article thumbnail

Medicare Open Enrollment: What’s New for 2022 and How You Can Help Your Clients

Social Work Blog

Each fall, Medicare beneficiaries can review, compare, and change their coverage options during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP). The Medicare OEP is distinct from Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment , which occurs November 1 through December 15.). (The Posted November 12, 2021. Language Access.

article thumbnail

Change Healthcare Cyberattack: What Social Workers Should Know

Social Work Blog

The attack targeted UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Change Healthcare, a technology clearinghouse that manages billing and administrative tasks for healthcare organizations. Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) are providing public instructions on how to request for a Medicare accelerated or advance payment.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Update: Nursing Home Visitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social Work Blog

On November 12, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated guidance to Medicare- and Medicaid-certified long-term care (LTC) facilities (commonly known as nursing homes) regarding visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Center for Medicare Advocacy. November 12 Guidance. Endnotes. [1]

article thumbnail

Hospice Billing Compliance: The Latest PEPPER Updates

Relias

The provider-specific PEPPER analyzes Medicare data and statistics from discharges and services compared with every hospice nationwide. PEPPER provides each hospice organization’s paid Medicare claims for the last three fiscal years. Jurisdictional or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). PEPPER Target Areas.

Hospice 98
article thumbnail

Grow Your Own Home Health Aides To Capture New Business

Relias

Demand for home healthcare continues to rise, and at the same time home health aide staffing remains an ongoing challenge for agency administrators. Medicare and other payers also encourage home-based care when appropriate to keep the cost of care low compared with skilled nursing facilities and hospitals.

Hospice 96
article thumbnail

Understanding the PEPPER Can Reduce Home Health and Skilled Nursing Audit Risks

Relias

Every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases the Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER). Utilizing data from the most recent three calendar years, the PEPPER offers providers specific Medicare data statistics for discharges or services that may be vulnerable to improper payments.

article thumbnail

Invest in Wound Care Education To Avoid Legal Risks

Relias

Understanding the legal implications of gaps in care can help protect all involved: physicians, nurses, other caregivers, and healthcare administrators and leaders. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality calculates that more than 17,000 lawsuits related to pressure injuries are filed each year — second only to wrongful death suits.