Obtaining Auth in Home Care

[SmithRNclassof97]

I have been working as a psych nurse in home care for the last 10 years. I love it and I can't imagine doing anything else. I love seeing my clients and enjoy helping them and interacting with them daily. However, as with any job, there are frustrations. Lately, I have found myself contemplating doing something else. I don't mind doing weekly summaries, 60 day oasis assessments, and any of the other day to day things that we do. My frustration is this: 5 years ago we submitted a 6 sentence note to obtain authorization for services. Over the years it has turned into a 2 page document submitted monthly. And even if the client changes very little, NONE of that document can be copied and pasted in any way, and, no matter what you submit, there are always challenges to what you write in an effort to deny authorization or to cut back on necessary services. I am getting tired of fighting this fight and sadly, the time spent on all of this is taking away from time I can spend with my clients and even affects the amount of time I am home with my family. Is anyone else in this boat?

"Don't fear or judge Marilyn. He may be strange and different, but he is a person too."

[SmithRNclassof97]

Do other field staff working behavioral health home care have to do the authorization paperwork? The last home care agency I worked for had a office person whose job it was to do that stuff.