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November 22, 2016
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HCAF Annual Conference
August 25, 2015
Recently, Igea Software representatives Bryan Nieves and Eileen Casellas attended the HCAF conference in Orlando, Florida. This 2 day home care conference was a great networking opportunity and increased exposure of the Igea brand to the Florida market. We were excited to chat with attendees and discuss the transition to ICD-10 and how Igea can prepare agencies for the change.
igea has you covered
September 20, 2013
Recently announced changes to "domestic service" regulations could have a significant impact to your bottom line. Fortunately, igea software is working hard to make sure you stay in compliance while minimizing costly overtime payments!
I AM A NEW NEWS
May 14, 2013
I AM A NEW NEWS
2013 ICD9 Diagnosis and Procedure codes updated
September 06, 2012
The ICD9 Diagnosis and Procedure codes that will be effective starting in October 1st, 2012 through September 30, 2013 have been already updated in Igea 5 system. For our Igea 3 agencies, the update of the codes will be performed this weekend.
Los códigos ICD9 2013 de Diagnósticos y Procedimientos han sido actualizados
September 06, 2012
Los codigos ICD9 de los Diagnosticos y Procedimientos que seran efectivos a partir del 1ro de Octubre de 2012, hasta el 30 de Septiembre del 2013, ya han sido actualizados en las agencias que tienen Igea 5. Para las agencias con Igea 3, la actualizacion de los codigos se hara este fin de semana.
Igea “Outlook Warnings” overview
September 04, 2012
For Igea 5 we have improved our Outlook Warnings system. Now, you are able to know whatever happens in your system at any time, by enabling the Outlook Warning notifications. Igea will notify you about status changes, remind you about pending claims not billed yet, episodes that need to be recertified and much more!
La importancia de los “Outlook Warnings” de Igea
September 04, 2012
Para Igea 5 hemos mejorado todo nuestro sistema de Outlook Warnings. Ahora, usted puede estar al tanto de todo lo que sucede en su sistema, en todo momento, habilitando las notificaciones Outlook. Igea le notificara sobre cambios de estados; le recordara sobre facturas aun no facturadas; episodios que estan por finalizar y necesitan recertificacion; ¡y mucho mas!
HHS Press Release: final deadline for ICD-10 October 2014
August 28, 2012
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of a rule that makes final a one-year proposed delay—from October 1, 2013, to October 1, 2014—in the compliance date for the industry's transition to ICD-10 codes.
Fecha de implementación final de ICD-10 confirmada: Octubre 2014
August 28, 2012
La Secretaria de Health and Human Services¸ Kathleen Sebelius, anuncio la publicacion de la regulacion que confirma la fecha final para la transicion a los nuevos codigos de la industria ICD-10, confirmando el retraso de 1 año desde Octubre 1, 2013 a Octubre 1, 2014.
Indura Systems: safe and secure Igea data backup
August 23, 2012
Indura Systems would like to remind you, that your Igea data is safe and secure with our periodical backups. All your system information is being backup every day (including weekends) by our backup service, and safely stored in our secure local data centers in California.
Indura Systems: respaldo de la información de Igea (backups)
August 23, 2012
Indura Systems desea recordarle que la información de sus sistema Igea se encuentra respaldada de forma segura y confiable a traves de nuestro servicio de backups (respaldo de base de datos). Toda la informacion de su agencia es respaldada todos los dias, incluyendo los fines de semana, a traves de los backups que se guardan de manera segura en nuestros centros de informacion en California.
California: Home Care Agency Licensure Bill Approved by Assembly
August 21, 2012
Last week the State Assembly passed SB 411 (Price), the Home Care Services Act of 2012 that will require home care agencies to become licensed by the California Department of Social Services and mandate that caregivers become certified by the state.
CMS Reminder: Order and Referral/Certifying Claims Denial
August 16, 2012
Palmetto GBA is notifying many agencies about possible claims denial related to the Ordering/Referral/Certifying Physician NPI issues. Many agencies have been receiving letters from Palmetto GBA as a reminder of the requirements when reporting the Physician NPI in the claims. So far, no claims will be denied until the automatic edits are activated, but CMS is notifying those agencies that have been submitting claims not in compliance with the requirements.
Recordatorio de CMS: Rechazos a facturas por servicios Ordenados/Referidos/Certificados
August 16, 2012
Palmetto GBA esta notificando a muchas agencias sobre posibles rechazos a facturas relacionadas a problemas con el NPI (National Provider Identifier) de los doctores que ordenan, refieren o certifican. Varias agencias ya han recibido un carta de Palmetto GBA como un recordatorio sobre los requerimientos a la hora de reportar el NPI del doctor en la factura.
Electronic Remittance Notice (ERN) version X5010: EFT number format changes
August 09, 2012
Since August 1st, 2012, all Medicare contractors and fiscal intermediaries have been sending the providers their ERNs (Electronic Remittance Notice files) under the new X12 version 5010 format. Because of this, providers may notice the payment EFT number (Electronic Funds Transfer trace number) may have changed.
ERN X5010: cambio en el formato del número EFT (Transferencia Electrónica de Fondos)
August 09, 2012
Desde el 1ro de Agosto 2012, los intermediarios fiscales de Medicare empezaron a enviar a los proveedores los archivos ERN (Notificación de Remito Electrónico) bajo el nuevo formato X12 5010. Debido a esto, los proveedores podrán notar que el número de identificación del EFT (Transferencia Electrónica de Fondos) ha cambiado su formato
Florida: Outliers payment issues fixed
July 31, 2012
CMS announced last week that the latest fix to Home Health Outlier underpayment problem was successful. If monies owed have not already been received by agencies, they will be received in the next few days.
Florida: problemas con pagos de Outliers ya fueron solucionados
July 31, 2012
CMS anuncio la semana pasada que el ultimo arreglo a los problemas en los pagos de Outliers para Home Health fue implementado exitosamente. Si el dinero que le adeudan no ha sido aun depositado a las agencias, seran recibidos en los proximos dias.
Act Now to Avoid Claim Denials for Ordered/Referred Services
July 27, 2012
CMS will soon begin denying Part B, DME, and Part A HHA claims that fail the ordering/referring provider edits.CMS will provide 60-day advanced notice prior to turning on the Ordering/Referring edits. CMS does not have a date at this time.
Actúe ahora para evitar facturas rechazadas por Servicios Ordernados/Referidos
July 27, 2012
CMS pronto empezara a rechazar facturas de Parte B, DME y Parte A HHA que no cumplan con los requerimientos sobre el proveedor que ordena o refiere los servicios. CMS publicara una nota 60 dias previos a comenzar con estas validaciones, pero aun no tiene una fecha establecida.
CMS Proposed PPS Rule Includes Therapy Changes
July 24, 2012
Specifications related to CY2011 HH PPS final rule Therapy regulations. Comments may be submitted to CMS until September 4, 2012.
La nueva regulación propuesta por CMS para PPS incluye cambios a terapias
July 24, 2012
Especificaciones sobre la regla final CY2011 para HH PPS relacionadas a las regulaciones de evaluacion de terapia. Hay tiempo hasta Septiembre 5, 2012 para enviar comentarios.
California Home Health and Hospice License Renewal Fees Reduced
July 19, 2012
The California Department of Public Health has reduced its license renewal fees for home health and hospice agencies for the new fiscal year.
California: reducción en el precio de renovación de la licencia para agencias
July 19, 2012
El Departamento de Salud Publica de California ha reducido el costo de la renovacion de la licencia para home health y hospice para el proximo año fiscal.
Steps to Assess How the ICD-10 Transition will affect your Organization
July 17, 2012
The switch to the new code set will affect every aspect of how your organization provides care, from registration and referrals, to software/hardware upgrades and clinical documentation. A critical step in planning for the transition is to conduct an impact assessment of how the new code sets will affect your organization.
ICD-10: pasos para saber de qué manera la transición afectará a su organización
July 17, 2012
El cambio a la nueva codificacion afectara cada aspecto de su organizacion, desde la registracion y las referencias, hasta el software/hardware que tendran que ser actualizados, como tambien la documentacion.Un paso critico en el plan de transicion es realizar una evaluacion del impacto que tendra la nueva codificacion en su organizacion.
Medicare HH PPS: Actualización de los montos de pago y cambios propuestos para el año 2013
July 13, 2012
CMS publico el "HHPPS Proposed Rule" para el año calendario 2013. Los pagos a las agencias se estiman que se reduzcan en aproximadamente un 0.10%, o –$20 millones.
Medicare HH PPS: rate updates and proposed changes for year 2013
July 13, 2012
CMS has published the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) Proposed Rule for calendar year 2013. Payments to home health agencies (HHAs) are estimated to decrease by approximately 0.10 percent, or -$20 million.
Ordering/Referring Physicians for Medicare Home Health patients – Notify your NPI
July 10, 2012
For physicians, if an HHA asks for your NPI, be sure to provide your individual NPI (not the group practice NPI).
Doctores que refieren/ordenan servicios de pacientes Medicare en agencias – Informen su NPI
July 10, 2012
Si usted es un doctor, cuando una agencia le solicita su NPI, por favor asegurese de proveer su NPI individual y no el NPI de grupo de practica.
U.S. Supreme Court Rules 2010 Health Care Reform Law is Constitutional
June 28, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court this morning ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are constitutional. Now that the Affordable Care Act has been upheld by the highest court in the nation, the federal government and states will proceed with implementation of health care reform.
La Suprema Corte de Estados Unidos declaró que la Ley de Reforma de Salud 2010 es constitucional
June 28, 2012
La Suprema Corte de Estados Unidos declaro esta mañana que la Patient Protection and Affordable Act es constitucional. Ahora que el Affordable Care Act ha sido analizado por el maximo tribunal de la nacion, el gobierno federal y los estados empezaran a implementar la reforma de salud.
X5010 Transition: starting on July 1, 2012 only X5010 transactions will be accepted
June 21, 2012
Effective July 1, 2012 only ASC X12 Version 5010 formats will be accepted by Medicare FFS and Medicaid. At Indura Systems, Inc. we are proud to notify you that, if your agency have been billing electronically through Igea HHC, you have been successfully billing and submitting X5010 claims for the past months!
Transición a X5010: a partir de Julio 1, 2012 solamente las transacciones X5010 serán aceptadas.
June 21, 2012
A partir de Julio 1, 2012 solamente los formatos bajo el estandar ASC X12 versión 5010 seran aceptados por Medicare FFS y Medicaid. Indura Systems esta orgulloso de notificarle que, si su agencia estuvo facturando electronicamente a traves del sistema Igea HHC, ya ha estado facturando bajo la version X5010 durante los ultimos meses!
Interested in applying for the Medicare Shared Savings Program? Do it now!
June 13, 2012
The period to apply for the Medicare Shared Savings program has been extended till June 29. In order to apply, agencies must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI).
¿Interesado en aplicar para el programa “Medicare Shared Savings”? Hágalo ahora!
June 13, 2012
El período para aplicar para el programa Medicare Shared Savings ha sido extendido hasta Junio 29. Para participar del programa, las agencias deben enviar una Nota de Intencion (NOI).
Outstanding Outlier Payments
June 11, 2012
Due to a CMS long-standing problem with the outlier payment processing system, some agencies have not received their full outlier payments for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. Agencies can submit a request to their Medicare contractor for an accelerated payment about 70% of the total amount due.
Outliers: Montos pendientes de cobrar
June 11, 2012
CMS ha confirmado un problema que viene hace largo tiempo ya en relacion a los procesamientos de pago de outliers y sus montos. Algunas agencias no han recibido el pago completo por sus casos outliers de los años 2010, 2011 y 2012 debido a este problema. Las agencias pueden solicitarle a su contractor de Medicare para que realice un “pago acelerado”.
CMS Responds to Inquiry on HHA PECOS Status
May 30, 2012
After analysis of the Federal Register notice, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) posed a series of questions to CMS in its efforts to help home health agencies to be prepared for the eventual initiation of edits of claims for Medicare enrollment status of ordering and certifying physicians.
CMS responde sobre physicians en PECOS
May 30, 2012
Luego del analisis de la nota del Federal Register, la National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) envio una serie de preguntas a CMS con el fin de ayudar a las agencias a estar preparadas para el eventual analisis de las facturas sobre el estado de enrolamiento en Medicare de los doctores que refieren u ordenan servicios.
CMS Website updates: Therapy and F2F Q&As
May 28, 2012
CMS revised the questions and answers posted at the Home Health Center on its website. Although the CMS responses do not reflect policy changes, the information offers greater clarity to therapy reassessment policy.
Preguntas y respuestas de Therapy y F2F – Actualización de CMS en su website
May 28, 2012
CMS reviso en Marzo las preguntas y respuestas hechas en su sitio web en la parte de Home Health Center. A pesar que las respuestas de CMS no reflejan ningun cambio en la regulacion ya existente, la informacion ofrece una gran aclaracion a la politica de therapy reassessment.
Certification and Face-To-Face: useful information to share with your physicians
May 18, 2012
Medicare Releases “Physician’s Guide to Home Health Certification”. This article is designed to provide education to physicians on requirements for the home health certification and face-to-face encounter. It includes milestones and requirements that must be met to perform Physician Home Health face-to-face encounters, certifications, and recertifications.
Certificación y Face-To-Face: información importante para que comparta con sus doctores
May 18, 2012
Medicare publico el “Physicians Guide to Home Health Certification” (Guia para el doctor sobre la certificacion de Home Health). Esta publicacion de CMS para los proveedores de Medicare fee-for-service, se focaliza en la certificacion de home health de pacientes Medicare en una edicion especial con título “Una guia para el doctor sobre la certificacion home health de Medicare, incluyendo el encuentro Face-To-Face”.
HHS Finalizes New Rules to Cut Regulations for Hospitals and Health Care Providers, Savings More Than $5 Billion
May 15, 2012
On May 9, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced significant steps to reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations on American hospitals and health care providers. Changes Will Reduce Costs and Allow More Focus on Medical Care.
HHS finaliza nuevas reglas que terminan con algunas regulaciones para Hospitales y proveedores de salud, logrando ahorros de más de $5 billones
May 15, 2012
En Mayo 9, la secretaria de HHS Kathleen Sebelius anuncio pasos significantes para reducir las regulaciones innecesarias, obsoletas o agraviantes de los hospitales y proveedores de salud. Los cambios reduciran los costos y haran mas foco en el cuidado medico.
Home Health Claims Selected for Review with Dates of Service October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011
May 11, 2012
Home Health agencies may want to review any claims with dates of service submitted from October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 to make a business decision as to whether or not to adjust the claim based upon a different HIPPS score determination made by V3312 of the HH PPS Grouper and the introduction of 2 new diagnosis codes: 294.20 and 294.21.
CMS selecciónará facturas de Home Health con fechas de servicio entre Octubre 1, 2011 y Diciembre 31, 2011
May 11, 2012
Es recomendable que las agencias revisen sus facturas con fechas entre Octubre 1, 2011 y Diciembre 31, 2011 para poder decidir si es conveniente ajustar o no las mismas en base al puntaje del HIPPS calculado con el nuevo V3312 del HH PPS Grouper.
There is only 1 week to Submit Comments for the HHS Proposed Rule to Delay ICD-10
May 10, 2012
The proposed rule to delay the compliance date for ICD-10 from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014 is posted to the Federal Register. There is only one week left in the 30-day comment period. This comment period allows you to provide very important feedback to HHS about this proposed compliance date change, which will affect many aspects of your organization.
ICD-10: sólo resta 1 semana para enviar comentarios sobre la regla propuesta por HHS para demorar la implementación
May 10, 2012
La regla propuesta para demorar la implementacion de los ICD-10 de Octubre 1, 2013 a Octubre 1, 2014 esta publicada en el registro federal. Queda solo una semana para terminar con el periodo de 30 días para enviar comentarios. Este periodo de comentarios le permite enviar su opinion y sugerencias a HHS sobre este cambio de fechas para la implementacion, la cual afectara varios aspectos de su organizacion.
Face-to-Face Encounter Requirements: additional information and more Q&A published by CMS.
May 08, 2012
CMS has published a new MLN article with clarifications and regulations about the home health patient certification. It also includes an update document with new questions and answers by CMS related to the Face-to-Face encounter and documentation.
Requerimientos para el Face-To-Face: más información y más preguntas/respuestas publicadas por CMS.
May 08, 2012
CMS publico un articulo MLN con el fin de proveer mas conocimientos acerca de los contenidos de la certificacion de home health, incluyendo criterios de homebound y requerimientos sobre la documentacion y el encuentro de Face-to-Face
Major Improvements to Medicare Online Enrollment System
May 02, 2012
CMS has made several improvements to the Medicare Online Enrollment System (“My Enrollments” page) and continues to improve the PECOS system. Here you have important information related to Medicare enrollment, Electronic Found Transfers (EFT) agreement and PECOS online services.
Mejoras en el sistema de enrolamiento online de Medicare
May 02, 2012
Durante los ultimos años, CMS ha escuchado las opiniones de varios proveedores relacionadas al sistema de enrolamiento online de Medicare (PECOS) y se han realizado varias mejoras. Aqui hay informacion importante relacionada al enrolamiento con Medicare, acuerdo de EFT y PECOS.
CMS: Home Health Agencies Must Ensure Physician Enrollment
April 26, 2012
CMS published a rule requiring enrollment of physicians ordering home health and other services to be enrolled in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). Home health agencies should immediately begin checking every physicians Medicare enrollment status in the Ordering and Referring Physician report. This report will continue to be available through the Ordering and Referring Reports on the CMS website. The reports will be updated weekly.
Indura Customer Support lines experiencing technical issues
April 25, 2012
Our Customer Support telephone lines are experiencing technical issues due to an external cause.
Results from HHCAHPS survey are now available!
April 23, 2012
CMS announced the new tool offering prospective patients, their families and caregivers the chance to compare home health agencies by looking at patient survey results. The HHCAHPS Survey, which will be updated every four months with new survey data, will complement the clinical measures already available on the agency’s “Home Health Compare” website. You can now check your agency HHCAHPS results.
Guidance on Troubleshooting Claims Submissions for Version 5010
April 09, 2012
Although the Version 5010 upgrade deadline was January 1, 2012, CMS recently extended their enforcement discretion period for the Version 5010 upgrade for all HIPAA-covered entities for an additional three months, through Saturday, June 30, 2012.
ICD-10 implementation date delayed till October 1, 2014!
April 09, 2012
In a new press release from HHS, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a proposed rule that would delay the compliance date for ICD-10 from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014.
HHCAHPS Home Health Compare and Preview Reports
April 07, 2012
This month, CMS will include HHCAHPS results on Home Health Compare for the first time. This is expected to be released on or around April 19, 2012. Prior to that release, agencies will also have the opportunity to access their initial results in a Preview Report made available on April 11, 2012 on the Home Health CAHPS website.
Top 10 HHA errors with OASIS, surveys and certifications
April 04, 2012
Representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provided an overview of new survey protocols that went into effect in 2011 and the top ten home health survey deficiencies and OASIS transmission errors. All the information was presented using a Power Point which is available online.
Home Health Agencies must revalidate their Medicare enrollment! FAQs
March 26, 2012
All new and existing providers enrolled with Medicare prior to March 25, 2011, must revalidate their enrollment information in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but only after receiving notification from the MAC. Here we list some frequently asked questions answered by Medicare.
Home Health Agencies to avoid payment reductions! Participate in HHCAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems) now!
March 21, 2012
CMS reminds all HHAs of the requirement to participate in the Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) survey for patients served in April 2012 and after to be eligible for the full market basket payment increase for calendar year (CY) 2014, avoiding a reduction of 2% in their payments.
All Medicare provider and supplier payments to be made by electronic funds transfer
March 20, 2012
At the time of enrollment, enrollment change request or revalidation, providers and suppliers that expect to receive payment from Medicare for services provided must also agree to receive Medicare payments through electronic funds transfer (EFT).
Clock Ticking for Governor to Sign Controversial Medicaid Legislation
March 19, 2012
A controversial measure that would shift $300 million in disputed Medicaid bills to counties has been received by Governor Rick Scott's office, triggering the 15-day window for him to either sign or veto the legislation.
CMS Extends Discretion Period for Updated HIPAA Transaction Standards
March 16, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) said it will not enforce action against any non-compliant entities for an additional three (3) months, through June 30, 2012.
DDE Password Change Now Effective March 12, 2012
March 09, 2012
For security purposes, new DDE password rule changes will be implemented on February 12, 2012, for J11 Part A, J11 HHH and LA & MS Part A.
Your Medicare FFS Transactions Must be 5010 Compliant by April 1st
March 08, 2012
CMS reported that the vast majority of provider claims are being sent to Medicare in 5010 format. Given these favorable results, CMS is taking the next step towards full implementation of 5010 in Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS).
Important Changes for Version 5010 to Keep in Mind
March 05, 2012
There are three important changes for version 5010 including Version/industry group ID (GS08), ST03 element and 999 Implementation Acknowledgment.
Summary of CMS Open Door Forum
March 05, 2012
This article is an overview of CMS’ Open Door Forum held on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The forum covered Home Health, Hospice and Durable Medical Equipment.
NAHC Voices Opposition to Co-Payments for Home Health Services
February 27, 2012
Last week the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NACH) voiced strong opposition to co-payments on home health services included in President Obama’s proposed budget.
Solution for 2X Printing Problems
February 24, 2012
If you are experiencing difficulties printing from 2X, follow the four steps outlined in this article.
What the Transition from AT&T to Verizon Means for Agencies
February 23, 2012
All Medicare network systems maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be transitioned from AT&T to Verizon. This move was prompted by an initiative designed to support cross-agency collaboration, transformation and technology improvement.
Help Us Say Thanks!
February 23, 2012
This month Florida Senators Bill Nelson (D) and Marco Rubio (R) joined arms at the request of the home care industry and asked Hilda Solis, Department of Labor Secretary, to extend the comment period for the companionship services exemption proposed rule.
OASIS Q&A
February 23, 2012
Below are questions and scenarios related to data collection and OASIS items. The Survey and Certification Group at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided the answers.
OASIS Connectivity Migration – AT&T Connection will be Disabled on February 29th
February 21, 2012
CMS is transitioning the CMSNet connectivity from AT&T to Verizon. This transition will affect your h@ login ID and will make it easier to connect.
HHS Announces Intent to Delay ICD-10
February 17, 2012
As part of President Obama’s commitment to reducing regulatory burden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10).
DDE Password Changes Delayed
February 14, 2012
Due to a technical issue, the DDE password rule changes for J11 Part A, J11 HHH and LA & MS Part A DDE users were not implemented on February 12, 2012. Updates to password rules will be communicated once the technical issues are resolved.
OASIS Q&A Updated to Reflect Clarification on the F2F Requirement
February 13, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released their OASIS Q&As for January 2012. In this round, CMS provided clarification on completion of OASIS data for situations where the face-to-face encounter does not occur within the 90 days prior to the start of care (SOC), or within 30 days after the SOC.
Preparing for the Version 5010 Upgrade
February 10, 2012
The compliance deadline to upgrade to Version 5010 from Version 4010/4010A was Sunday January 1, 2012. CMS announced an enforcement discretion period for 90 days until Saturday March 31, during which it would not initiate enforcement action with respect to any HIPAA-covered entity that is non-compliant with the ASC X12 Version 5010 (Version 5010), NCPDP Telecom D.0 (NCPDP D.0) and NCPDP Medicaid Subrogation 3.0 (NCPDP 3.0) standards. However, you should continue to upgrade your systems as promptly as possible in order to meet this deadline.
DDE Password Change Effective February 12, 2012
February 10, 2012
For security purposes, new DDE password rule changes will be implemented on February 12, 2012, for J11 Part A, J11 HHH and LA & MS Part A.
Our New PBX Phone System
February 08, 2012
We are pleased to announce that we installed a new PBX phone system last week. There should be a noticeable improvement in the reliability of phone service when you call our Customer Support hotline. The new system is robust and is working great.
Study Finds Home-Visit Program Could Keep Diabetes Patients Out of the Hospital
February 08, 2012
A special Medicare program that stresses home health visits for patients with chronic diseases helped keep diabetes patients out of the hospital and may have lowered costs using time-honored prevention methods, researchers reported on Monday. Their findings reported in the journal Health Affairs, supports changes made in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act and could point to way to help keep health costs down by preventing expensive complications.
California Will Implement 2012 Medi-Cal Institutional Provider Payment Hold
February 03, 2012
Due to a severe cash flow shortage, the State of California will implement short-term payment delays to Medi-Cal institutional providers effective March 1, 2012 (the first warrant release date of March).
Lobby Day for California Agencies
February 01, 2012
The California legislature is working on bills and budget items that will have a direct impact on home health, home care and hospice services. Included among those items will be both AB 889 (Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights) and SB 411 (Home Care Licensure Bill).
CMS Updated Home Health Compare Website
January 31, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated the Home Health Compare website, which shows a 1-percentage point improvement on the ambulation, transferring and medication management outcomes. It also shows a 1-percentage point deterioration on the dyspnea outcome.
Indura Systems Has Been Approved As an X5010 Entity
January 30, 2012
Indura Systems has been approved by NGS as an X5010 entity.
Ask Congress to Oppose More Home Care Cuts!
January 30, 2012
Physicians' reimbursement will be reduced 27% on March 1, 2012, unless Congress finds alternative ways to offset the cuts. According to a panel of industry experts that met on January 26, 2012, hospitals and home health care agencies are the providers most likely to have their Medicare reimbursement cut to help pay for an extension of program payments for physicians.
Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) from Palmetto GBA
January 27, 2012
Palmetto GBA recently changed the process for mailing medical Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs). Previously, medical ADRs were mailed in yellow envelopes. ADRs are now mailed in white Palmetto GBA envelopes. It is possible that a provider may receive an ADR request prior to receiving their probe notification letter.
Success of Texas Association for Home Care and Hospice
January 26, 2012
According to the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice (TAHC&H), they were successful in the 2011 State Legislative Session, preventing or minimizing reimbursement and service cuts to home care; expanding programs to divert persons from higher cost settings; streamlining Medicaid Program design and administration; and protecting reasonable business standards and efficiencies, and home care licensure requirements.
Calculation of 2012 Home Health PPS Payments
January 25, 2012
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) received confirmation from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the way 2012 home health PPS payments are being calculated.
Version 5010 & ICD-10 Transition Resources
January 24, 2012
Three years ago this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published final rules mandating that all organizations covered by HIPAA need to upgrade to Version 5010 by January 1, 2012 and transition to ICD-10 coding sets by October 1, 2013. Given the three month discretion period for Version 5010, organizations must complete their upgrade no later than March 31, 2012. Below are several resources from CMS to help with the transition.
Financial Hardship and ADRs
January 19, 2012
The Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF) has been in communication with Palmetto GBA regarding the ongoing issue with burdensome ADRs, which is affecting providers throughout Florida. Palmetto assured HCAF their Medical Review Department is well staffed and prepared to assist providers with these issues.
15-Minute Increment Method Rate Will Not Be Implemented
January 16, 2012
The Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) proposed “15 Minute Increment” method for Home Health Therapy rates will not be implemented as planned.
Home Care and Hospice Manager Certificate Programs
January 12, 2012
The California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) is holding Home Care and Hospice Manager Certificate programs on March 13 through March 15 in Anaheim, California and on July 17 through July 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Version 5010 Benefits and Resources
January 04, 2012
There are several improvements in Version 5010
Quarterly Report for the Agency for Health Care Administration
January 03, 2012
Beginning January 1 through January 15 all licensed home health agencies must submit a quarterly report to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Agencies that do not submit the report by January 15th will be assessed a $5,000 fine.
Updated Instructions for ASC X12 Version 5010 Transition
December 29, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has released TDL-12148 dated December 22, 2011, which includes updated instructions for the ASC X12 version 5010 transition. As stated in TDL-12148, Medicare intermediaries will not reject compliant ASC X12 version 4010A1 transactions prior to April 1, 2012.
Recovery Auditor Prepayment Review Demonstration
December 23, 2011
Recovery Audit Prepayment Review will allow Medicare Recovery Auditors (RACs) to review claims before they are paid to ensure that the provider complied with all Medicare payment rules. The RACs will conduct prepayment reviews on certain types of claims that historically result in high rates of improper payments. These reviews will focus on seven states with high populations of fraud- and error-prone providers (FL, CA, MI, TX, NY, LA, IL) and four states with high claims volumes of short inpatient hospital stays (PA, OH, NC, MO) for a total of 11 states. This demonstration will also help lower the error rate by preventing improper payments rather than the traditional "pay and chase" methods of looking for improper payments after they occur.
An Inside Look at Indura Systems’ Transition to Version 5010
December 21, 2011
Indura Systems is prepared for the transition to Version 5010! We have been approved as a trading partner for X5010 submissions and are ready for the January 1, 2012, deadline.
What is an Accountable Care Organization?
December 19, 2011
An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a type of payment and delivery reform model that helps tie provider reimbursements to quality metrics and reductions in the total cost of care for an assigned population of patients. A group of coordinated health care providers form an ACO, which then provides care to a group of patients. The ACO is accountable to the patients and the third-party payer for the quality, appropriateness and efficiency of the health care provided.
Case-Mix Hypertension Ends 12/31/11
December 19, 2011
On January 1, 2012, benign essential hypertension (401.1) and unspecified essential hypertension (401.9) are removed from the case-mix system. Experts warn that providers should not change the codes for hypertension in attempt to increase the case-mix weight unless they were coded in error.
Transition to Version 5010 is Only Two Weeks Away
December 19, 2011
The compliance deadline for Version 5010 is only two weeks away! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated their website to include a new page dedicated to Version 5010 information. It includes useful resources to ensure a smooth transition to Version 5010 by January 1, 2012. Visit the link below for details.
Obama Announces New Labor Rules for Home Care Workers
December 15, 2011
President Barack Obama announced new Labor Department rules that will require home care workers to be paid minimum wage, plus overtime. Currently 29 states don't require minimum wage and overtime for home health care workers.
Payments Denied for Physicians Who Fail to Identify the Community Physician
December 09, 2011
Some contractors are denying claims for failure of the acute or post-acute physician to identify the community physician who will assume care of the patient. CMS has not mandated the acute or post-acute physician to follow a specific protocol to hand-off a patient to the community physician. However, claims are still being denied.
Payments Denied Following an Acute or Post-Acute Stay
December 08, 2011
Some CMS contractors are denying payment for patients who use home health services following an acute or post-acute stay when:
Updated Mailing Addresses for Filing Cost Reports – J11
December 01, 2011
Palmetto GBA has updated the filing location for J11 Part A and J11 Home Health and Hospice (HHH) cost reports. All J11 Part A and HHH providers should now file their cost reports to the Columbia, South Carolina location at: Palmetto GBA, Attn: Cost Report Acceptance (AG-330), P.O. Box 100144, Columbia, SC 29202-3144.
90-Day Discretion Period for Compliance with 5010 Deadline
December 01, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a 90-day enforcement discretion period for all HIPAA covered entities regarding the Version 5010 (ASC X12 Version 5010) transition.
CMS is transitioning from AT&T to Verizon
November 17, 2011
CMS is transitioning the CMSNet connectivity from AT&T to Verizon. This change affects long term care providers and home health agencies. It will affect their h@ login ID, making it easier to connect to their server.
Wage Index Corrections for 2012
November 15, 2011
All providers and suppliers who enrolled in the Medicare program prior to Friday, March 25, 2011, will be required to revalidate their enrollment under new risk screening criteria required by the Affordable Care Act (section 6401a).
Do You Need to Revalidate Your Medicare Enrollment?
November 10, 2011
All providers and suppliers who enrolled in the Medicare program prior to Friday, March 25, 2011, will be required to revalidate their enrollment under new risk screening criteria required by the Affordable Care Act (section 6401a).
Transitioning to ICD-10
November 09, 2011
All entities covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) must transition to the ICD-10 code sets by October 1, 2013. CMS has created implementation handbooks to assist you with your transition to ICD-10. The handbooks include timelines so you can meet the deadlines, templates and action steps. Visit http://www.cms.gov/ICD10 for more information.
Medicaid Billing: 9-Digit Zip Code
November 08, 2011
If you are a Medicaid billing customer, start using 9-digit zip codes. Medicaid won’t reject claims if you use a 5-digit zip code format; however, we are encouraging agencies to use 9-digit zip codes, especially for your office information (Company Zip Code).
Major Medicare Home Health Final Rule Issued
November 04, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued the final rule to update the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) for 2012, which includes an estimated decrease of 2.31%, or $431 million. The net effect for providers is a 1.4% payment update, the wage index update and the case-mix coding adjustment.
Seniors Save More Than $1.2 billion on Prescriptions
November 04, 2011
So far this year, more than 2.2 million people with Medicare have saved more than $1.2 billion on their prescriptions, for an average of $550 per person, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today. And more than 22.6 million seniors and people with disabilities have taken advantage of at least one free Medicare preventive benefit, including the new Annual Wellness Visit made possible by the Affordable Care Act.
Time to celebrate!
November 03, 2011
This is our month to celebrate! Why? It is National Home Care and Hospice Month, a time to honor the hard work of everyone in our industry. Our efforts make it possible for frail citizens to recuperate in the comfort of their own home. Thank you health care administrators, nurses, clinicians, therapists, companions, volunteers and vendors!
CMS Finalizes 2012 Medicare Home Health Payment Changes
October 31, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule to update the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates for Calendar Year (CY) 2012. Payments to home health agencies (HHAs) are estimated to decrease by approximately 2.31 percent or $430 million in CY 2012, the net effect of a 1.4 percent payment update, the wage index update, and the case-mix coding adjustment.
Are You Ready for 5010?
October 31, 2011
ASC X12 v005010 Errata will be the only version of claims accepted by Medicare in just sixty days. Palmetto GBA urges all submitters to contact their billing service or clearinghouse immediately if you are not 5010 compliant. If you are submitting claims directly, please test and move to 5010 production status immediately.
Home Health Spared from 10% Medi-Cal Reduction!
October 27, 2011
The Director of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) held a conference to announce that CMS has approved the state’s proposed 10% reduction to Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rates for all provider types except three: physician/clinic services for children, home health services and distinct part subacute facilities. The department stated that they decided to exclude those three provider types based on the analyses and information they were given which demonstrated that the 10% reduction was unadvisable.
U.S. Medicare 2012 premium hike smaller than feared
October 27, 2011
Most elderly Americans covered by the U.S. government's Medicare insurance program will see a smaller-than-expected rise in their monthly premiums next year, health officials said on Thursday.
Phone Security Code
October 01, 2011
Today we implemented the use of a phone security code. Callers now need to provide their agency name and security code to receive assistance from our Customer Support department. The security code is also required if you want to receive or update information about a particular client.
New Email Address for Support
October 01, 2011
Indura Systems is happy to introduce a new line of communication to our clients! We have a new email address for support: support@indurasystems.com.
ICD9 Database and Grouper Update
October 01, 2011
Diagnoses and procedures ICD9 codes valid from October 2011 through September 2012 have been updated. Grouper for OASIS code validation has also been updated.
Patient and Caregiver Report Improvements
October 01, 2011
igeaHHC version 3.3.0.92 introduces many improvements on several patient and caregiver reports. Some of these remarkable improvements include: reporting Total of Admissions and Patients (unduplicated), customizable Totals by criteria (Office, Payer Sources, etc.), new filters and search options, new Summarized report type added on several reports allowing you to show solely the totals instead of all the detailed patient/caregiver information.
Home Health Agencies Share $15 Million in Savings From CMS Quality Demonstration
July 05, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced it will share nearly $15 million in additional savings with more than 100 Home Health Agencies (HHAs) that participated in the intervention group of the two-year Medicare Home Health Pay for Performance (HHP4P) demonstration.
California: proyecto de ley de licenciatura de HHAs aprobado
August 21, 2009
La semana pasada, la Asamblea Estatal aprobo SB 411 (“Price”), el Home Care Services Act del 2012 que requerira que las agencias se vuelvan licenciadas por el Departamento de Servicio Sociales de California y manda que los enfermeros esten certificados por el estado
Customer Support experiencing tech difficulties in phone lines
July 05, 2009
We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our Customer Support phone lines. Meanwhile, you can contact us vie email at support@indurasystems.com, a Customer Support representative will be able to assist you via email.