Home Health Toolbox II: Tests & Measures For Use in the Home

Published in February 2022, the Home Health Toolbox II, for use by physical therapy practitioners and researchers, is an impressive and comprehensive aggregation of assessments across multiple domains, ranging widely from physical capacity to cognitive functioning to social factors impacting health and functioning. A selection of these assessments can give a full picture of a patient’s status in the home setting and should play an important role in characterizing a patient’s problems and challenges, developing a treatment plan and following progress over time.

The value of this Toolbox is that its developers have carefully screened for instruments that will work in the home setting and describe their strengths, weaknesses, technical requirements and interpretation.

APTA Home Health Member Price:  
- Digital: FREE
- Print Copy: $17.99 

Non-Member Price: 
- Digital Copy: $25.00
- Print Copy: $29.99 

To purchase your copy, click here! 

Highlights From APTA Combined Sections Meeting 2022

With the apt theme "Better Together. Together Again," APTA CSM 2022 brought the physical therapy community to San Antonio.

Much about the meeting was familiar: ample educational sessions hosted by APTA's sections and academies, networking opportunities such as breakfasts and receptions, an exhibit hall for viewing and trying out products and services, and the inspiring feeling of community that many attendees said was particularly meaningful this year.

But having learned a few things in the past couple of years, APTA also switched up some meeting elements, such as bringing the esteemed Mary McMillan Lecture and the annual Celebration of Diversity to APTA CSM, and adding an on-demand element that made over 100 recorded sessions available online following the meeting.

Click here for highlights! 

Why Accuracy, Timeliness Will Be More Important Than Ever in OASIS-E

Home Health Care News | By Joyce Famakinwa
 
Getting an accurate and timely OASIS is a challenge that home health providers continue to face. As providers continue to gear up for OASIS-E, it will be important to follow a set of processes that will help set them up for success.
 
“We’ve got to be thinking about how we can make this better,” Cindy Krafft, co-owner and co-founder of consulting firm Kornetti & Krafft Health Care Solutions, said earlier this month during a presentation at the annual Illinois HomeCare & Hospice Council (IHHC) conference. “I think OASIS-E is going to be a great place to start. A great place to say, however we did it before, how can we do better going forward?”
 
Broadly, the implementation of OASIS-E comes after public health emergency-related delays. OASIS-E is set to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2023, in order to line up with the start of the nationwide expansion of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model.
 
Since payment and outcomes for providers are directly impacted by OASIS data collection, it’s crucial that the data accurately reflects the status of the patient.
 
Thus, intake has a major impact on getting a clean and speedy OASIS.
 
During intake there are several key questions to be considered, according to Krafft: Which physician will provide the face-to-face encounter for the patient’s home health services?; What is included in the face-to-face documentation to support services for the patient?; What additional information should be requested to support eligibility for the patient’s care?; What must you ensure is provided in the referral order for services?
 
Providers should remember that physicians are responsible for diagnosis assignment.

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CMS Proposes Updates to Reduce Barriers to Coverage, Simplify Medicare Enrollment and Expand Access

Proposed rule would create Special Enrollment Periods, reduce gaps in Medicare coverage and improve administration of the Medicare Savings Programs.

[The] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update Medicare enrollment and eligibility rules that would expand coverage for people with Medicare and advance health equity. This proposed rule would provide Medicare coverage the month immediately after enrollment, thereby reducing the uninsured period and expand access through Medicare special enrollment periods (SEPs). It would also allow eligible beneficiaries to receive Medicare Part B coverage without a late enrollment penalty. This proposed rule would make it easier for people to enroll in Medicare and eliminate delays in coverage.

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