Beth Carpenter and Associates: Pathfinder Newsletter

THE PATHFINDER NEWSLETTER
Hello! Welcome to the September/October 2009 issue of THE PATHFINDER. We have had an excellent autumn in the Carpenter household! How do I know! Because I have spent Friday nights at football games. Football has always been the sport of choice here and it is a pretty exciting time as my grandson "suits up" and my son participates as an offense coach for a high school team. As I watch the boys move through their plays, I could not help but think about teams, teamwork and what makes a team strong. As we face the days of change ahead for all of us in healthcare, it is our teams that will lead us, support us and in inspire us to meet every challenge before us. Here is one of my favorite quotes: "Team player: Once who unites others toward a shared destiny through sharing information and ideas, empowering others and developing trust." Author Unknown Our goal is to be an integral part of our client's team, walking beside them, teaching and learning from one another. With that in mind, please see our announcement of our new service below. Here's to wishing each of you the chance to enjoy the warm sunny days and the cool evenings of the season. Find the time to take a walk this week and enjoy being outside before winter makes its appearance! If we can provide you with any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Best wishes, Beth Carpenter “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success.” David O. McKay

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW SERVICE Accreditation Commission for Health Care Beth Carpenter and Associates is proud to announce the addition of a new service for its clients! We are now able to support your efforts to achieve accreditation through Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) whether you are a new or existing agency - home health, hospice or private duty. To assist you in your efforts to reach and maintain deemed status for Home Health and Hospice agencies as well as accreditation as a Private Duty Nursing and/or Private Duty Aide organization, the following are a sample of potential services currently available through Beth Carpenter and Associates: • Assistance in preparation of the ACHC Application and the Preliminary Evidence Report (PER). • Review of your Application and PER prior to submission to ACHC. • Assistance with any revisions to the PER requested by ACHC following initial submission. • Training and instruction to administration and staff to prepare for an on-site ACHC survey. • Assistance in creating a Plan of Correction, if necessary, following an on-site ACHC survey. Subsequent to successful accreditation, we are available to work with your agency to continue compliance with the ACHC standards. For further information, call 847-382-1035 or e-mail bcarpenter@bethcarpenterandassociates.com.

OIG WORK PLAN FOR 2010 The work plan gives a clear indication of the areas and issues that OIG intends to audit, evaluate and inspect during the fiscal year 2010. HOME HEALTH: • Part B Payment for Home Health Beneficiaries • Accurately Coding Claims for Medicare Home Health Resource Groups • Medicare Home Health Payments for Insulin Injections • Home Health Agency Outlier Payments • Home Health Prospective Payment System Controls • Home Health Agency Profitability • Medicare Home Health Payments for Diabetes Self-Management Training Services • Oversight of Home Health Agency Outcome and Assessment Information Set Data HOSPICE: • Trends in Medicare Hospice Utilization For your convenience I have listed the link below: http://oig.hhs.gov/publications/docs/workplan/2010/Work_Plan_FY_2010.pdf

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES RED FLAG EXEMPTION FOR SMALL PRACTICES By HealthLeadersMedia.com The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Tuesday, October 22, that would exempt a healthcare practice with 20 or fewer employees from the FTC's identity theft Red Flag Rule enforcement. The bill moves on to the Senate. For the full article, please click here...

Beth Carpenter Beth Carpenter and Associates 847-382-1035 bcarpenter@bethcarpenterandassociates.com 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

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.

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