I got this from VA earlier this month regarding the payment decrease.
Hi Darlene,
We go live with Optum on 2/19. All authorizations in Triwest will continue to be active for the entire authorization period. We can upload authorizations to Triwest for up
to 30 days after we go live with Optum.
Regarding payments, we did get an increase from 7.82/15 minutes to 10.30/15 minutes. I am not sure when the official notice will go out. I think they are making it retroactive
to 10/1/19.
Thank you,
Sheri Lechner, MSN, MBA, HCM
Assistant Chief Nurse Community Care
Minneapolis VAHCS
1 Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417
612-725-8042
From: billers@list.mnhomecare.org [mailto:billers@list.mnhomecare.org]
On Behalf Of Lynette Oehlke
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2020 5:25 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
We will continue to take VA clients, but we are going to faze out Homemaker only and with current clients only prudently provide the service. We do not have any Homemaker
employees (recruitment is next to impossible), only Home Health Aides are providing Homemaker services and they earn more than the reimbursement so we cannot reasonably sustain providing this level of service.
Lynette Oehlke
l
Director of Operations
l
Comfort Health
office 507.281.2332
cell
507.202.1578
address
2746 Superior Dr NW, #200, Rochester, MN 55901
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From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Cates, Shay
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2020 1:08 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
Can anyone tell me what you as a Homecare Agency is planning to do about the decrease in VA payments? We are looking at maybe no longer taking VA patients
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Cates, Shay
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2020 12:18 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
Can anyone tell me what you as a Homecare agency is planning to do about this decrease in VA payments? We are looking at maybe no longer taking VA patients
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Jessica Demarais
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 4:04 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
In the Optum/VA portal, the fee schedule is under the tab for documents and links
https://provider.vacommunitycare.com/tpa-ap-web/?navDeepDive=VACCN%20publicDocumentsLinksMenu
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Melissa K. Austreng
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 4:01 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
Yes, we are getting paid drastically less as well! However, when I call the VA they don’t seem to know much. Where did you see the fee schedule from Optum as I can’t find
that?
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Hespe, Linda J
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 3:51 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
Has anyone experience the drastic pay cut on the aide/homemaking with VA since Oct 1st? I see the Optum fee schedule on that website is very poor also, but I
heard that the VA was taking money back retro to Oct 1st if they had paid you at the higher rate from their previous fiscal year.
Linda Hespe
Director
Essentia Health Home Care and Hospice West
114 Frazee St. East | Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
P: 218-314-7806| F: 218-847-0850
Linda.Hespe@EssentiaHealth.org |
www.essentiahealth.org
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From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Melissa K. Austreng
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 3:43 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
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You are welcome!
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Marnie Pogreba
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 3:41 PM
To: 'billers@list.mnhomecare.org' <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
Awesome, thank you.
J
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org [mailto:billers@list.mnhomecare.org]
On Behalf Of Melissa K. Austreng
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 3:41 PM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
|
**External Sender**
|
I just called on this today and it is all disciplines😊
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Marnie Pogreba
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 3:39 PM
To: 'billers@list.mnhomecare.org' <billers@list.mnhomecare.org>
Subject: RE: Switch to Optum
With Tri West, only the Skilled visits were billed, the HHA and HMKR still went to the VA. Does anyone know if all visits will be going to Optum or just the
Skilled visits?
Thank you,
Marnie
From:
billers@list.mnhomecare.org [mailto:billers@list.mnhomecare.org]
On Behalf Of Karen Peterson
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 8:41 AM
To: billers@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: Switch to Optum
|
**External Sender**
|
Good morning all – well, according to the website, next Wednesday, 2/19, is the official “switch to Optum” day in Minnesota for VA claims. Are you ready? I’m hearing varied
responses as I chat with members around the state.
I wanted to be sure you know about this website:
I suspect you do, but on the off chance that some might not have seen it, I thought I’d share.
Please report in as you make the switch to let us know how it’s going -
Thanks, and good luck!
Karen Peterson
Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Manager
Minnesota HomeCare Association
2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 350 S | St. Paul, MN 55114-1900
Direct: 651.659.1457 | Main: 651.635.0607
Toll-free: 866.607.0607 | Fax: 651.635.0043
Mission:
MHCA represents and supports Minnesota home care providers committed to high quality home care services.
Vision:
MHCA will shape the home care landscape to improve and sustain quality home care services.
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