Volume 23.12
In June 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has added the “Audit of Selected, High-Risk Medicare Hospice General Inpatient Services” to the OIG Work Plan.
According to the Work Plan addition, “GIP care is provided only for pain control or acute or chronic symptom management that cannot be managed in other settings. It is intended to be short-term care. For this audit, we will focus on claims for enrollees who were transferred to GIP care immediately after an inpatient hospital stay for a period during which the enrollee’s inpatient stay reached or exceeded the geometric mean length of stay for the assigned diagnosis-related group. These hospice GIP claims are at high risk for inappropriate billing because GIP care may exceed an enrollee’s needs or may not be provided. We will determine whether hospice providers that billed for GIP care complied with Medicare requirements.” Work Plan items are available at Work Plan | Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (hhs.gov).
The Work Plan addition is a continuation of the focus on hospice program integrity. The concern is that hospices are appropriately billing for the level of care provided and not based on where the patient is physically located.
THE HEALTH GROUP WILL BE EXHIBITING AT THE 2023 NAHC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
The Health Group, LLC will be exhibiting at the 2023 NAHC Financial Management Conference in New Orleans. Stop by and visit with us to discuss cost reporting, hospice CAP liabilities and management, Medicare enrollment issues, acquisition/merger potentials, other matters of financial management interest, or just to chat. We look forward to seeing you at Booth 205. Of course, do not hesitate to contact us if you want to schedule a good time to talk about your area of interest. You can register for the conference at 2023 NAHC Financial Management Conference.
PHASE 5 PRF REPORTING COMING UP
Many hospices received Provider Relief Funding (“PRF”) between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022. The reporting for the use of these funds begins on July 1, 2023. Lost revenues and COVID-19 expenses through June 30, 2023, are included in the report. Hospices should ensure that all COVID-19 PHE expenses have been identified and properly recorded in anticipation of this reporting.
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS JULY 15, 2023, FOR THE HOSPICE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE
The Health Group, LLC is accepting registrations for the 2023 Hospice Financial Management and Administration Conference. The program will be held at the beautiful Lago Mar Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 9-10, 2023. Program information, including registration information, is available here.
We are encouraging anyone who expects to attend to make room reservations at their earliest opportunity. Many individuals planning on attending the program have already reserved their rooms. The Lago Mar Beach Resort will sell out for the days of our conference. Special rates have been secured with the Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club; however, to secure these rates, call (855) 829-2923 and inform the hotel that you are attending “The Health Group, LLC Hospice Financial Administration Conference” or online at https://lagomar.com/.
When making reservations online, go to reservations, click on group code, and enter 2311THEHEA. Select the dates you will be staying, even if the dates are indicated as not available, select them and your room type. All attendees are being offered Executive One Bedroom Suites at $235/night. Resort fees have been waived for our attendees. If you have a problem, please call the hotel. The hotel is making the $235/night available for two (2) days prior and two (2) days after the program dates.