I am so glad I found this site and boy do I need some guidance. I have been a registered nurse for 15 years and I am comfortable with my clinical skills. I am now working at a home health agency as the director of nursing and we are currently seeking Medicare certification. Having submitted the application to the state and obtained the policy and procedure manual from our consultant, I am now in the process of organizing our patient charts. My first question is where do I obtain or order forms for such things as privacy statement, informed consent, emergency plan, ect..... up to now I have xeroxed forms from other home health companies and placed our logo on them. Once I have the source for ordering the forms required I will use them. please direct me to any resources you thing would help me.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
My knowledge of Home Health has expanded over the past 18 years.
I am sure you are very clinically savy. I learned the BUSINESS of homecare just within the past six years.
Each year in nursing management bring you new ideas, challenges and learning. No one masters this at one time.
Heading a Medicare certified agency is extremely difficult due to all the rules and reg---which change yearly.
Get the Handbook of administration--new edition coming out in Sping 2004, order used copy of current book online till its available.
Start by reading Medicare regulations posted as that is what you will be measured against. Read a section each day--bookmark to come back when needed.
Then move onto Medicare Reference Guide For Home Health Agencies---find out what your intermediary for your state is and peruse their guidlelines. Learn about coding as that will determine how your agency gets paid under PPS.
Read which supplies included in nursing visits next.
Look at cost of Briggs start up kit vs items offered by NAHC.
Join your states HH organization --ask for mentor from them. If you do not have many agencies in your area (no threat from competition) then you should be able to find a frendly face.
If you start out smalll, you should be ok. Expect to have a headache for the first 6 months-year. It gets easier after that.
We are here to support you but you do need to know these things to avoid legal and professional trouble from the get go.
I am assuming this is a forprofit private concern that is Medicare startup. It can be done but is costly and time consuming endeavor these days. If you think of these as a giant adventure and are up to a challenge, you can find some great rewards.
Well I have good news, we hired a new lady for the office where I have been working, helping out on the staffing agency side. Now I will be able to concentrate on our home health care agency. I thank you for the leads and links, suggestions and ideas. we also got the letter from CMS that they recieved our application. In Michigan we expect to have survey in 2 months.
NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN
10 Articles; 19,193 Posts
For Nurses New to Home Care
CEU Article:
http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/ce/ce109.htm
Starting a home care agency:
http://www.nahc.org/Tango/Start/
Home Health Nuggets
https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=497092#post497092
Home Care Resources
https://allnurses.com/t35713.html
Medicare Reference Guide For Home Health Agencies:
75 page document from CAHABA intermediary:
http://www.iamedicare.com/provider/newsroom/refguide/hha/hhcoverage.pdf
Coding and Icd-9 Codes
https://allnurses.com/t31402-10-1.html
List of non-routine medical supplies to be bundled in with cost of Medicare visits: go to page 59
(these need to be listed under supplies on 485 form, and itemized as part of care)
Also discusses billing under PPS:
http://cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/hhppsch4.pdf
Wound Care Words of Wisdom:
https://allnurses.com/t16242.html
Let me know what else you are interested in...will post links.