Fall Conference

ICD-10  track
[Continuing Education: 6.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate;  6.5 contact hours continuing education for nurses]

7:30am  |  Registration Opens

8:30am-10:00am
1a. Cruise into 2020: ICD-10 Coding Update for Home Health and Hospice

Change is the name of the coding game and 2020 will be no different! We have new codes and guidelines effective for the new coding year starting October 1, 2019, PLUS a new home health payment system January 1, 2020.  This class will include the following:

• The first hour will start with an explanation of diagnosis coding in PDGM, the impact of the primary diagnosis and comorbidities on payment calculation and claim submission and how home health agencies can avoid problems in this area.
• Code changes, additions and deletions, and changes in coding guidance for 2020
• Home health and hospice coding practice, common misunderstandings will be clarified with plenty of scenarios and tools to increase accuracy.

Lack of training leads to denials, up-coding or down-coding, potentially resulting in decreased cash flow. Increase your coding knowledge and understanding and gain the expertise your agency needs to survive the 2020 changes. With government auditors targeting home care, now is the time to ensure that you are coding correctly and protecting your revenue.

Objectives

1. Explain the role of diagnosis coding in the new home health payment model
2. Identify new codes and guidelines effective October 1, 2019
3. Identify compliance issues related to coding accuracy
4. Identify common errors in coding
5. Demonstrate application of coding guidelines to typical home health and hospice scenarios

Speakers: Teresa Northcutt, RN, BSN, HCS-D, COS-C, Senior Associate Consultant, Selman Holman, A Briggs Healthcare Company

10:15am-12:00pm
Session Continued

12:00pm-1:00pm  |  Lunch (included in registration)

1:00pm-3:00pm
Session Continued

3:15pm-4:30pm
Session Continued

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS  track
[Continuing Education: 6.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate;  6.5 contact hours continuing education for nurses]

7:30am  |  Registration Opens

8:30am-10:00am
2a. Time for your Annual Inspection! Review of the State and Federal Emergency Preparedness Rules
The Federal Emergency Preparedness requirements are both similar and different than the requirements that Texas agencies have been meeting. This presentation will outline in detail both these similarities and differences so that agencies – both certified and non-certified – can understand how to prepare for potential disaster and emergency situation, comply with state and federal requirements, and protect their businesses, clients, and employees. We will also discuss regulatory changes since 2018 and lessons learned.
Speaker: Kay Hollers, RN, MPH, COS-C, HCS-D, Independent Consultant, HealthCare ConsultLink

10:15am-12:00pm
2b. Developing and Implementing Your Emergency Preparedness Plan
This workshop will be presented by a panel of home health, hospice, community care, and pediatric providers to discuss how to develop an effective Emergency Preparedness Plan with a focus on assessing hazard vulnerability, infection control, continuity of operations, and much more!
Speakers: Charlene Drake, Area VP, PCS Operations, Texas Home Health of America; Kristen Robison, RN, Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health; Brandis Wilmore, Owner, Be Healthy at Home, Inc.; Amy Ives, BSN, RN, CHPN, Hospice Director, Peterson Hospice

12:00pm-1:00pm  |  Lunch (included in registration)

1:00pm-3:00pm
2c. Applying the State and Federal Emergency Preparedness Rules: What Surveyors Look For in your Policies and Procedures
The next step to understanding the Emergency Preparedness Regulations is to determine how to prepare and present evidence of your compliance.  This presentation will present strategies agencies can use to be comfortable they have put their best foot forward at survey time. Special emphasis will be placed on documentation of actions taken in risk assessment, patient classification systems, HIPAA, patient evacuation, and testing of the plan. 
Speakers: Jennifer Gibson Osburn, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, Senior Clinical Consultant, Axxess; Kay Hollers, RN, MPH, COS-C, HCS-D, Independent Consultant, HealthCare ConsultLink

3:15pm-4:30pm
2d. Testing Your Emergency Preparedness Plan
This presentation will discuss the staff training requirements for both orientation and annual training, how to collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies, illustrate the differences between the tabletop, functional, and full-scale test exercises, and review best practices in documentation.
Speaker: Beverly  Sepulveda, BSN, RN, MBA, CEO, SynerImages Healthcare Consulting LLC