New Katrina Disaster Information Available on HHS, CMS WebsitesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATED INFORMATION The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) have made available new payment and regulatory information resources for home health agencies and hospices related to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice finds some of the information is sorely inadequate and has scheduled a meeting with CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, MD, as a first step in resolving its concerns. Another link provided on the HHS website now offers a variety of information resources. 1. Survey & Certification/OASIS This PDF-format document contains a list of Q&As related to survey and certification, focusing on Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) requirements for home health admission. There is only one reference to hospice providers. 2. Payment The second resource is a series of Q&As on payment and billing for all health care providers, with very little information for home health agencies and hospices. 3. A link on the HHS website offers a variety of resources, including:
In addition, Palmetto GBA, the CMS Regional Home Health Intermediary for the South region, has begun developing a database to identify patients who were receiving home care and hospice services at the time the hurricane struck and who now are being admitted to agencies where they have been relocated. The goal of this database is to connect the new providers with previous providers, whenever feasible, to enable them to share much needed clinical information such as health history, medication lists, treatments, etc. |
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