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News Alerts

PROVIDER RELIEF FUND RECIPIENTS – NO QUARTERLY REPORTING?

Volume 20.24 The Health Group, LLC never thought that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) would be able to develop a format for reporting use of Provider Relief Funds in time to meet the initially scheduled July 10, 2020 ...

SBA RELEASES UPDATED PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS APPLICATION AND REVISED INTERIM FINAL RULE

Volume 20.23 The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has released its updated Loan Forgiveness Application. Additionally, certain borrowers may qualify for the new Alternative Loan Forgiveness Application. The Loan

WILL YOU BE SUBJECT TO AUDIT AS A RESULT OF PROVIDER RELIEF FUNDING?

Volume 20.22 The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced the Provider Relief Fund will be subject to Single Audit requirements. Provider Relief Funding was provided to fund COVID-19 PHE expenses or lost

THE HOSPICE COST REPORT AND COVID-19 PHE EXPENSES

Volume 20.13 The Hospice Cost & Data Report (“Cost Report”) was substantially modified in 2014 to facilitate the accumulation of hospice costs by level of care (“LOC”), as well as capture other information, which can be used in ...

EXPECT EXPANDED PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS

Volume 20.21 Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the House version of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) legislation (“Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act”).  The legislation will triple the time allotted for PPP loan recipients to spend the ...

HHS PROVIDES ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION REGARDING PROVIDER RELIEF FUNDS

Volume 20.20 The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has released additional information regarding, among other things, the appropriate use of Provider Relief Funds.  According to HHS: “The term “health care related expenses ...

OIG TO REVIEW HOW PROVIDER RELIEF FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED

Volume 20.19 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has added “Audit of CARES Act Provider Relief Funds-Distribution of $50 Billion to Health Care Providers” to the OIG Work Plan.  It ...

SBA RELEASES PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS APPLICATION

Volume 20.18 On Friday, May 15, 2020, the SBA released the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application.  A copy of the application and instructions is available here. The Application sets forth the documentation required to verify expenses for ...

COVID-19 PHE SERVICE MODIFICATION (WHAT COULD BE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT?)

Volume 20.05 Home health providers, like other providers, are dealing with a vast array of service changes resulting from the COVID-19 PHE.  Strategic planning for the future must include consideration of the permanent service and revenue ...

COVID-19 PHE EXPENSES (SEPARATELY IDENTIFED IN THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS)

Volume 20.11 In support of the Provider Relief Funding received by hospices, COVID-19 PHE incremental expenses incurred are now required reporting on a quarterly basis.  These expenses, as well as lost revenues, will be reported as a use of ...

UPCOMING NHPCO WEBINAR ON PPP AND CARES ACT FUNDING

Volume 20.10 The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (“NHPCO”) is offering a webinar intended to address the legal, accounting, and financial reporting aspects of the PPP SBA Guaranteed Loan Program and the Provider Relief ...

REPORTING TELEHEALTH COSTS

Volume 20.09 To better address the needs of patients during the COVID-19 PHE, hospices can provide telehealth services to patients receiving routine home care if feasible and appropriate.  Additionally, face-to-face encounters can now be ...

PROPOSED HOSPICE PAYMENT RULE RELEASED

Volume 20.08 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has released the proposed 2021 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, which is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on April 15, 2020. This ...

IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO NEW YORK HOME CARE COST REPORTS AND PROCESS

Volume 20.04 The New York Department of Health is launching a new Web-Based Tool for Home Care cost reports, set to be published mid to late March 2020, that providers will be required to complete using fiscal year 2019 cost and utilization ...

RAP SUPPRESSION FOR HHA OWNERSHIP CHANGES

Volume 20.03 With the implementation of PDGM, newly certified home health agencies (new providers), certified after January 1, 2019, are not entitled to receive partial episode payment based on a Request for Anticipated Payment (“RAP”).  ...

UPDATED, REVISED HOME HEALTH AGENCY COST REPORT ISSUED

Volume 20.02 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has provided Notice on February 24, 2020 regarding the updated Home Health Agency Cost Report (“CMS-1728-19”).  Additionally, the forms and instructions are available ...