Beth Carpenter and Associates
September 2007
THE PATHFINDER
 
In This Issue
Final PPS Rule Means Payment Changes
Patients With Dementia Benefit From Hospice
How to Succeed in Business: Meditate
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ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH?
 
Since 1995 Beth Carpenter and Associates has provided its real-world experience to the management of healthcare companies, especially those  organizations with a focus on home health, hospice and private duty, in the areas of operations, clinical services, sales and marketing.  We work with management to identify the strategic direction of the organization and implement the necessary changes that allow health care providers to move forward in today's environment.
 
We help you choose the right path to success and then we walk it with you.
 

Hello!

Welcome to the September issue of THE PATHFINDER.

Autumn has always been my most favorite time of the year.  I am sure it is partly due to the beauty of the changing leaf color and the start of the cool weather, but also because the Fall has always signified a time of new starts, new opportunities to learn, new crayons, new shoes and the chance to make new friends.

Whether you are a new friend or someone we have known for ages, I hope that you will find that this month's articles present you with opportunities to learn something new.

If we can provide you with more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best wishes,  Beth Carpenter

FINAL RULE MAKES SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO PPS PAYMENTS IN 2008
 
Written by mapolskis 
 
On August 29, 2007, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Final Rule (with comment period) in the Federal Register, updating and making major refinements to the Medicare home health prospective payment system (HH-PPS) for calendar year (CY) 2008.
 
Under the HH-PPS, Medicare pays home health agencies (HHA) based on a national standardized 60-day episode rate, which is adjusted for case-mix and wage index.  To adjust for case-mix, the HH-PPS currently uses 80 category case-mix classifications to assign payments to a home health resource group (HHRG).  IN the Final Rule, CMS makes a number of refinements to the HH-PPS methodology, including the following.....
 
 
 
 
NEW RESEARCH FINDS PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA BENEFIT FROM HOSPICE

By National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization


While dementia is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it accounts for only 11 percent of hospice admissions and little is known about  the quality of the care they receive, reports the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS: MEDITATE
 
By Oliver Ryan, Reporter for Fortune magazine
 
The crowd of Harvard Business School alums who gathered at their reunion to hear networking expert Keith Ferrazzi speak earlier this summer might have expected to pick up strategies on how to work a room, remember people's names, or identify mentors.  But tactical skills, it turns out, aren't what turned Ferazzi into a best selling author or sought-after speaker.
 
I would like to invite you to visit our website, www.bethcarpenterandassociates.com, to learn more about how we can help your organization move forward and find your path to success.
 
Beth Carpenter and Associates has earned a reputation as a company with deep industry experience and one that works closely with its clients to identify solutions that meet their business goals and strategic objectives.  We do not simply advise.  We partner with our customers to implement the solution and ensure its success.
 
Sincerely,
Beth Carpenter
 

Beth Carpenter
Beth Carpenter and Associates
847-382-1035