Hi,

 

I am sad that I will be missing another board meeting!  I am not going to enjoy being off the board in 2025.  ☹  Especially since I won’t be retiring…. 

 

Here are some additional thoughts from my Home Health Intake nurse regarding discharge planner training, and/or discharges in general from hospitals from a non-hospital affiliated agency.  I am sure there are a whole different set of problems for the hospital-based agencies. 

 

Hospitals are put in a pretty tough position to get these referrals out to agencies because of insurances and what the Home Health agencies can afford to support related to those poor payors.  Often referrals from a hospital have been sent to 15 agencies who have all declined.  This is especially common with poor payors.  On occasion we have gone to start a patient on services and another agency was there the day before.  We could have supported another patient if there was better communication regarding who has accepted the patient. 

 

Increasing access to chart systems would be incredibly helpful, and most systems do allow a view only access but not all.  Some hospital systems want individual access granted for each referral – pain!  Having access to the EMR expedites the referral process and cuts down on phone calls and faxes. 

 

Increased training of patients and families on their disease management, medications, etc prior to d/c would be helpful.  Especially if the home health agency won’t be able to get to the patient for a few days. 

 

Steph said she would be really curious about the rehospitalization rates for those clients who wait longer than 48 hours for a SOC.  Triniti (and most agencies I believe) would be thrilled to get to all patients in 24-48 hours, but it is very difficult if 80% of discharges occur on Thursday/Friday.  Also, families often agree to anything to facilitate discharge, then decline or postpone the original start date. 

 

Have a great meeting! 

 

Andrea

 

 

Greetings,

 

Where did the year go? It’s hard to believe it’s almost December. The packet for the meeting is lengthy and will be uploaded in the portal by tomorrow. Please note we’ll be in a different conference room.

 

I have a couple of requests for you:

 

• Please RSVP to Lauren by Friday for our lunch order.
• I have invited Natasha Merz, DHS, back to this meeting and would like you to give the topic some thought in advance. DHS has formed an Acute Care Transitions Council. Home care not being represented on the council and I believe it’s important for them to have our input. While the council will consider barriers, they are most interested in hearing our ideas for solutions to moving patients out of acute care, freeing up beds. Let’s get creative and share a broad range of ideas, such as financial sustainability and limiting administrative burdens. We will have about 10 minutes to brainstorm as a group and then Natasha will join us via zoom to hear our ideas. A few examples could include:
• Move the needle on increased reimbursement: care evaluations, base rates
• Discharge planner training (ensuring meds and paperwork are in order to prevent re-hospitalization)
• Expedite assistance for the Home Health agencies with the EVV transition. The major challenges will increase your need to turn away referrals
• Help resolve MCO issues; all of the challenges our members face take time and thus, limit your ability to care for as many clients.
• I plan to suggest for more proactive leadership from DHS; hoping they’ll collaborate with providers on the EVV significant challenges and consider something in the Gov’s budget.

 

Andrea, I know you won’t be able to join us. If you have input on the 2^nd bullet, please send it my way!

 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions prior to the meeting. I look forward to seeing most of you next Thursday.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Kathy Messerli

Executive Director

Minnesota Home Care Association

 

1265 Grey Fox Road, Suite 2 | Arden Hills, MN 55112-6929

Direct: 651.635.0038 | Main: 651.635.0607

www.mnhomecare.org | kmesserli@mnhomecare.org