a Medicare claim; and
• Identify reporting required from the billing department including non-routine supply billing.

Faculty: Melinda Gaboury, BBA, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions, Nashville, TN; Michael Horsley, BS, RPT, Owner, All Coast Therapy Services, Lady Lake, FL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/FIN).

Sunday, October 11, 2009; 1:15-2:45pm

Financial

201–Cutting Costs, Not Services

This workshop will discuss ways to help organizations survive and thrive by cutting costs that will protect the business and its employees.

Objectives:

• Review the importance of cost containment and cutting costs;
• Recognize different outsourcing options; and
• Identify ideas for dealing with vendors and suppliers.

Faculty: Thomas Boyd, BA, MBA, Principal, Boyd & Nicholas, Inc., Rohnert Park, CA; Edward Nicolas, BS, MS, CPA, Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut, Inc., Bridgeport, CT; Barry Gold, BBA, CPA , Chief Financial Officer , Mays Homecare , Paris, Texas.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/FIN).

Financial

202–Industry Prospectus: A Review of the Financial Health of Home Care

This is the first broad-scale release of detailed, meaningful financial information collected and analyzed in 2009, to include a wide-variety of profitability and operational metrics by payor. Presenters will share information and benchmarks around metrics evaluating key drivers of financial performance such as statistics for direct vs. indirect costs, revenue and expenditures by payor, changes in reimbursement and resource utilization in PPS 2008, financial ratios and operational metrics.

Objectives:

• Identify key financial metrics in the home health and hospice industries;
• Discuss reimbursement and utilization trends in PPS 2008 & 2009; and
• Cite the most critical data to measure and manage from strong financial performance.

Faculty: Christine Lang, MBA, Vice President, Data & Product Strategy, OCS, Inc., Seattle, WA; David Berman, CPA, Principal, Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices, Therapy

203–The Case Management Model: Patient Centered Care under OASIS C and P4P

Find out how to use cross-disciplinary training in order to develop case management programs such as restorative aides, cardiac disease managment and wound care teams. Compare the productivity and disease managment model with a case management model, highlighting the benefits of a case management model. Components include cross-disciplinary training, IDTs and evidence-based screening tools and preparing HHAs for OASIS-C and for P4P.

Objectives:

• Describe the benefits of a case management model;
• Describe how to implementation of a patient-centered interdisciplinary team collaboration to effectively manage chronic diseases; and
• Identify the role of each team member in care collaboration for chronic disease management and use of evidence-based tools to improved patient outcomes.

Faculty: Misty Kevech, RN, BS ED, MS, COS-C, Director of Nursing Education and Program Development, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Mars, PA; Tonya Miller, PT, DPT COS-C, Director of Rehab Education and Program Development, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Machanicsburg, Penn..

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

204–Medical Adult Day Services Demonstration: Three Year Outcomes

Session attendees will receive an overview of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medical Adult Day Services Demonstration, which allows patients from five home health agencies to choose to have some of their skilled services be provided at an adult day center. This demonstration will allow Medicare to assess whether providing medical adult day care services as part of the home health benefit will improve patient outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.

Objectives:

• Identify parameters of the Medical Adult Day Caree Demonstration;
• Explain how the various models are applied at the five demonstration sites; and
• Discuss outcomes achieved during past three years.

Faculty: Judith Bellome, RN, BSN, MSEd, CEO, Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Lawrence, KS; Kimberly Delp, RN, BSN, Director of Business Development, Landmark Home Health Inc., Allison Park, Penn..

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Human Resources

205–Engage Employees through Applied Learning Situations

Struggling with staff completing the required training? Experiencing training without the desired learning outcomes? Take charge - champion fresh ideas that will energize your staff to learn. Watch employee training engagement soar as you learn exciting, cutting-edge training methods to make learning fun, meaningful and effective.

Objectives:

• Explain the cognitive process of short and long-term memory to facilitate sustained learning;
• Identify how to build training and performance improvement through applied learning situations; and
• Utilize best practices to engage learners in applying learning to daily practice.

Faculty: Patricia Jump, RN, BSN, MA COS-C, Owner and Founder, Acorn's End Traing & Consulting, Stewartsville, MN; Deborah Herbst, BSN, Clinical Manager, Perham Memorial Home Care, Perham, MN; Peggy Harris, BS, MS, Director, Coprate Learning Projects, Rochester Community and Technical College, Rochester, MN.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

206–Documentation Methods to Avoid ADRs

This session will highlight the areas of CMS/FI focus and the most common mistakes that agencies make in their medical records. Important areas covered are methods that will avoid costly mistakes; common deficient areas seen in clinical records; review of regulations to include CoPs and the guide to billing; tying together the OASIS, orders, notes and plan of care and more. The workshop portion will include tips and guides while the participants work on documentation scenarios with real-life documentation examples.

Objectives:

• Articulate the rules for home health documentation;
• Review charts to identify correlation; and
• Identify and avoid reasons for denial; using real-life cases.

Faculty: Sharon Litwin, RN, BHS, MHA, President/CEO, 5 Star Consultants, LLC, Ballwin, MO.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Leadership/Ethics, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

207–Managing Case Mix Weight and Using Agency Resources Effectively

The sharing of this agency's experience will direct others how to analyze, monitor, initiate actions and improve their case mix weight resulting in better patient care and increased revenue. Presenters will provide insight, actions and tips that participants can implement within their own organizations.

Objectives:

• Identify key drivers of the case mix weight;
• Discuss comprehensive action plan; and
• Identify key drivers for ongoing monitoring.

Faculty: Rhonda Will, RN, BS, COS-C, HCS-D, Assistant Director Quality Institute, Fazzi Associates, Venice, FL; Sandra Bennis, RN, BSN, MBA, Vice President, Executive Director, Virtua Home Care, Mount Laurel, NJ.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Leadership/Ethics, Human Resources

208–Strategies for Pay for Performance: The Role of Standardized Patient Education

A key factor in achieving success in Pay for Performance is standardized patient education. It is also an adjunct to marketing and can substantially affect recruitment and retention. One agency will share their success story by using a standardized patient education program.

Objectives:

• Identify key components of a good patient education program;
• Describe the latest research from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy and its implications for home care; and
• Describe the role of patient education in marketing, recruitment/retention of staff.

Faculty: Joan Haizlip, MS, RN, Director of Programs and Education, VNA First, Naperville, IN; Joni Griffin, RN, Registered Nurse/Physician Liaison, Trinity Visiting Nurse and Homecare Association, Moline, IL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Marketing & Business Development, Financial

209–Unique Fundraising for Non-profit Agencies

Fundraising has never been more important and more challenging in today's economy. Learn from the expert presenters who will share essential techniques and steps for successful capital campaigns, grant writing, and planned giving programs.

Objectives:

• Describe the complexity, and significance of grant management and identify funding/grant concepts applicable to agencies;
• Identify the steps and various events appropriate for a successful capital campaign for your organization; and
• Discuss levels and gift types for planned giving for your organization with understanding costs and administrative requirements to maintain the program

Faculty: Donna L. Grimm, RN, BA, MS, CHCE, Past President/Consultant, Community Health Professionals, Van Wert, OH; Tricia Ritchie, BS, MSHA, President/CEO, Wilshire Health and Community Services, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Brandi Holys Tumbleson , BA, MA, Grants/Community Relations Coordinator , Visiting Nurses Association , Omaha , Neb. .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Telehealth & Technology, Leadership/Ethics

210–No Geeks Allowed: Straight Talk about Leading Technology Transformation Agency Leaders

This program, focused on educating agency leaders, describes in non-technical terms the considerations and best practices related to selecting, implementing, and leading a technology strategy for a home care or hospice agency. If you are considering automation or changing vendors, you will leave this session with concrete steps for selecting your software vendor and your hardware.

Objectives:

• Discuss challenges for automation;
• Describe choices for software & hardware; and
• Identify steps that lead to successful automation

Faculty: Mary Argo, MPA, Administrator, Universal Home Health & Hospice Care, Bellefontaine, OH.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Private Pay

211–Starting Your New Private Duty Agency and the Top 10 Decisions You Need to Make

The top 10 decisions that all new agencies must make will be revealed in this session as each will be discussed in depth. This session will engage the participants to consider all options when they are starting a new home care agency or service line.

Objectives:

• Identify the top 10 decisions to make when starting a private pay agency;
• Understand the structure of a successful private pay agency; and
• Apply the top 10 decisions to your start-up framework and have a clear process for opening an agency.

Faculty: Lucy Andrews, RN, MS, CEO, CHHA, At Your Service Home Care, Santa Rosa , CA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice

212–Prove Your Worth to CMS and MedPAC with Evidence of Value

As a 20 year hospice administrator, you had no deficiencies during your survey eight years ago; your satisfaction scores are high. Is this enough to prove your value to CMS? This presentation will provide step-by-step information to help hospice providers identify functions and processes that are important to monitor. We will demonstrate how monitoring, data collection an analysis can give you the proof you need when the surveyor walks through the door!

Objectives:

• Discuss factors influencing change in the hospice regulatory environment;
• Identify indicators for monitoring improvement of patient care and service delivery; and
• Analyze hospice comparative outcomes data and implement process improvement teams as indicated.

Faculty: Lynda Laff, RN, BSN, COS-C, Principal, Laff Associates, Hilton Head Island, SC; Susan Saxon, RN, ADN, Owner and Administrator, Tidewater Hospice, Bluffton, SC.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Hospice

213–The Newest Member of the IDT: Hospice Musician

Throughout history and in all cultures, music has been used to soothe pain; given voice to and assuaged human suffering. Drawing on medical research, ancient wisdom, personal anecdotes, and plenty of live music, presenters will demonstrate music's unique place in hospice care and explore the musician's role in the IDT.

Objectives:

• Relate music's vital role as a palliative care modality used throughout the history of hospice care;
• Discuss how music contributes to the goals of the modern hospice team; and
• Describe the variety of musical styles and instruments in which music can be beneficial for the hospice patient and his or her support system.

Faculty: Chris O'Connell, BA, CHM, Hospice Musician, Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo, CA; Cindy Myers, MFA, HM , Hospice Musician, Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo, CA; Tim Pacheco, HM, Hospice Musican, Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Monday, October 12, 2009; 8 to 9:30am

Financial

301–Lies and Financial Statements

Your financial statements look great, but somehow, you have little cash to show for it. Numbers don't lie, do they? Well actually, they do. In this session, we discuss where these reports go wrong.

Objectives:

• Identify and discuss issues related to revenue recognition policies;
• Discuss implications of accounting and accrual policies regarding bad debt; and
• Identify other key areas where financial statements and management initiatives go wrong.

Faculty: Dexter Braff, MBA, MS, BS, President, The Braff Group, Pittsburgh, PA; Steven Braff, MBA, Managing Director, Home Health and Hospice, The Braff Group, Palm Springs, CA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/FIN).

Financial

302–Implementing Strategies to Properly Handle Payment Variances

Looking to improve your payment posting process? This session will target strategies for identifying payment variances and appropriately posting them to the accounts receivable. Specific tools used in the practices employed by the speakers will be shared along with corresponding examples.

Objectives:

• Identify items that determine payment;
• Cite reasons for payment variances; and
• Appropriately deal with a payment variance when the payment received is determined to be correct.

Faculty: M. Aaron Little, BS, CPA, Senior Managing Consultant, BKD, LLC, Springfield, MO; Michelle Heidt, BA, Assistant Chief Financial Officer, Integrity Home Care, Springfield, MO.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Therapy, Clinical & Disease Management

303–Total Knee Replacement: Utilizing Evidence To Create Best Practices in Home Service Delivery

Knee replacement surgery rates are increasing annually. Home care is well equipped to deliver superior, cost-effective outcomes. Reliance on evidence can be effectively utilized to enhance care delivery.

Objectives:

• Describe the evidence regarding physical therapy intervention, discharge planning, contemporary surgical trends, utilization, and outcomes surrounding total knee replacement surgery;
• Explain the benefits of conducting research and utilizing existing evidence in home health clinical practice; and
• Identify best practice? concepts in the home health setting for patients recovering from total knee replacement surgery.

Faculty: Chris Chimenti, MSPT, Director of Therapeutic Services, Home Care of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

304–The Pathway to Patient Satisfaction

Presenters will share The Caring Pathway, a tool that formally incorporates patient-centered satisfaction at critical points during the home care experience. Participants will learn how the tool outlines expectations of care to be used by professional staff along with patients, their families and caregivers.

Objectives:

• Discuss the design process and successful utilization of cross-functional team;
• Explain introduction of the tool to patients, families, caregivers, and hospital case management teams; and
• Describe outcomes on patient care, patient satisfaction, and referral source satisfaction.

Faculty: Becky Ivcic, CPA, MBA, Director of Finance, University Hospitals Home Care Services, Inc., Warrensville Hts., OH; Anne McKinney, RN, BSN, Director of Clinical Operations, University Hospitals Home Care Services, Warrensville Hts., OH; Linda Marshall, BS, Director of Marketing and New Business Development, University Hospitals Home Care Services, Inc., Warrensville Hts., OH.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SEBUS).

Human Resources

305–Ensure your Future through Recruitment and Retention of Home Health Aides

In the near future, demand will exceed supply of home health aides; by 2017 one million aides will be needed; by 2031 three million will be needed. Upon completion of this session, attendees will have a detailed understanding of innovative methods to recruit, educate, and retain quality home health aides.

Objectives:

• Discuss the future of home health aides;
• Cite key strategies for recruiting home health aides; and
• Discuss methods of retaining home health aides.

Faculty: Tina Marrelli, MSN, MA, RN, President, Marrelli and Associates, Inc., Boca Grande, FL; Heather Rooney, BA, President, H2 Marketing, Seattle, WA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

306–Civil and Criminal Liability Regarding Identify Theft and Data Breaches

Medical identity theft has become a catastrophic problem. Comprehensive research conducted by the World Privacy Forum suggests that anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 American have been victims, accounting for as much as 10% of health care costs. This session provides an overview of the major identity theft laws and the employer's liability for protecting personal information of their employees and patients. Proactive strategies to help agencies mitigate liability will be discussed.

Objectives:

• Discuss the important identity theft legislation;
• Cite the penalties that could be imposed by not being proactive with regards to information security; and
• Describe the steps needed to create an information security plan for an agency.

Faculty: Adell Smith, BA, MBA, CITRMS, Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., St. Louis, MO; Bessie Metcalfe, AA, BSN, CITRMS, Registered Nurse/Case Manager, Innovative Living Solutions, Inc., St. Louis, MO.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

307–How Policy Trends Impact the Home Health Industry

This session will explore trends in data use throughout the health care industry and discuss initiatives agencies can take to position themselves at the forefront of these emerging trends. Organizations that are armed with powerful and transformative information are better positioned to achieve thier desired results - whether that is impacting patient quality, profitability, or overall policy.

Objectives:

• Identify data trends in the industry to help evaluate your organization's strategic care plan;
• Learn how to use data effectively monitor and investigate your plan of action; and
• Evaluate and compare statistics and trends in local area market.

Faculty: Amanda Twiss, BA, President and CEO, OCS, Inc., Seattle, WA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Leadership/Ethics

308–President's Forum: Predictions for Future Success

Come hear four nationally-prominent presidents representing a hospital system, a free-standing VNA, a large, publicly traded company and a leading consulting company predict what it will take to ensure your agency's success in the future environment. This provocative give and take is an updated version of the popular 2008 NAHC session. Topics covered will include: top diversification strategies; winners and losers under bundling proposals; creative cost reduction; best bet technologies; and much more.

Objectives:

• List common strategies that agencies are utilizing to insure success;
• Identify three majors tends in the home care field; and
• Describe the features of a successful agency in 2010.

Faculty: Carol Raphael, MPA, President and CEO, The Visiting Nurse Association of NY, New York, NY; Marcia P. Reissig, RN, MS, CHCE, CEO, Sutter VNA and Hospice, Fairfield, Calif.; Jeannee Parker Martin, RN, MPH, President and Co-Owner, The Corridor Group, Inc., San Francisco, CA; John L. Indest, RN, BSN, MS, President/COO, LHC Group, Inc., Lafayette, LA.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Marketing & Business Development

309–Utilization and Outcomes Data to Achieve Best Performance and Grow Market Share

Learn how to integrate care utilization, clinical practice patterns, and patient outcomes data into marketing initiatives for success in a competitive P4P environment. Home care agencies are entering a P4P environment where success is vital and competition is more challenging than ever before. Agencies with the highest levels of outcomes performance will gain the commitment needed from referral sources to grow their market share.

Objectives:

• Identify Key Referral Sources and cite strategies for building long-term relationships and commitment;
• Cite utilization and outcomes data that affects physician proactive patterns and optimizes referral source collaboration; and
• Demonstrate how to prepare, deliver, and communicate outcomes to referral sources.

Faculty: Laurie Salmons, RN, BSN, Senior Director - Performance Advisors, Health System Solutions, Knoxville, TN; Michael Molina, BS, Executive Director of Operations , Intrepid USA, Enola, PA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Telehealth & Technology, Human Resources

310–Orientation Redesign using a Learning Management System to Deliver Training

Learn how to select and implement a learning management system for a cost effective, individualized and self-paced training program. The specifics of how to integrate an LMS into the home care training environment as well as the process of the implementation, data migration and set up will be explored

Objectives:

• Describe how a learning management system can improve training in your agency;
• Discuss how to integrate an LMS into a home care training environment; and
• Discuss using blended learning in home care training.

Faculty: Marilyn Hecker, RN, MA, MS, BC, Vice President, Staff Development, Metropolitan Jewish Health System, Brooklyn, NY; Ann Kushmick, BA, MPA, Director of Project Management, Metropolitan Jewish Health System, Brooklyn, NY; Frank Ricciardi, BS, VP, Global Account Services, Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc., Santa Monica, CA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Private Pay

311–How Certified Home Health-Agencies can Succeed in Private Duty Home Care

Many certified home health agencies are missing out on huge opportunities in private pay. This interactive session will show you why you should be in private pay, and how to overcome the four big barriers. Learn in detail the opportunities in private pay home care.

Objectives:

• Explain the opportunities for home health agencies in private pay home care;
• Overcome the four big barriers to success; and
• Explain the private duty business builders model

Faculty: Stephen Tweed, BA, MS, CSP, CEO, Leading Home Care... a Tweed Jeffries Company, Louisville, KY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

312–Hospice Legal Update - A Year in Review

This program will provide a legal and regulatory update of events affecting the hospice industry during the last year, as well as a discussion of future legal and regulatory trends in hospice. Areas of discussion will include the Hospice CoPs, Interpretive Guidelines, provision of hospice care to residents of a nursing facility, survey and deficiencies and relevant case law and Office of Inspector General opinions.

Objectives:

• Discuss CMS' Interpretive Guidelnes to the Hospice Conditions of Participation;
• Discuss legal and regulatory matters affecting hospice providers; and
• Identify future legal and regulatory trends in the hospice industry.

Faculty: Mike Hale, JD, Attorney Of Counsel, Poyner Spruill, Raleigh, NC.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Hospice

314–Life Beyond The Fear of Death - What really happens when we die?

Glenn was run over by a truck, died, and awoke outside the morgue. Glenn was instructed to convey what happens to us when we die through his extraordinary art, music and writing. Experts in near-death experience (NDE) are heralding former Disney artist, Glenn Kolleda and Jan Petrie-Kolleda÷s new illustrated book ””Life Beyond The Fear Of Death’, stating: "anyone interested in the subject of what happens after you die should definitely read this book," "it is the next best thing to having an NDE" and "it unveils the mysteries of death." )

Objectives:

• Discuss how to take the fear out of dying for the practitioner, patient and family.
• Explore different cultural attitudes toward empowerment in taking charge of our death.
• Discuss Life Review- why it is important for all of us to take inventory of our time here.

Faculty: Andrea Levinson, BS, MS, NMD, Doctor of Natural Medicine, Award-winning writer/filmmaker of Death, Taxes… and Chocolate. , New Bern , NC; Lacey Fair, Medical Intuitive, Reiki Master, Middlefield, Ohio.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PD).

315–Looking at the Future of Home Health Technology in the Near-term

This panel discussion will look at what emerging business models and applications are just ahead for home care, and how agencies can prepare themselves to take advantage of them.

Objectives:

• Discuss alternate funding sources that could defray the cost of investment in health information technology;
• Identify internal value propositions that support home care in combination with telehealth; and
• Determine ways to tap into new financial incentives created through pay-for-performance models for patient care.

Faculty: Bill Dunstan , MHRA, MSW , Vice, President, Home Care , Lancaster General Health System , Lancaster, , Penn.; Dr. Randy Moore, MD, MBA, Chairman and CEO , American Telecare, Inc., Eden, Minn.; Donna DeBlois, ADN, BSW, MSB , Executive Director , Kno-Wal Lin-Homecare and Hospice, Rockland, Maine.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Hospice

316–Hospice and Long Term Home Health Care

New York State passed legislation for both the Medicaid Hospice and Long Term Home Health Care Programs. However, NYS considers it duplication for patients to receive benefits under both programs. However, it provides the Hospice program to patients in Nursing Homes. We recommend and advocate that NYS provide coverage for Hospice to patients on the Long Term Home Health Care program. This issue and its remedy should be of interest to administrators and policy makers for specific action as well as its generalizability to other programs that constrain the maximum and best service mix to patients at home.

Objectives:

• Differentiate between Hospice and Long Term Home Health Programs in New York State;
• Discuss and contrast the problem with using the Hospice and LTHHC program with patients receiving Hospice and Nursing Home placement; and
• Discuss conclusions and make recommendations for expanding services of current Hospice and Long Term Home Health Care.

Faculty: Warren Balinsky, Ph.D., Asociate Professor, New School University, New York City, NY; John Chermack, MS, Assistant Administrator, Hospice of New York, Long Island City, NY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Monday, October 12, 2009; 2:30-4pm

Financial

401–Clinical Compensation, Productivity, Outcomes and a Collective Bargaining Agreement

Presenters will describe why agencies must achieve better clinical outcomes and take patient care management to new levels. All agency incentives should align with these goals, even under a Union labor contract. Learn how to achieve clinical and financial outcomes for your agency.

Objectives:

• Identify current compensation options to recruit and retain staff.
• Discuss agency-wide incentives to achieve overall clinical and financial outcomes.
• Describe staff performance issues and the resulting approach to improve productivity, case capacity, and clinical outcomes under a union contract.

Faculty: Pat Laff, BS, CPA, Managing Principal, Laff Associates, Hilton Head Island, SC; Walter Borginis, III, CPA, MBA, Executive Vice President and CFO, VNA of Greater Philadelphia , Philadelphia, PA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Financial, Therapy

402–Therapy Documentation: What's Required and the Financial Impact

This session will provide detail requirements of therapy documentation in home health for state surveys and ADRs, and the financial impact of the appropriate documentation specific to occupational and physical therapy. It is not enough the agency knows the care is medically necessary, but the documentation must be crystal clear.

Objectives:

• Cite requirements for occupational & physical therapy in home health:
• Describe the Medicare Medical Necessity Documentation requirements with associated resources for review; and
• Calculate the cost of poor documentation following a medical review of a chart that contains OT & PT visits.

Faculty: Melinda Gaboury, BBA , Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions, Nashville, TN; Michael Horsley, BS, RPT, Owner/Therapist, All Coast Therapy Services, Lady Lake, FL; Beulah Scott, BS, OTR/L, COS-C, Owner/Administrator, All Coast Therapy Services, Inc., Lady Lake, FL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

403–Easing & Enhancing Transition Across Care Settings

The ease with which patients transition from the acute setting to home can either inhibit or facilitate recovery. In this session participants will learn how a home care agency implemented the Coleman model to decrease re-hospitalization and improve patient and provider satisfaction

Objectives:

• State three problems reflecting difficulty with transitions across care settings;
• Identify three components of the Care Transition Model as outlined by Coleman; and
• Verbalize three benefits of utilizing the Care Transition Model.

Faculty: Cheryl Pacella, MSN, RN, HHCNS-BC, CPHQ, Quality Improvement Manager, Hebrew Senior Life Home Care, Canton, MA; Deborah Costello, RN, BSN, MS, Director of Quality and Safety, Caritas Home Care, Norwood, MA; Jean Zaleski, PT, MEd, Director of Community Resource Development, Holyoke Visiting Nurse Association, Holyoke, MA.

Course Level: Novice; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

404–Models to Support Clinical and Financial Needs

Problems with poor continuity of care. Low patient satisfaction? High mileage reimbursement? High turnover rate? These models might be just what your agency needs. Presenters will share similarities and differences of each model. Using both models appropriately the training costs quality of care, patient satisfaction, continuity of care, care coordination and most importantly staff turnover has been improved.

Objectives:

• Discuss case management as a model that supports clinical and financial drivers;
• Identify and discuss key issues related to these models: and
• Discuss the pros and cons of each model and cite why the models would or not work in your agency.

Faculty: Bonnie Casey, RN, BA, Performance Improvement/Educator, Saint Mary's Home Care Services, Reno, NV; Steve Estipona, RN/BSN, In Home Care Services Manager, Saint Mary's Home Care Services, Reno, NV.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices, Clinical & Disease Management

405–SHOW ME: A QI Tool to Enhance Interdisciplinary Functional Assessment

Nurses and therapists assess patients' functional abilities differently, which can negatively affect outcomes. Learn how this QI team applied best practices and enhanced the functional assessment with SHOW ME, a tool that promotes OASIS accuracy.

Objectives:

• Explain assessment challenges to achieving good functional outcomes;
• Describe a process and tool for improving functional assessment across disciplines; and
• Describe the outcomes of the QI initiative and process for institutionalizing SHOW ME.

Faculty: Mary Narayan, MSN, RN, HHCNS-BC, COS-C, Clinical Education Specialist, Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., Annandale, VA; Ann VanVoorhis, RPT, HCS-D, Clinical Manager, Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., Annandale, VA; Joise Salgado, OTRL, Clinical Manager, Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., Annandale, VA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Managed Care

406–The ABC's of Medicare Advantage: Provider Relationship and Plans

Do you really feel you know what you need to know about Medicare Advantage plans and their responsibilities regarding home health services? This program offers the essential basics about Medicare Advantage, including, the differences in the types of MA plans, requirements for coverage of home health services, the plans' responsiblities on payment rates, and the decision making process on care authorizations.

Objectives:

• Identify the differences in Medicare Advantage plans including Coordinated Care Plans, Preferred rovider Organizations, and Private Fee-For Service plans:
• Desciribe the nature of the coverage obligations under MA plans regarnding home health services; and
• Recognize the authority and responsibilities of MA plans in negotiating or setting payment rates.

Faculty: Sherl Brand, BN, BSC, CCM, President & CEO, The Home Care Association of New Jersey, Iselin, NJ; William Dombi, Esq., Vice President for Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

407–Beyond Productivity Standards

Due to the onset of PPS 2008 and rapid expansion into new markets, this agency shifted its focus away from the traditional productivity measure of visits alone and incorporated additional indicators. This presentation will share metrics used by Celtic Healthcare to expand its provider productivity expectations, including acuity-based benchmarks for caseloads, care management, and profitability.

Objectives:

• Describe various metrics used for improving and maximizing clinical financial production;
• Illustrate dashboard samples for effective direct labor management; and
• Demonstrate impact on revenue and overall financial performance.

Faculty: Sean Hunt, MPM, Data Analyst, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Mars, PA; Bill Gammie, MHA, CPHIMS, Vice President of Business Services, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Mars, PA.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Marketing & Business Development, Leadership/Ethics

408–Customers Only Want Two Things: Providing Extraordinary Home Health Customer Service

This interactive session provides dozens of ideas, best practices and tools for providing superb customer service in home health. This program helped one company grow its client base by 25 percent. Learn how to assess and measure customer satisfaction and how to build and motivate a service-centered team and leave with tips and ideas to take back to your team.

Objectives:

• Articulate two things that patients and customers really want;
• Apply best practice skills for providing service in a home health setting; and
• Create customer-friendly processes, including serving the difficult customer.

Faculty: Kevin Miller, MS, MEd, President, VisionBound International, Springville, UT; Beau Sorensen, BS, Executive, First Choice Home Health and Hospice, Orem, UT.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Telehealth & Technology, Clinical & Disease Management

409–Components and Strategies of Heart Failure and Telehealth Disease Management Programs in Home Care

This program will discribe the components of heart failure and telehealth home care disease management programs. Education for clinical staff and disease management strategies will be identified. The focus will include the tools needed for disease managment programs to impact on clinical excellence and quality patient care.

Objectives:

• Describe the components of a heart failure disease management home care program including telehealth;
• Identify specific disease management strategies for heart failure; and
• Explain how a telehealth program impacts on disease management.

Faculty: Mary Ann Rosa, RN, CS, GNP, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, Consultant/Asst. Professor, North Shore-LIJ Hosp H/C / Queensborough Comm. College, New Hyde Park/Bayside, NY; Kathleen Pecinka, RN, BSN, Telehealth Manager, North Shore LIJ Hospital Home Care Network, New Hyde Park, NY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Private Pay

410–Merging Opportunities Brings Better Care, Better Outcomes, Increased Financial Rewards

Participants will be able to identify the opportunities offered by diversifying their business to incorporate geriatric care management and private pay services. Participants will learn planning and implementation strategies to successfully develop the uniting of these two programs.

Objectives:

• Identify the complimentary aspects and challenges of blending a geriatric care management and private duty services;
• Demonstrate the role of the PGCM (Professional Geriatric Care Manager) in managing private duty cases; and
• Identify at least five opportunities that the combination brings to the agency and its clients.

Faculty: Ginny Kenyon, RN, MN, Principal, KS Consulting, LLC, Seattle, WA; Karen Allard, RN, BSN, CCM, Geriatric Nurse Care Manager/Clinical Manager , Sound Options, Inc., Tacoma , WA .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice

411–Improving the Clinician's Use of Dignity Conserving Care

What happens to a person's sense of dignity when faced with a life limiting illness? This session uses the past 20 years of research conducted by Dr. Harvey Chochinov to present the concept of dignity conserving care and the dignity model. You will meet a patient through video-recorded sessions and see the model come alive.

Objectives:

• Discuss the concept of dignity;
• Define dignity conserving care; and
• Explain the dignity model.

Faculty: Tanya Stewart, MD, Medical Director, Community Home Health and Hospice, Vancouver, WA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Hospice

412–Providing Hospice Services for LTC Facility Residents Under the New COPs

The regulations governing hospice care for patients who reside in long-term care facilities dramatically changed with the publication of the new Conditions of Participation (CoP) which took effect 12/2/08. This workshop will explore new regulations and current interpretive guidelines, as well as suggesting best practices in meeting the regulations. The Office of the Inspector 's General work with hospice in facilities and areas of concern for fraud and abuse will be reviewed.

Objectives:

• Analyze the diference between the old and new Hospice CoPs for caring for LTC facililty patients;
• Identify best practices in providing hospice services to LTC facility residents; and
• Discuss the OIG area of concern for potential hospice fraud and abuse relationships with LTC facilities.

Faculty: Carla Braveman, BSN, RN, MEd, CHCE, President/CEO, Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL; Kathleen Belsky, RN, Hospice Consultant , Seattle , Wash..

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Leadership/Ethics

413–A Business Model that Gives Back - Make a Difference in Society to Achieve Significance

A new way of thinking is emerging in U.S. businesses; an approach that gives back to the community. It demands that companies make a difference in society to achieve significance. It challenges businesses to take responsibility for the planet. Consumer statistics show that 65 percent of Americans are willing to switch to a brand with a "good cause" if price and quality are equal. The new worker generation is attracted to a company with this philosophy. Home care and hospice businesses should become aware of this revolution and begin to participate in a fashion not seen before.

Objectives:

• Discuss the components of the responsibility revolution:
• Describe the "generations" to recruit and retain with little or no funding to create social value in your community; and
• Describe ways to implement this business model philosophy within your organization.

Faculty: Marcylle Combs, RN, BS, CHCE, President/CEO, Foundation Management Services, Inc., Denton, TX; Brenda Beggs, RN, CHCE, Vice President of Clinical Operations, Foundation Management Services, Inc., Denton, TX.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SEBUS).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

414–Ten Principles of Legal Marketing

Competition is fierce and everyone is marketing, but your agency may not be marketing within the law. If you are confused, you are not alone. Each principle is followed by specific marketing examples and legal analysis.

Objectives:

• Identify 10 principles to legal marketing;
• Describe examples of legal and improper marketing; and
• Identify major Stark, Anti-Kickback and Civil Monetary Penalty issues.

Faculty: Denise Bonn, Esq., Deputy Director, Center for Health Care Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Leadership/Ethics

415–Chow Qigong (Traditional Chinese Medicine): The Internal Power to Excel at All Levels

Ancient wisdom for modern challenges in this new world of new visions for the home care executive, care giver and patient...giving hope where there was no hope...rejuvenating passion, commitment, and excitement in life professionally and personally. Qigong is a Chinese, ancient, natural and subtle vital life force energy healing art and science for the body, mind and spirit connecting with nature. Dr. Effie Chow, has developed an exciting blend of western health principles and eastern healing arts to promote health and provide energy for living life to its fullest and for chronic conditions. Any aspiring or stressed out executive, clinical manager, visiting nurse, or patient can benefit from Chow Qigong. You will witness and learn how Qigong skills can deal with headaches, chronic pain, stress and more; build the immune system, improve energy to ultimately function at our optimum. Qigong is a powerful tool to improve the health and wellness of home care patients with chronic disease conditions and expedite healing as the following testimony illustrates. " My mother, a former RN, had a stroke 7 years ago, was non-verbal and doomed to a lifetime in bed, with severe pain, left sided paralysis; emergency visits were frequent. Since Chow Qigong, she is pain-free, can now speak, has gained left side movement, gets up in the easy-stand and uses a power-chair even going outside; emergency visits are minimal. We are so happy including our home care giver, who has learned Chow Qigong skills which she uses effectively on my mother". Carolyn B., San Francisco Dr. Chow founded the East-West Academy of Healing Arts in 1973. The website address is www.eastwestqigong.com. She was appointed by President Clinton to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. Dr. Chow travels extensively around the world providing Qigong seminars, training programs, and events.

Objectives:

• Describe basic principles of Chow Qigong;
• Discuss how Chow Qigong can be used for home care patients with chronic illness; and
• Apply Qigong as taught by Dr. Chow.

Faculty: Effie Poy Yew Chow, PhD, RN, DiplAc, NCCAOM, Qigong Grandmaster, East West Academy of Healing Arts, San Francisco, CA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PD).

Leadership/Ethics

416–Hospital Home Care Association of America Open Forum

The Hospital Home Care Association of America, a NAHC affiliate organization focused on the interests and concerns of home care programs that are integrated with hospitals and health systems, is holding its first annual Open Forum meeting. This Open Forum promises to be an exciting event where the most important issues of the day will be discussed by HHCAA Advisory Board members and the audience/participants. This is not a lecture“it is an open dialogue with anyone with interests in hospital-affiliated home care. A special focus of this inaugural Open Forum will be the ”hot-off-the-press’ findings from the national survey sponsored by Blackberry.

Objectives:

• Identify goals for the first open forum of the Hospital Home Care Association of America;
• Discuss major issues and concerns pertinent to hospital affiliated home care; and
• Relate findings from the National Survey sponsored by blackberry.

Faculty: Marcia P. Reissig, RN, MS, CHCE, CEO, Sutter VNA and Hospice, Fairfield, Calif..

Course Level: TBA

Monday, October 12, 2009; 4:15-5:45pm

Financial

501–Drilling Into the New Complexities of Medicare Billing

Medicare home health PPS refinements significantly complicated the billing process. This workshop will provide strategies for drilling into the details of your billing processes. Ultimately, participants will take away valuable insights on available industry resources and processes that can be implemented to help optimize efficiencies.

Objectives:

• Cite typical Medicare home health billing challenges;
• Apply suggested key billing performance measures; and
• Identify effective and efficient process management tools.

Faculty: Jeff Lewis, BS, President/CEO, Lewis, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA; M. Aaron Little, BS, CPA, Senior Managing Consultant, BKD, LLP, Springfield, MO.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Therapy, Clinical & Disease Management

502–Physical Therapy in a Chronic Disease Management Model

This program will provide a structure for a therapy program directed at chronic disease management. Treatment patterns will be connected with the intended impact, rationale for extended treatment will be presented, and case studies will be used for illustration.

Objectives:

• Describe the connection between function/activity level with the progression of chronic diseases;
• Define the role of the therapist and patient during each of the three phases of therapy delivery utilizing the home-based chronic model; and
• List the three non-traditional measures used to measure outcomes in this model.

Faculty: Jim Pittman, MSPT, COS-C, Rehab Coordinator, Baptist Health Home Health Network, Little Rock, AR.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

503– Hospital at Home: A New Frontier for Home Health

The acute care hospital can be a difficult treatment environment for older patients. The Hospital at Home is an innovative model of care that provides acute hospital-level care in the home for certain patients in lieu of a traditional acute hospital admission. In this session the Hospital at Home model will be described in detail and the business model for home health agencies will be explored.

Objectives:

• Describe the rationale for, features of, and clinical outcomes associated with the Hospital at Home model of care
• Describe the potential business case for Hospital at Home for home health agencies and integrated delivery systems;
• Consider strategic initiatives for partnerships with integrated delivery systems to develop Hospital at Home programs.

Faculty: Lesley Cryer, BS, Executive Director, Presbyterian Home Healthcare Services, Albuquerque, NM; Bruce Leff, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Karen Thompson, OTR, CCM, MPA, Director, Speical Program and H@H, Presbyterian Home Healthcare, Albuquerque, NM; Scott Shannon, MBA, Business and Finance Manager, Presbyterian Home Healthcare Services, Albuquerque, NM.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Human Resources, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

504–Bridging the Gap in Clinician Preparation for Home Care

Learn how one agency developed an introductory classroom series of six topics to augment and round out the orientation of nurses and therapists. The presenters will describe how the series of modules have been implemented.

Objectives:

• Identify reasons to implement a Home Care 101 classroom series for new clinicians;
• Describe ways that Home Care 101 classes benefit both new clinicians and managers; and
• Discuss the subject components of the Home Care 101 series, identified presenters, basic structure and evaluation outcomes.

Faculty: Suzanne Van Loon, RNC, BSN, MPH, CHCE, Director of Clinical Services, Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, Basking Ridge, NJ; Mary Ann Whiteman, BSN, MPA, Staff Education Consultant, Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, Basking Ridge, NJ.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Leadership/Ethics, Financial

506–Home Care Valuations in the Real World: Putting Theory into Practice

This session is real-world, nuts and bolts that is designed to demystify the concepts behind valuations of home care agencies that are for sale. The information presented is practical and useful to anyone thinking about buying or selling a homecare agency. Have your toughest questions answered!

Objectives:

• Describe key value drivers that impact home care valuations;
• Explain the capitalization of earnings method of valuation; and
• Apply the capitalization of earnings method through case studies.

Faculty: Jack Eskenazi, BA, Managing Partner , Healthcare Advisory Partners, Los Angeles, CA; Brian Bruenderman, BA, Director of Development, ResCare, Inc., Louisville, KY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Leadership/Ethics

507–Navigating Standards Compliance Through the Eyes of the Patient

For years, health care organizations have sought effective methods to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and accreditation standards. This presentation will demonstrate that by involving key stakeholders, organizations can provide staff with a highly effective method of self-determining compliance to standards through an examination of the patient's experience.

Objectives:

• Contrast the efforts of health care organizations to implement standard compliance plans with inability to ensure a reliable and consistent outcome;
• Describe the patient-centric approach to examining operational processes in order to evaluate standards compliance; and
• Explore the strategic, organization-wide benefits to be gained from utilizing a patient-centric tracer methodology.

Faculty: Margherita Labson , RN, Associate Director, Home Care Accreditation, The Joint Commission, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Marketing & Business Development

508–Easy Ways to Build Brand Identity in a Crowded Marketplace

As competition heats up, it becomes increasingly important that your agency is differentiated from your competitors. This program provides practical tips on how to enhance your visibility in the communities you serve so that referral sources and consumers won't just choose home care, but will choose your agency.

Objectives:

• Identify branding opportunities;
• Develop branding strategy; and
• Implement branding program.

Faculty: Polly Rehnwall, BA, MA, Senior Manager, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development

509 –A High-impact Monthly Marketing Routine Aimed at Success: Balance, Strength, Flexibility and Endurance

Like exercise, marketing for home health care services can be challenging, but when the correct plan is made and the planned motions are executed with perfection and consistency, healthy results follow. Learn how savvy marketing strategy builds on successes and increases marketing efforts as goals are met. Consistency in brand and messaging; consistency in the right communications to the right people, over time, will create a strong and enduring business that is remembered by referral sources.

Objectives:

• Demonstrate the importance to business growth of an ongoing monthly marketing strategy;
• Discuss the human elements of reactions to branding, consistent messaging and educational informational components; and
• Identify how best to use a variety of marketing tactics consistently for best results.

Faculty: Merrily Orsini, MSSW, Chair, Private Duty Homecare Association of America; Managing Director, corecubed, Louisville, KY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice

510–Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Assessment

The new Hospice CoPs requires team participation in assessing hospice patients. This workshop guides IDT in the process of developing the comprehensive assessments using the Hospice Experience Model.

Objectives:

• Describe the Comprehensive Assessment requirement of the new CoPs, IDT practice and optimal care;
• Explain how The Hospice Experience approach values and integrates IDT collaborative assessment; and
• Outline processes to implement the Comprehensive Assessment requirement including documentation of the IDT collaborative process.

Faculty: Susan Bruno, MSW, BA, Director of Outreach, Suncoast Institute, Clearwater, FL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Hospice, Financial

511–Balancing Hospice Clinical Excellence and Financial Stability

As hospices adapt to the many changes under the new CoPs and CMS hospice data collection requirements, a special focus must be placed on the delicate balance of optimizing organization-wide operations and remaining within budgetary limitations through effective financial management. This workshop provides guidance on ensuring the new requirements are met while core structures of finance and operations are well-grounded even amid a sea of change.

Objectives:

• Identify operational approaches to meeting the new CoP requirements;
• Discuss methods to achieve cost efficiencies and stabilization techniques in the evolving new CMS regulatory demands; and
• Identify electronic applications to help hospice operational success.

Faculty: Robert Simione, BS, Principal , Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT; Carla Braveman, BSN, RN, M.Ed., CHCE, President/CEO, Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

512–An Innovative Wound Care Program

Learn how this agency developed and implemented a program that has resulted in overall decrease in length of stay for wound care patients and saved $20,000 a month on wound care supplies and agency recognition by area hospitals and practitioners as the provider of choice.

Objectives:

• Identify new ways of thinking of wound care;
• Discuss challenges to wound care delivery; and
• Relate new approaches to wound care.

Faculty: Kathy Duckett, RN, BSN, Director of Clinical Programs, Partners Home Care, Waltham, MA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

513–Home Health Regulatory Round-up

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) is in the process of applying the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program to all providers nationwide. The purpose of this project is to detect and correct Medicare payment errors. A representative from the CMS will present an overview of the RAC program and how it will impact providers of services in the home. Questions will be entertained after the formal presentation by a representative from CMS. In addition, an overview of other regulatory and policy changes that CMS is planning will be offered.

Objectives:

• Identify CMS plans for the RAC program;
• Describe how home care providers can prepare for and respond to RAC audits; and
• Describe other CMS policies and projects under development that will impact home health providers.

Faculty: Mary St. Pierre, RN, BSN, MGA, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Therapy, Human Resources

514–Contract vs. Employee: The Therapy Dilemma

Decisions to use contractors or to employ therapists are driven by staff availability, financial and operational considerations. This session will analyze how each should affect an agency's decision. The presenters will conclude with interactive case studies in which the participants can apply the information they have just learned.

Objectives:

• Identify the issues related to contracting for therapy services;
• Calculate the financial impact of different therapy staffing models; and
• Identify the operational issues that affect your agency's decision on choice of staffing model for therapy.

Faculty: Terry Cichon, CPA, Senior Manager, Dir. of Healthcare Operations, FR&R Healthcare Consulting, Inc., Deerfield, IL; Linda Leone, RN, President/CEO, Prairieland Home Care, Spring Valley, IL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Telehealth & Technology, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

515–Finding Clinical and Cost Outcomes through Home Telemonitoring

The use of both disease management best practices and home telemonitoring can prove effective for both clinical outcomes and cost outcomes. Discover how to improve your key metrics as it directly relates to patient care and financial performance. Telemonitoring is now crucial to patient care and the agency bottom line.

Objectives:

• Discuss at least 3 clinical outcomes to be achieved using home telemonitoring;
• Identify best practices for achieving positive cost outcomes from your telemonitoring program; and
• Recognize key data to collect / measure the effectiveness of your telemonitoring program.

Faculty: Wanda Bankhead, RN, MSN, CDE, Clinical Director, Sta-Home Health and Hospice, Jackson, Miss.; Krista Kelly, RN, BN, CCP, Program Consultant, Philips Home Healthcare Solutions, Springfield, MO.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

516–Increased Scrutiny of the Hospice and Home Health Industries - Recognizing and Avoiding Practices that Invite Qui Tam Suits and Attract Regulatory and Prosecutorial Attention

In recent months the government has intervened in a number of qui tam suits brought under the False Claims Act alleging "hospice fraud" by large providers. These interventions signal a development which not only enhances the ability of qui tam plaintiffs to recover substantial sums in such suits, but also underscores the need for hospice providers to conduct themselves properly and be prepared to defend themselves vigorously from allegations of unlawful conduct. This discussion aims to help those providers understand the contours of civil and criminal liability and to recognize and avoid the types of practices which attract the attention of potential qui tam plaintiffs, regulators, and prosecutors. In addition, the panelists will address the best ways to navigate the perilous territory of a government investigation in the current environment of heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Objectives:

• Discuss the False Claims Act and its application in the hospice context;
• Discuss "Hospice Fraud" from the government's perspective - the background, evolution, and resolution of a hospice fraud investigation;
• Discuss the related issues associated with an evolving focus on home health care fraud allegations; Name preventative measures for how to create and enforce policies and programs to minimize the risk of civil and criminal liability;
• Relate what to do when the authorities come knocking and best ways to communicate and coordinate with the government; and Describe the marketing of "hospice fraud" as a new theory of qui tam recovery, explore new investigative tools, and consider the impact on an industry already on edge.

Faculty: Sheila Sawyer, Partner, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, , Nashville, , Tennessee; William Athanas, Of Counsel, Waller, Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, Birmingham , Alabama; Lloyd , Peeples, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Tuesday, October 13, 2009; 8 to 9:30am

Financial

601–Proactive Prevention of Occupational Fraud - Safeguarding Provider Assets

Occupational fraud and abuse poses a serious threat to health care organizations. This program will identify the risks, use real-life examples and examine prevention methods for home care providers. Learn firsthand how one provider organization is mitigating the risk of employee/contractor fraud.

Objectives:

• Cite the elements of occupational fraud;
• Identify and evaluate the risk of fraud; and
• Apply proven fraud prevention methods.

Faculty: Katherine Jones, CPA, CFE, CHC, Manager, Hooper Cornell, PLLC, Boise, ID; Ken Hooper, CPA, CFE, CHC, Principal, Hooper Cornell, PLLC, Boise, ID; Debbie Osborn, CPA, MBA, VP/CFO, Idaho Home Health and Hospice, Twin Falls, ID.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

602–Critical Changes to FMLA Can Impact Agency Success

The Department of Labor has issued its final regulations to the FMLA amendments, which took effect January 16, 2009. Join us for a discussion of the new FMLA regulations and learn the essentials so that your agency ensures compliance.

Objectives:

• Explain how the changes to the FMLA are designed to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Ragsdale case;
• Discuss the recent implementation of the statutory provisions relating to the military; and
• Discuss the changes to the notice requirements under the FMLA, as well as other changes to the FMLA

Faculty: Karen Doner, Esq. , Attorney, William Mullen, McLean, VA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Clinical & Disease Management, Leadership/Ethics

603–A Logical Best Fit for a Patient - Centered Medical Home Physician Partnership

This program will outline tenents of the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model and provide compelling reasons why the field of home care is a best-fit for partnerships with primary physician groups.

Objectives:

• Describe the five guiding principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home and their relationship with current home health care principles;
• List physician challenges and home care strengths in meeting the intent of the Patient Centered Medical Home model; and
• Examine proposed partnership roles and functions for feasibility and reproducibility within your particular agency and health care environment.

Faculty: Paula Suter, RN, BSN, MA, Director, Chronic Care Management, Baptist Health Home Health Network, Little Rock, AR; Beth Hennessey, RN, MSN, Executive Director, Baptist Health Home Health Network, Little Rock, AR; Kim Wipf, RN, MS, CCRN, Home Care Solution Manager, Cerner BeyondNow, Kansas City, MO.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Therapy, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

604–OBQI-based Case Conference-Live

Participants in this session will observe interactive demonstrations of OBQI case conferences from start of care to discharge of individual clients. Scripting will be provided with live audience demonstrations that will reveal the direction and tonality of the dialogue employed to prompt clinicians toward greater levels of clinical success. Looking ahead, a version of clinical review of this sort will be required for agency success in the looming P4P era.

Objectives:

• Describe the OBQI-based case conference system and how it differentiates from traditional formats;
• Identify a progressive method of isolating individual disciplines as a means of clinical delivery quality control; and
• Demonstrate in real-time the OBQI-based case conference dialogue to include interactive audience participation.

Faculty: Arnie Cisneros, PT, Owner, Physical Therapist , Home Health Strategic Management, East Lansing, MI.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Human Resources , Leadership/Ethics

605–Training for Excellence: Raising the Bar for your First Line Managers

What happens when you promote an excellent case manager to a first line supervisor? Learn about the impact of an intensive, interactive leadership training program for first line managers at one home health agency. Participants will learn from specific examples of the training approach, including content, tools, and strategies for success.

Objectives:

• Discuss the rationale for creating and providing leadership training for first line managers;
• Describe the components and topics of an interactive leadership training program for first line managers; and
• Discuss the impact of the training on one agency and its managers.

Faculty: Laura Gramenelles, BSN, COS-C, HCS-D, Senior Manager, Simione Consultants, LLC, Westborough, MA; Jennie Strauch, RN, BSN, MBA, Director of Berks VNA, Berks VNA, Wyomissing, PA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Managed Care

606–Medicare Managed Care: Contracting To Provide Care and Negotiating Payment Rates

Medicare managed care plans present both opportunities and risks from home health agencies seeking to provide care to the plans' enrollees. Those risks can be contained when the home health agency understands the contractual obligations proposed by the plans. Additionally, negotiating payments rates is not a "take it or leave it" option: you do have opportunities to get what you want. This program offers essential guidance in understanding the contract and winning the negotiation.

Objectives:

• Identify and understand important contract terms with managed care entities;
• Describe crucial factors involved in successful rate negotiation; and
• Recognize opportunities to achieve a good business relationship with managed care plans.

Faculty: H. Kenneth McNulty, MBA, Vice President, Finance, The Visiting Nurse Association of Boston, Charleston, MA; Walter Borginis, III, CPA, MBA , Executive Vice President and CEO, VNA of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; William Dombi, Esq., Vice Prsident for Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Leadership/Ethics, Emergency/Disaster/Pandemic Preparedness

607–Emergency and Disaster Prepardness A Collaborative Approach to Paraprofessional Service Delivery During Emergency Events

Participants will discuss the role of home health, hospice and paraprofessional providers in emergency preparedness planning and how to use a collaborative approach to insure client service delivery regardless of agency location or size.

Objectives:

• Discuss the role of home health, hospice and paraprofessional providers in emergency preparedness planning;
• Identify the resources required to insure that paraprofessional services can be maximized during emergency events; and
• Review the components of the emergency event program.

Faculty: Terese Acampora, RN, BSN, MA, Director of Contract Administration, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care, New York, NY; Marki Flannery, BA, MA, President, Partners in Care, New York, NY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

608–Who Says You Can't Teach Home Health and Hospice Nurses to Sell?

Leading home and health care organizations are meeting with fierce, and many times new, competition. Discover how to conquer the competition by providing your hospice nurses with the building blocks of proven sales training.

Objectives:

• Discuss the historic roadblocks to creating a customer centric, sales focused organization;
• Create a sales training program for success; and
• Identify ways to measure and monitor performance.

Faculty: Michael Ferris, Director, Marketing, Sales & Customer Services, Simione Consultants, Chapel Hill, NC.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Telehealth & Technology, Therapy, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

609–Computerized Documentation: How to Get Your Clinicians on Board

Acclamation of clinical staff to a computerized documentation system can be a technology and morale nightmare. Presenters for this session will share their agency's roadmap for successful transition to paperless with happy clinicians.

Objectives:

• Cite key factors in choosing an appropriate documentation software system;
• Identify clinical user satisfaction issues and successful agency strategies implemented; and
• Develop guidelines for establishing a play book for your agency to assist successful transitioning to point of care.

Faculty: Diana Kornetti, MA, PT, HCS-D, COS-C, Administrator/Owner, Integrity Home Health Care, Inc., Ocala, FL; Lisa Molton, Office Manager, Project Manager, Integrity Home Health Care, Inc., Ocala, FL; Sherry Teague, MESS, ATC, PTA, CFO/Owner, Integrity Home Health Care, Inc., Ocala, FL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development

610–Personal Branding: The Magic is in Your Message

Learn the value of personal branding from an agency that has had great success by using this element of marketing. This workshop provides stimulating discussion on what is personal branding and how to do it.

Objectives:

• Discuss how to develop a brand.
• Utilize a messaging session to develop your agency's message; and
• Relate the importance of consistency in your message and a call to action.

Faculty: Bob Roth, BS, Managing Partner, Cypress HomeCare Solutions, Phoenix, AZ.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice

611–Lessons Learned From Opening a Hospice Inpatient Unit

This program will look at the operational and financial feasibility of opening an inpatient hospice unit to include discusing the research steps necessary including the data and statistics to be collected and analyzed. An example of a service delivery and staffing model will be presented.

Objectives:

• Discuss the steps and importance of conducting a feasibility assessment for starting up a hospice inpatient unit;
• Identify key operational and financial requirements to support a hospice inpatient unit; and
• Discuss the lessons learned and strategies for successful operation of a hospice inpatient facility.

Faculty: Kay Williams, MSW, CSW, CCM, Director-Lourdes Hospice, HomeHealth, Rescue Alert, Lourdes Hospice, Home Health, and Palliative Care, Paducah, KY; Robin Seidman, RN, BSN, MSN, MBA, LNCC, HCS-D, Director, Simione Consultants, Westbourgh, MA; Andrea Devoti, MBA, Vice President and Executive Director , Neighborhood Health Agency, West Chester, PA; David Berman, CPA, Principal, Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Hospice, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

612–What's New in Hospice Medical Review?

Expansion in the provision of hospice services has resulted in an increased medical review of hospice claims. Attendees will learn from a fiscal intermediary medical director what types of claims are drawing attention and how to properly document to ensure payment. The medical director and hospice provider will discuss specific case examples to clarify billing for appropriate levels of care.

Objectives:

• Identify types of hospice claims attracting medical review;
• Discuss effective documentation of care provider; and
• Describe examples of appropriate level of care billing.

Faculty: James Cope, MD, Medical Director, National Government Services, LLC, Milawaukee, WI; Timothy Boon, RN, BS, CRNH, Executive Director, Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Newton, MA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Clinical & Disease Management

613–Complete Diabetes Management in Home Health

Managing diabetes is challenging for home health. Agencies must stay abreast of emerging treatments in diabetes. A complete diabetes overview and implementation strategies will be provided.

Objectives:

• Identify basic and advanced treatments for patients with diabetes;
• Discuss the implementation of diabetes management techniques into their agency's management program; and
• Describe how to incorporate diabetes education into clinical practice to impact patient outcomes.

Faculty: Amy Hartman, BS, RN, COS-C, Program Director, BlueStar Home Health, Sandy, UT; Jeff Smith, RN, Case Manager, BlueStar Home Health, Sandy, UT; Michelle Litchman, MS, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner, Wasatch Endocrinology and Diabetes Specialists, Salt Lake City, UT.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

614–Medicare Enrollment and Maintaining Billing Privileges

Provider enrollment is much more than the filing you make to become a Medicare provider. As a means to address fraud and abuse issues, CMS keeps adopting new requirements providers must satisfy to maintain their Medicare billing privileges, as well as actions contractors must take to verify compliance. Provider non-compliance can result in severe penalties. Attend this session for an overview of the current requirements for enrollment and maintaining billing privileges.

Objectives:

• Identify what and when you need to report;
• Discuss provider actions necessary to maintain Medicare billing privileges; and
• Describe Medicare verification activities and enforcement for non-compliance.

Faculty: Denise Bonn, Esq., Deputy Director, Center for Health Care Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Human Resources, Leadership/Ethics

615–New Graduate Nurse Internship Program

Despite widespread staffing challenges, home care agencies have historically been reluctant to hire new graduate nurses because of the high degree of independence, judgement and maturity required for nurses to be successful. Learn how one agency developed a program to recruit, support and train newly licensed nurses wishing to start their nursing careers in the home care setting. The presenters will share the process for a realistic budget, building progressive productivity and incentivizing both interns and mentors. Outcomes including data on productivity, retention and job satisfaction for both new nurses and clinical mentors will be shared.

Objectives:

• List key components for a new graduate nurse internship in home care.
• Discuss resources and activities required to implement a new graduate nurse internship; and
• Identify the financial and organizational impact of a new graduate nurse internship.

Faculty: Judith Flynn, RN, BSN, MBA, Vice President, Patient Care Quality, Compliance Officer, Partners Home Care, Waltham, MA; Judith Arneson, RN, BSN, Coordinator and Clinical Instructor, New Graduate, Partners Home Care, Waltham, MA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

616–Compliance Tips: Appeals Strategies for Recovery Audit Contractors and Medicare Audits

With anticipated increasedMedicare audit activity as the RAC program expands, nationwide, it is essential that home health and hospice providers develop and implement systems to respond to records requests made and adopt/implement compliance strategies now. This presentation is a must for home health and hospice providers as CMS has recently announced its intention to carefully scrutinize home health services specifically.

Objectives:

• Describe the CMS Recovery Audit Contractors program and its potential impact on Medicare providers;
• Identify the primary compliance risk areas facing home health and hospice providers and the proactive compliance strategies to adopt; and
• Describe the Medicare appeals process with appeals strategies that can be used if a hospice provider is faced with a RAC/Medicare audit.

Faculty: Andrew Wachler, Esq., Principal, Wachler & Associates, PC, Royal Oak, MI.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Tuesday, October 13, 2009; 2:00pm-3:30pm

Financial, Hospice

701–Hospice Cost Report 1A

Participants will receive step-by-step instructions on accurately completing a Medicare cost report and CMS 339. Get an understanding of one of the most difficult filing procedures, learn how an accurate report can assist with benchmarking and serve as a valuable management tool.

Objectives:

• Identify the purpose of cost reports and the cost report filing process;
• Review the flow of the cost report; and
• Identify Medicare cost reporting data requirements.

Faculty: Thomas Boyd, BA, MBA, Principal, Boyd & Nicholas, Inc., Rohnert Park, CA; Dave Macke, HHFMA, MBA, Director of Reimbursement Services, VonLehman and Company Inc., Fort Mitchell, KY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Clinical & Disease Management, Leadership/Ethics

703–Episode Management in a Clinical Management Model

Managers often struggle to balance best practices with financial pressures. This workshop will empower participants with strategies to measure monitor and manage clinical and financial outcomes. A new care management model is at the heart of this foundation; core concepts will be described using a case study to describe the challenges faced when implementing the episode management model

Objectives:

• Cite the research and policy initiatives compelling a change in our health system;
• Explain the home health agency imperative for a new clinical management model; and
• Describe the episode management model and its objectives.

Faculty: Karen Vance, OTR, Supervising Consultant, BKD, LLP, Springfield, MO; Vickie Morgan, RN, Director of Clinical Operations, Riverside Home Care Division, Newport News, VA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Therapy, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

704–Improve Rehabilitation Clinician Documentation for Reimbursement

Many agencies are faced with reimbursement denials due to poor or conflicting documentation submitted by their rehabilitation professionals, specifically their physical and occupational therapists. Participants in this session will learn tips and strategies for defensible documentation by rehabilitation clinicians including the use of standardized test and measures to document patients progress during the episode(s) of care.

Objectives:

• Discuss the need for rehabilitation documentation to be objective, consistent and defensible;
• Identify rehabilitation tests and measures proven to be objective, citing documentation that has proven their reliable and validity; and;
• Demonstrate how these tests and measures, used over the episode (s) of care can objectively outline a patient's progress along the continuum of care.

Faculty: Craig Moore, PT, MS, Outpatient Team Manager , Celebration Health Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Celebration, FL; Cindy Krafft, PT, MS, COS-C, Assistant Director of Operational Consulting, Fazzi Associates, Inc., Peoria, IL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Human Resources

705–Finding Humor in Home Care for Health & Harmony

This fun-filled program will emphasize how therapeutic use of humor can be just what the doctor ordered for the client, caregiver and the whole agency. It is a TREATment you can't afford to miss. Learn how to find humor in home care and positive ways to deal with change to continue doing the important work we do.

Objectives:

• State the significance of life change units and their intensity weights on illness according to the Holms-Rhae Social Readjustment Ratings Scale;
• State at least two physical and psychological benefits that can be derived by using or receiving therapeutic humor; and
• List ways you can bring therapeutic humor into your agency and into your life.

Faculty: Lawrence Brennan, BSN, MS, RN, Health and Humor Ambassador (HaHA), Thornberry Ltd., Lancaster, PA; Rosa Cunha, BSN, MSN(c), Perrformance Improvement/System Administrator, Englewood Hospital Home Health Services, Englewood, NJ.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Human Resources

706–Integrating New Technologies into Compliance Training

This presentation provides practical demonstration on developing and customizing training tools using a variety of methods and resources, such as web-based training (video streaming, training on demand), handbooks, word games/puzzles, DVD's, teleconferences with guest speakers, presenter-directed and self-directed training. Attendees will be given sample tools that contributed to one agency's success by measuring compliance program effectiveness in focusing on employee training programs.

Objectives:

• Discuss how to develop and utilize training measures that enhance monitoring and evaluating compliance;
• Provide tips for selecting relevant employee training topics using available resources; and
• Demonstrate a variety of training methods, tools and resources to transform employee training.

Faculty: Sherry Cummings, RN, BSN, CPHQ, Director of Corporate Compliance, Outreach Health Services, Inc., Austin, TX; Sherry Ray, Senior Administrative Analyst , Outreach Health Services , Katy, TX.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Leadership/Ethics

707–Spokes Alone Don't Turn the Wheel -- A Case Study of Integrated Change Management

Don't get stuck in the reactive vortex of fragmented change management. This fascinating case study presentation will provide insight on how leaders can manage all the moving parts of change while developing a healthy and motivating culture of cooperation.

Objectives:

• Describe elements of successful leadership of industry and agency change;
• Identify methods to lead your agency toward evolved clinical models of care delivery; and
• Describe processes that build a guiding coalition for change.

Faculty: Cindy Campbell, RN, BSN, Assistant Director Operational Consulting, Fazzi Associates, Inc., La Jolla, CA; Patricia Upham, RN, BS, Director, First Health Home Care, West End, NC.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/BMO).

Leadership/Ethics, Clinical & Disease Management

708–Clinical and Financial Benefits of an Adult Mental Health Home Care Program

This session will review the development and evolution of an adult mental health referral system and program implementation in a large complex home health organization. In preparation for both pay for performance (P4P) and the implementation of OASIS-C, home care providers need to be better prepared for assessment and care planning for patients with depression and other behavioral disorders.

Objectives:

• Identify the clinical, quality and financial benefits to development of AMH services;
• Examine program evaluation metrics as they relates to program's clinical, quality and financial success; and
• Identify potential implications of effective adult mental health service provision for pay for performance and the draft OASIS-C assessment.

Faculty: Rose Madden-Baer, MSN, MHSA, BC APRN, CPHQ, CHCE, Administrator, Infusion, Adult Mental Health, SP, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY; Robert Rosati, PhD, Director of Research, Evaluation and Informatics, VNSNY, Center for Home Care Policy and Research, New York, NY.

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Marketing & Business Development

709–It's All About Relationships

Home care agencies are constantly faced with the struggle of demonstrating to hospitals the financial benefit they are to the continuum of care. Tough times call for out of the box strategies. Home care agencies need to speak on a new level. This session will educate the participants on how home care agencies can speak hospital talk.

Objectives:

• Identify key indicators and language that hospitals understand;
• Describe the benefit of decreasing mortality and length of stay in acute care settings; and
• Demonstrate how to calculate critical hospital benchmarks that prove home care is a benefit to hospitals.

Faculty: Cathy Follmer, RN, BSN, MBA, HCM, CHCE, CRBI, Corporate Director Continuum of Care Services, Catholic Health Partners, Cincinnati, OH; Ron Barrera, BA, Senior Manager, Simione Consultants, LLC, Alpharetta, GA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Telehealth & Technology

710 –Telemonitoring in Home Health: Now and the Future

This program will discuss the advances and advantages of telehealth in home health over the past five years. Improved patient outcomes including decreased re-hospitalization rates and emergency room visits will be covered along with correlation to P4P.

Objectives:

• Identify advantages of telemonitoring in managment of chronic and acute disease processes as it relates to patient outcomes;
• Explain the cost effectiveness and care efficiency of telemonitoring; and
• Discuss implementation a telemonitoring program

Faculty: Judith Bellome, RN, BSN, MSEd, CEO, Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Inc., Rehabilitation, Lawrence, KS; Janet Cairns, RN, BSN, Clinical Manager, Douglas County Visiting Nurses Inc., Lawrence, KS.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Private Pay

711– A Development Model for Private Duty Agencies

As you establish your private duty business, use Growth Benchmarking to mature your operational performance. The Growth Benchmarking System will strengthen the pace of your growth and support your team's effectiveness to achieve operational excellence. Learn the strategies used by Visiting Angels 400 offices to sustain growth in a challenging economy.

Objectives:

• Identify your agency's position on the growth matrix:
• Cite three strategies to deal with plateaus in business growth; and
• Identify the key steps to reach the next tier of growth.

Faculty: Patricia Drea, RN, BSN, MPA, Chief Operations Officer, Visiting Angels, Teca City, S. C. .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Hospice

712–Compliance Self Audit-Getting Ready for Surveyors

The new hospice conditions of participation (CoPs) are finally out and the surveyors have been trained. Is your hospice ready? There are many changes under the new CoPs - from the new initial assessment within 48 hours, the comprehensive assessment within 5 days to the agency-wide quality assessment and performance improvement requirements and much, much more. CMS surveys in the past have been few and far between but the government is now pushing for more accountability to justify the explosion in Medicare expenditures on the hospice benefit. Hospices must ensure they are following the new CoP regulations as well as legal compliance requirements. This workshop will take the hospice through all levels of preparation necessary to ensure your agency's readiness.

Objectives:

• Discuss the most crucial regulations that have changed under the new CoPs;
• Analyze the potential deficiencies your agency must avoid; and
• Discuss compliance processes to ensure your agency is ready for a deficiency-free survey.

Faculty: Jennifer Lee, BSN, MS, CHC, Regional Compliance & Privacy Office, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Oakland, CA; Deborah Williams, RN, BSN, NCal Regional Practice Leader, Kaiser Permanente-Regional Offices, Oakland, CA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Hospice

713–How to Partner with your Local Volunteer Hospice

Is there a Volunteer Hospice in your service area? Often the best kept secret in town, volunteer hospices have been partnering with Medicare Certified programs for more than 20 years. Find out how you can increase your census by partnering with a volunteer hospice near you.

Objectives:

• Discuss the benefits in partnering with a volunteer hospice;
• Discuss the CMS guidelines on working with a volunteer hospice; and
• Identify the locations of volunteer hospices in your area.

Faculty: Cindy Skovgard, CFRE, Executive Director, Pathways Volunteer Hospice, Long Beach, CA; Joann Robinson, ADN, LPN, Executive Director, Hospice of Northwest Illinois, Stockton, IL; Janet Neigh, BS, Vice President, Hospice , National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Washington, DC ; Gabriela Dodson, BA, MSW, LCSW, Director of Clincial Services, Hospice of Santa Barbara, A Volunteer Hospice Organization, Santa Barbara, CA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/).

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality, Outcomes/Best Practices

714–Standardizing Wound Care and Improving Productivity with Protocols

This program describes one agency's success in implementing an automated wound management system with evidence-based protocols for improved outcomes, care standardization and staff utilizatation.

Objectives:

• Provide an overview of the agency's wound management program;
• Describe evidence-based protocols and formularies; and
• Describe how the wound program impacts standardization of wound care, documentation and care delivery across the continuum of care.

Faculty: Karen Utterback, RN, MSN, CNA, CHCE, Vice President of Clinical Stratgegies, McKesson Corp., Springfield, MO; Lois Glanz, BSN, RN, Clinical Horizon Homecare Information Specialist, Iowa Health Home Care, Urbandale, IA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Human Resources, Leadership/Ethics

715–Building a Comprehensive Preceptor Program in Home Care: A Strategy for Success

There is an increased need for skilled home care nurses as baby boomers age, acuity of home care patients increases and health care technology advances. In the face of a nursing shortage, home care organizations can prepare themselves through new retention and recruitment strategies. Participants will learn the strategies and tools to succeed in the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive preceptor program.

Objectives:

• Discuss the need to strategically plan for a comprehensive preceptor program in homecare;
• Describe how to build a preceptor training program; and
• Explain the evaluation process to ensure ongoing preceptor program success.

Faculty: Julie Reynolds, RN, MS, Clinical Director, Rochester District Visiting Nurse Association, Rochester, NH; Susan Houle, RN, Staff Education Coordinator, Rochester District VNA, Rochester, NH.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

716 – Meet Your Medicare Claim Contractor: National Government Services

National Government Services is the title 18 Medicare contractor for Home Health and Hospice providers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin. NGS will host an informative session to provide an update on the MAC transition process, the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program, Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC), Medical Review process, and claims processing issues for this region.

Objectives:

• Identify the contractor for your region;
• State the Purpose of CERT and name the two CERT contractors;
• List the four RAC contractors; and
• Describe how to submit records for ADR requests Top Medical Review.

Faculty: Corrinne Ball, RN, ADN , Provider Outreach and Clinical Education Consultant, National Government Services, Cincinnati, Ohio; Emily Fox-Squairs, AH, Provider Outreach and Education Consultant, National Government Services, Syracuse, NY .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Tuesday, October 13, 2009; 3:45pm-5:15pm

Clinical & Disease Management

801–A Loving and Gentle Approach to Challenging Behaviors with Alzherimer's Patients

An Alzheimer's Whisperer uses the theory of retrogenesis to stage the person's dementia and from this staging to understand the cognitivie and functional capabilities and deficits. Caregivers can learn to calm the fears of a person caught up in this terrible disease; some people are gifted in doing this.

Objectives:

• Describe the characteristics of an Alzheimer's Whisperer;
• Discuss and apply the theory of retrogenesis to the Stages of Alzheimer's disease; and
• Using the theory of retrogenesis,describe cognitively appropriate interventions for challenging behaviors.

Faculty: Verna Benner Carson, PhD, APRN/PMH BC, President, C&V Senior Care Specialists, Inc., Fallston, MD; Katherine Vanderhorst, BS, Vice President, C&V Senior Care Specialists, Inc., Williamsville, NY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

802–Palliative Care in all Health Care Settings

Our population is aging and getting sicker. You will learn how to integrate Palliative Care Practices for your chronically-ill patients getting into your clinical setting, as well as measure your successes.

Objectives:

• Determine practices that all clinicians should be implementing with their patients.
• Identify strategies to ensure practices are being implemented across the outpatient settings; and
• Articulate three metrics to measure the sucess of implementation across all settings.

Faculty: Pamela Coulter , MSN, RN, PHN, CHPN, RN Palliative Care Project Manager, Kaiser Permanente, Rocklin, Calif. ; Shelly Garone, MD, BA, Board Cert HPM, Internal Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care Medical Director, Kaiser Permanente, Roseville, Calif.; Edith Klecker, MBA, BSN, RN, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA).

Therapy, Clinical & Disease Management

803–The Role of Rehabilitation in Pressure Ulcer Prevention

According to a recent CMS case mix report almost eight of all patients receiving home care services have at least one pressure ulcer. With PPS 2008 in place, CMS puts a greater emphasis on the rehabilitation therapies in patients with chronic conditions. This presentation will focus on the important role of the rehabilitation therapies in preventing the development of pressure ulcers. Coordination between rehabilitation, nursing, and the home health aides will be emphasized.

Objectives:

• Identify and define pressure ulcers by stage and describe etiology and risk factors associated with skin breakdown;
• Identify and utilize an assessment tool to predict risk of pressure ulcers; and
• Cite new process measures for pressure ulcer development, describe the importance episode timing, amount of therapy and diagnoses driving therapy plan.

Faculty: Jeanne Ryan, MA, OTR, CHCE, COS-C, Executive Dircetor, VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, Northampton, MA; Michele Craig, RN, BSN, CWS, COCN, Wound and Ostomy Nurse, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, MA; Missie Godwin, RN, BA, Professional Development Manager, VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, Northampton, MA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs;

Human Resources, Leadership/Ethics

804–Creating Maximum Results and Retention of Home Care Employees

Learn how one agency created organization alignment and accountability with their in-home services leadership and clinical teams.

Objectives:

• Identify mechanisms to drive accountability within home care operations;
• Utilize outcome measures to evaluate key leadership positions within your organization; and
• Cite different ways to reward and retain results -oriented employees.

Faculty: Michele Scanlan, SPHR, BS, MA, Director Human Resources, Home Nursing Agency, Altoona, PA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/PHR).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

805–Meet Your Medicare Claim Contractor: Palmetto Government Benefit Administrators

Palmetto GBA has been named the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for home health and hospice providers in the states it currently services: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Palmetto will host an informative session to provide an update on the latest Medicare coverage and claims processing issues.

Objectives:

• Relate information about Medicare home health and hospice coverage
• Identify new issues related to claims processing.

Faculty: Marilyn Jeske, BS, Medicare Ombudsman, Provider Outreach and Education Department, Palmetto GBA, Columbia, SC; Sharon Briggman, BA, Ombudsman , Provider Outreach and Education Department , Palmetto GBA, Columbia, SC; Kim Campbell, BS, Manager EDI Operations , Palmetto GBA, Columbia, SC.

Course Level: Intermediate;

Marketing & Business Development

806–Keys to Successful Growth of a Hospital Based Home Care Agency in a Rural Market

This presentation will provide the tools to a systematic approach to growth, management, financial success, employee retention/recruitment and goal setting for success in today's market. Faculty will drill down methods to determine areas of focus, goal setting, potential growth and market share with emphasis on the essential role of management for success in program development, technology and employee satisfaction.

Objectives:

• Identify the key must do's to succeed as a hospital-based home care agency in a rural market;
• Discuss the importance of short and long term goal setting for the agency; and
• Discuss methodology to drill down to determine factors that will promote financial success.

Faculty: Greg Higginbotham, Physical Therapist, Administrator, Habersham Medical Center, Demorest, GA; Judy Miller, RN, COS-C, HCS-D, RN, Habersham Medical Center, Demorest, GA; Scott Sheldon, MD, Medical Director, Habersham Medical Center, Demorest, GA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/MKT).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

808–"Shoot for the Stars: Make the Most of Your Medicare Journey with Cahaba GBA"

Strategies for avoiding lost revenue and cash flow interruptions due to the most frequent home health and hospice Medicare billing errors and medical review denials for those agencies who bill their Medicare claims to Cahaba is the focus of this session. In addition, upcoming changes in Medicare will be discussed. Bring your Medicare questions; time is allotted during the session for Q & A's.

Objectives:

• Cite the most common reasons for Medicare denial of claims for home health and hospice services and appropriate corrective actions;
• Describe ways to avoid errors causing Medicare rejection and provider correction/resubmission of home health and claims; and
• Discuss approaching Medicare changes that impact HHAs and hospices.

Faculty: Janna Arndt, BS, MPA, Provider Outreach and Educaton, Cahba GBA, Des Moines, IA; Deanna Whitlatch, BN, BS, Manager, Home Health & Hospice Provider Customer Service Program, Cahaba GBA, Des Moines , IA.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/).

Private Pay

809–Private Duty Open Forum

NAHC and its Private Duty Homecare Association of America (PDHCA) host this open forum to bring together CEOs, CFOs, consultants and anyone else interested in the many policy-related issues that are of particular concern to the private duty world. NAHC policy positions in specific areas will be explored, and a relaxed structure will allow for considerable discussion among attendees on key regulatory and legislative positions and integrating private duty into NAHC's policy agenda.

Objectives:

• Identify current issues and trends in private duty home care;
• Describe policy positions and strategies of PDHCA and NAHC regarding private duty home care; and
• Identify anticipated legislation that would impact private duty.

Faculty: Merrily Orsini, MSSW, Chair, Private Duty Home Association, Managing Director, corcubed, Louisville, KY.

Course Level: TBA

Hospice

810–Public Reporting of Hospice Quality - Update on Report Card Demonstration Project

Learn how to prepare for hospice public reporting of quality care -- coming soon! Consumers, payers, regulators and healthcare providers across the continuum are all hungry for hospice quality data. The American Hospice Foundation (AHF) Hospice Report Card promises to accelerate the ability of hospices to prove their quality and value. After a muti-year consumer and hospice industry research effort, the AHF report card is in demonstration with hospices across several states. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expressed interest in the outcome of the demonstration. This session will describe the tool and results of demonstration efforts, as well as how hospices can begin to capture and report applicable quality data.

Objectives:

• Describe current government and industry healthcare reform efforts and key issues in implementation of regulations
• List hospice quality measures in consideration for public reporting
• Understand the AHF Hospice Report Card and current results of its demonstration
• Prioritize internal efforts to enhance quality reporting capabilities.

Faculty: Martha Tecca, MBA, Founder and Principal Consultant, M&M Strategies, Lyme, NH.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Hospice

811–Using Quality Reports and CR5567 Data to Enhance Hospice Operations

The interactive workshop will enable hospice managers to use commonly collected data to enhance operations. Strategic information found in QAPI reports and CR5567 claims will be reviewed for use in making strategic operational changes. Productivity planning and goal setting will be enhanced through use of claims data and reporting. Tools and templates for hands on use will be shared.

Objectives:

• Identify key strategic information found in QAPI reports and CR5567 data;
• Cite key performances indicators to use for improvement of services and efficiencies; and
• Discuss trends and usage of CR6667 data to improve productivity and patient care planning.

Faculty: Teresa Craig, BBA, CPA, CEO, CEO, Suncoast Solutions, Clearwater, FL.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Financial

812–Financial Managers Open Forum

The NAHC Annual Meeting closes the final day of workshops with the Open Forum of the Home Care & Hospice Financial Managers Association (HHFMA). The Open Fourm offers the opportunity for CFO's, CEOs, consultants and anyone else interested in the financial management issues of home care and hospice to get updates from the nation's leading experts, raise questions on matters of concern and to provide comment on the direction needed for home care and hospice.

Objectives:

• Identify current issues and trends in home care and hospice financial management;
• Explain policy positions and strategies of HHFMA and NAHC regarding financial management issues; and
• Identify anticipated changes in Medicare and Medicaid rules that would impact financial management.

Faculty: William Dombi, Esq., Vice President for Law, National Assoication for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC.

Course Level: TBA

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

814–Recovery Audit Contract Program (RAC): CMS Overview

During this session a representative from the Center÷s for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an overview of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program, including information about its legislative roots and goals. CMS will also discuss RAC operational processes and provide guidance on how to prepare for RAC audits.

Objectives:

• Identify rational for National RAC Program
• Identify RAC review process
• Identify strategies to prepare for RAC audits
• Explain RAC program keys to success

Faculty: Marie Casey, CDR, RN, BSN, MPH , Deputy Director , Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Financial Management Provider Compliance Group Division of Recovery Audit Operations , Baltimore, Md.; Brian Elza, LCDR, BS, MSPT, DPT, Health Insurance Specialist/Therapist /Consultant of Division of Recovery Audit Operations , Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services,, Baltimore, Md. .

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

815–National Government Services Home Health and Hospice Billing

National Government Services is the title 18 Medicare contractor for Home Health and Hospice providers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin. NGS will host an informative session to provide instructions on the home health and hospice billing guidelines. The session will also provide information on the new regulations that have been set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Change Request (CR) 6440.

Objectives:

• Describe the home health billing requirements and required coding for Request for Anticipated Payment (RAP) and final claim;
• Describe home health billing requirements for unique health situations such as transfers, low utilization payment adjustments (LUPA), and discharge/readmissions
• Discuss the hospice billing requirements for visit reporting under CR6440; and
• Cite unique hospice situations such as transfers, room, board, denials and pre-election evaluation and counseling services.

Faculty: Corrinne Ball, RN, ADN , Provider Outreach and Clinical Education Consultant, National Government Services, Cincinnati, Ohio; Emily Fox-Squairs, AH, Provider Outreach and Education Consultant, National Government Services, Syracuse, NY.

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs; 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/RE).

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