Oops, sorry. I meant DHS probably can’t comply by 7/1/16, not 1/1/16! I guess I should avoid emailing so early in the morning J

Susan Morgan, RN, BSN |Chief Compliance Officer

Office: 952-935-3515 | Fax: 952-935-7112 | Cell: 952-388-9043

1011 1^st Street South #315

Hopkins, MN 55343

Email: susanmorgan@accracare.org  | Website: www.accracare.org

Hopkins | Alexandria | Duluth | Fergus Falls | Lake City | Moorhead | Red Wing | Winona

Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you

From: list-manager@list.mnhomecare.org [mailto:list-manager@list.mnhomecare.org] On Behalf Of Susan Morgan
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 6:21 AM
To: BOD listserve <MHCABOD@list.mnhomecare.org>
Subject: Re: Medicaid F2F

Thanks for the information Kathy. This will be such a big change for both providers, as  well as DHS. It is hard to imagine that they could be ready to enforce such a mandate as soon as 1/1/2016, so hopefully they will approve the 1 year delay! 

Susan Morgan, RN, BSN | Chief Compliance Officer

Office: 952-935-3515 | Fax: 952-935-7112 | Cell: 952-388-9043

1011 1st St. South, Suite 315

Hopkins, MN 55343-9478

Email: susanmorgan@accracare.org  | Website: www.accracare.org

Alexandria |Bemidji | Brainerd | Duluth | Fergus Falls | Hopkins | Lake City | Moorhead | Red Wing | Winona

Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you.

---

From: list-manager@list.mnhomecare.org <list-manager@list.mnhomecare.org> on behalf of Kathy Messerli <kmesserli@mnhomecare.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 8:46 PM
To: BOD listserve
Subject: Medicaid F2F

I understand the concerns regarding Medicaid F2F! Kevin and I will be asking for a meeting with Minnesota's Medicaid Director (I met with her a couple months ago). We will be encouraging her to hold off taking this to the MN Legislature until 2017, which will postpone the implementation to July 2017.  We will also discuss the importance of including only components required by CMS (we are unable to influence the CMS requirements).

NAHC and VNAA share "cautious optimism" over this roll-out and appear to have been aware that this was on the horizon. They commend CMS on the following:

- inclusion of telehealth as an eligible F2F encounter (not encompassed by Medicare counterpart)

- Inclusion of clarification that people don't need to be homebound 

“[Visiting Nurse Associations of America] hopes that states will implement the new Medicaid face-to-face rule using common-sense documentation requirements that preserve access to home health services,” VNAA President and CEO Tracey Moorhead told HHCN in a statement. “We will be working with our members and other stakeholders to educate them about the requirement, the timelines and how to implement the provisions to minimize disruption of services and reimbursement.”

I will keep you posted as we learn more.

Kathy Messerli

Sent from iPad

On Feb 2, 2016, at 10:11 AM, Austin Figge <austinf@prhomecare.com> wrote:

We really need to be at the table for the implementation of F2F for Medicaid as it is a big deal.  The state could cripple their home care infrastructure if they screw this up.  The Medicaid population is substantially different from the Medicare populations thus that needs to be considered in the implementation of F2F.  I don’t know how specific the guidance from CMS is on F2F but we need to find out and make it as workable as possible because the Medicare version is becoming a challenge and they pay much better than Medicaid.  If the Medicaid version becomes like the Medicare version, I think you will see providers drop like flies.

Austin Figge, RN

Prairie River Home Care, Inc.

From: list-manager@list.mnhomecare.org [mailto:list-manager@list.mnhomecare.org] On Behalf Of Kathy Messerli
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 9:59 AM
To: MHCABOD@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: ED update

Education

Future of Home Care Conference

The conference was a big success last week and members would like to see it repeated next year. The national speakers were well received and attendees and exhibitors alike appreciated the technology demos. I’ll be asking the board at our next meeting what we can do to better appeal to your organizations & increase attendance in the future.

Advocacy Issues

MA F2F

The big news, as you noticed in Austin’s email is that CMS has announced F2F for Medicaid! This came without warning and we are looking into the next steps. Here’s what we believe, as of today: States will have to comply under their respective MA programs and this needs to pass state legislatures, but they must make the change to be in compliance with the federal law, which doesn’t give us much wiggle room. Kevin is reaching out to DHS to confirm the process and what we believe is an effective date of 7/1/17.

MDH Staff Changes

Josh Berg’s last day at MDH is this Friday. He is returning to the provider world (Accessible Space).  There has been a slight shift in the MDH Health Regulation Division. Stella French now joins Susan Winkelman as Asst Division Directors. HCALP (Josh) now reports to Stella and Mary Absolon continues to report to Susan.

MDH will be hosting quarterly meetings with LeadingAge, CareProviders and MHCA – we hope that this open the door for improved communication. Although I was just alerted by Kris Dudziak yesterday that there are home care providers openings on committee/councils that we were not informed about! I am attempting to get clarifications before the Informer goes out this afternoon.

MA Team – DHS

This is the week that the MA Team will be meeting with several DHS staff to address PCA fraud and potential steps to reduce fraud without licensing. I will update you following the meeting.

Operational

MNHPC

MHCA staff is meeting with staff from the MN Network of Hospice and Palliative Care tomorrow to discuss collaboration, including booth space at each others conferences and reciprocity for attendees. We do not do reciprocity for LeadingAge or CareProviders so this will likely involve future discussions. In the meantime, we will likely be doing so for our upcoming April and May conferences.

Stay safe and enjoy the beauty of the snow!!

Warm Regards,

Kathy Messerli

Executive Director | Minnesota HomeCare Association

1711 West County Road B, Suite 211S, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55113

D: 651.635.0038  |  P: 651.635.0607  |  T: 1.866.607.0607  |  F: 651.635.0043

www.mnhomecare.org  |  kmesserli@mnhomecare.org

ALERT: As of Feb. 26, 2016, MHCA offices will be located at 2550 University Ave W, Ste. 350S, St. Paul, MN 55114-1900.

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 care services

MHCA supports Best Life Alliance