SESSIONS
DAY 1
Mon. November 11
DAY 2
Tues. November 12
DAY 3
Wed. November 13
NOVEMBER 11
Core Program
* Denotes required topics for first time Administrators / Alternates.
Both Tracks
9:00 AM -10:00 AM
A. General Session: Industry Update
This session will provide Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs) with the latest updates on licensing standards, along with current information on state and federal laws relevant to their operations.
Speakers: Rachel Hammon, Executive Director, and Jessica Boston, Director of Government Affairs, Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrators/Alternates
Both Tracks
10:15 AM -11:45 AM
*1A. Employment Law
558.259 (c) (2) (C) (D) (E) (F)
In this informative session, Brian Aslin, will review the key tenets of several important employment law regulations providing attendees not only a clear understanding of each but also practical takeaways that can be utilized by organizations to be better positioned and protected from missteps. Core employment law regulations include: Title XII of the Civil Rights Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act, the recent PWFA & PUMP Acts), Family Medical Leave Act as well as a look at EEOC Cases, the agency's focus in the coming months/years in addition to a glance at recent NLRB case law.
Speaker: Brian Aslin, Ogletree Deakins
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
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Standard Track
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12:45 PM - 2:45 PM
*2A. HCSSA Regulatory Compliance for Administrators: Part 1
This interactive session will keep participants engaged while providing a comprehensive review of Chapter 558 Licensing Standards for Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs). It will cover the required content from the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 250 and Chapter 142, emphasizing how these standards apply to administrators to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
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Speakers: Jennifer Elder, Director of Regulatory Affairs, TAHC&H and Grace Werckle, BSN, RN, Home Care Education Nurse Manager, TAHC&H
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Continuing Education: 2.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 2.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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3:00pm -5:00pm
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*3A. HCSSA Regulatory Compliance for Administrators: Part 2
This session on Regulatory Compliance will challenge your knowledge of critical topics, including the Nurse Aide Registry, Criminal History Checks for employees and applicants in facilities serving the elderly or persons with disabilities, the Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 102 – Rights of the Elderly, OSHA regulations, and more!
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Speaker: Jennifer Elder, Director of Regulatory Affairs, TAHC&H and Grace Werckle, BSN, RN, Home Care Education Nurse Manager, TAHC&H
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Continuing Education: 2.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 2.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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Advanced Track
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12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
2B. Advanced Concepts in Risk Management
This presentation will cover the Texas Advance Directives Act as it applies to Home Care, Hospice and providers in general. It will cover necessary policies and procedures as well as risk management. At the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of the law and updates and how to navigate the specifics of Texas and Federal law on the subject.
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Speaker: Troy Brooks, Of Counsel, Degan, Blanchard & Nash
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
3B. Impactful Leadership for Home Health Care Organizations
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Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping and influencing an organization. Effective leadership has a significant impact on various aspects of an organization, including its culture, performance, and overall success. In this course, we will cover all the aspects of adopting and executing strong leadership, while setting a powerful example for training future leaders within the organization as well.
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Speaker: Cindy Rushing, CAPM, Implementation Manager Alora Home Health Software
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
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3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
3C. Advanced Concepts in Compliance
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Compliance. This is a word that is often spoken, and often misunderstood. Rare is compliance accidental. Purposeful, consistent compliance is planned, not something for which one hopes. This session will cover present-day compliance challenges, and solutions to them. From DOL investigations to cybersecurity to billing audits, we will discuss challenges and solutions. As part of our planning attitude, we will look to future challenges and discuss solutions for them. This includes reviewing recent issues raised in state and federal enforcement. Failing to plan for compliance leads to compliance failure. So, let us plan together.
Speaker: Troy Brooks, Of Counsel, Degan, Blanchard & Nash
Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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NOVEMBER 12
Core Program
Standard Track
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8:15 AM -9:45 AM
*4A. Complaint Investigation and Resolution
This session will cover client rights, including the right to confidentiality and Agency Responsibilities for complaints and for advance directives. Attendees will learn to improve the effectiveness and consistency of managing complaints and how to use quality assessment/performance improvement (QAPI) to manage and reduce such complaints, develop person-centered approaches and explain how perception can be an ally or foe in reducing client complaints.
Speaker: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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Advanced Track
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8:15 AM -9:45 AM
4B. Driving Agency Success Through Process Improvement​
Every Home Health Care agency strives to be more efficient, to optimize patient care, to reach financial and growth goals, however, the process of analyzing, identifying, and achieving an operational road map often begins and ends, with the processes we have in place at the organizational, and individual level.
Driving the success of the agency through continual improvement must consist of strategic decisions, just like a game of chess. Agency leadership should be looking ahead and evaluating the landscape for areas of improvement to stay ahead of the competition. In this presentation, we will cover all of the important topics and strategies that can help your agency achieve a greater level of success.
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Speaker: Cindy Rushing, CAPM, Implementation Manager, Alora Home Health Software
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Standard Track
10:00 AM -11:30 AM
*5A. Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
What is self-reporting and how can an agency stay in compliance with the HCSSA minimum standards? We will discuss state expectations listed in the Texas Administrative Code for agency investigations and provide a detailed, step-by-step process for reporting incidents of abuse, neglect and exploitation by an employee, volunteer or contractor according to the requirements. We will further discuss the agency's better practices to mitigate citations and costly enforcement action through a total incident management system: from policy implementation to actions taken to prevent client harm.
Speakers: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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Advanced Track
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10:00 AM -11:30 AM
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5B. Leadership - It Starts with YOU​
Join us for an interactive leadership workshop where you'll uncover if you have the right motivations for leading and explore five essential actions that every leader must embrace to lead effectively. Through engaging activities, you'll walk away with actionable steps to enhance your leadership approach. We'll also dive into how to consistently show up for both yourself and your team, fostering growth and success.
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Speaker: Erin Vallier, Director, Sales, Alayacare
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; ; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Standard Track
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
*6A. Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness is an essential part of providing quality care to patients and ensuring your agency is prepared when an emergency event strikes. In this session you will learn the elements required in the emergency preparedness and response plan as outlined in the Texas licensing regulations. Discover how to be compliant with Emergency Preparedness including: policies and procedures, risk assessment, communication plan, training and testing, and documentation of any actual events. This presentation will also include strategies for ongoing compliance for survey readiness.
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Speakers: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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Advanced Track
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
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6B. Advanced Concepts in Budgeting​
When you think of budgeting, do you think of your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)? It is time to get serious about KPIs and realistic budgeting. Join Amy L. Taylor as she discusses best practices to implement for successful budgeting and planning.
Speaker: Amy L. Taylor, CPA; Knight Home Care Financial
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
Standard Track
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
*7A. Infection Control Updates
This presentation will discuss the current and updated regulatory requirements for infection control for HCSSAs, including the impacts of the multiple changes that have taken place since COVID-19 and the suspension of the PHE. The session offers tips and tools for you to use as you tackle the ongoing challenge of staying compliant while educating staff, patients and caregivers about this critical requirement, including don't miss information from state and federal regulations.
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Speaker: Colleen Woods MSNED, RN, Senior Consultant, Primary Nurse Planner, JCC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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Advanced Track
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2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
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7B. Advanced Concepts in Ethical Practices
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Join noted speaker, Heidi Kocher, attorney from Liles Parker PLLC, as she tackles the sensitive issues of ethical practices in the healthcare industry. Heidi will touch base on fraudulent business behaviors, both operationally and clinically, as well as issues surrounding upcoding, staffing ratios, clinicians not turning in notes and lastly, agencies being compliant with their compliance plan, etc. Business owners and leaders must practice ethically and can’t afford to miss this informative session.
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Speaker: Heidi Kocher Esq., J.D., M.B.A., C.H.C. Liles Parker PLLC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Standard Track
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
*8A. Fraud, Waste & Abuse
Home care and hospice providers face a daunting array of complex laws and regulations, with non-compliance potentially resulting in a host of criminal charges, civil sanctions and administrative enforcement actions. This session will review relevant federal and state laws pertaining to fraud, waste and abuse, recent enforcement activity, and focus on tips for improving agency compliance programs.
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Speaker: Jennifer Papapanagiotou, Esq., Liles Parker PLLC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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Advanced Track
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
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8B. Advanced Concepts in Finance: Financial Considerations When Buying or Selling an Agency​
Mergers & Acquisitions have been in full swing for a while now and many agencies are expanding by acquisition. This session will review the financial considerations involved when an agency is bought or sold. We'll discuss the difference between a Stock Purchase and an Asset Purchase as well as what information should be available and presentable for any potential acquisition - both from the seller's and the buyers' perspective. For those not looking to sell soon, we'll also discuss steps you can take now to increase your potential sales price and attractiveness to buyers down the line. Even if you never sell, being prepared to do so sets you up as a successful agency.
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Speaker: Amy L. Taylor, CPA; Knight Home Care Financial
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate;
NOVEMBER 13
Specialty Program
8:15 AM -9:15 AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M1. CY2025 Home Health Final Rule: Overview
Join noted industry experts Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, McBee Associates, and M. Aaron Little, CPA, Forvis Mazars, who will give us an overview of the 2025 Home Health Medicare Final Rule. Agencies will have a better understanding of the potential impact the final rule will have operationally and financially and what steps should be taken to prepare. Don’t miss this overview as it will prepare you for the subsequent breakout sessions that will then guide you through the details of the final rule both operationally and financially.
Speakers: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, Vice President of Quality & Education, McBee and M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Director, Forvis Mazars – Home Care & Hospice
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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HOSPICE TRACK
H1. HOPE Assessment
The Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool was confirmed with the 2025 Hospice Final Rule adopting the HOPE Tool. It is imperative that hospices be prepared to accurately capture the patient specific data to accurately complete the HOPE Tool. This tool will replace the current HIS and will be completed at different timepoints. This session will address all data points required with the HOPE Tool, the HOPE assessment timepoints, new outcome measures that will be calculated from the data, the impact on the Hospice Quality Report Program compliance and the detailed timeline for implementation.
Objectives:
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Detail the difference between the HIS and the HOPE
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Outline the impact of HQRP compliance with the HOPE
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Define the specific items included in the HOPE assessment
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Detail the time points for completing HOPE
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Define the new outcome measures resulting specifically from HOPE data.
Speaker: Victoria Barron, MBA, BSN, RN, COS-C, Clinical Consultant, Healthcare Provider Solutions Inc.(HPS)
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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COMMUNITY CARE TRACK
CC1. Social Determinants of Health
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Non-medical Social Determinants of Health, or SDoH, are key indicators of quality of health, effective goals of care, and quality of life for clients receiving care in the community. This discussion will focus on the incentives to have these demographics in client documentation, methods for tracking and trending this information, use of the information to drive better outcomes of treatment. The presenter will discuss how tracking and trending key demographics can position the agency to participate in grants and community studies which may lead to extra financial resources and enhanced community reputation.
The participant will be able to:
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Define non-medical social determinants of health (SDoH)
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Discuss impact of certain indicators on a client's achievement of goals in the care plan or individualized service plan
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Discuss the benefits of community relationships with providers of care and services to address SDoH that threaten quality of life and quality of care
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Be able to list the components of a regulation compliant abuse, neglect, and exploitation incident management system.
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Speaker: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education​​
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9:30AM - 10:30AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M2. CY2025 Home Health Final Rule: What’s Changing and How to Stay Ahead: Key VBP Updates
Big changes are coming to VBP, and understanding the shift is crucial for your agency’s success. This session dives into a side-by-side comparison of today’s measures versus the new ones coming in 2025—and reveals how you can maximize your Total Performance Score (TPS).
Did you know that three new measures will make up 55% of your TPS? The Discharge Function (DCF) score, based on GG items, is replacing the TNC and increasing its impact from 17.5% to 20%, while the new Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations (PPH) will claim a huge 26% share of your score. Plus, Acute Care Hospitalization (ACH) and ED Use are being dropped from Star Ratings, and the new Discharge to Community (DTC) measure, worth 9%, will track readmissions for up to 31 days after discharge from home health.
This session is packed with insights on what your agency should prioritize right now to stay competitive. Lisa will break down actionable strategies to help you boost performance on these new measures, reduce hospitalizations, and prepare your team for success in the next phase of VBP.
Speakers: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, Vice President of Quality & Education, McBee
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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HOSPICE TRACK
H2. Hospice Audits and Reviews: Be Prepared​
Being prepared for a hospice medical review audit regardless of type such as TPE, PPEO, SMRC, UPIC or RAC will ensure timely submission of documents and protect your agency’s bottom line. From pre-payment denials to post-payment recoupment of payments, this session will cover all types of medical review audits and provide documentation “musts”, tips and guidance to “audit proof” your claims.
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Speaker: Victoria Barron, MBA, BSN, RN, COS-C, Clinical Consultant, Healthcare Provider Solutions Inc.(HPS)
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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COMMUNITY CARE TRACK
CC2. MCO Panel on Social Determinants of Health with focus on Value Based Programs
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This panel offers an essential discussion on the future of value-based programs within Medicaid, moderated by Kristen Robison, who brings firsthand experience as a participant in the Comprehensive Health Homes for Integrated Care (CHIC) Kids Pilot. Since its launch on December 1, 2022, this pilot has focused on improving care coordination for children with complex health conditions through a collaboration between health homes and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). With the pilot scheduled to conclude on September 1, 2025, now is the time for all agencies to gain insights into how value-based care programs function and prepare for broader implementation. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from this panel, which will share valuable lessons and strategies that are likely to shape the future of Medicaid and healthcare delivery for all agencies.
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Speaker: Kristen Robison, RN, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health
PANELISTS: Arnita Burton, United Health Care; Lisa Chance, PT, Vice President, Client Services & Clinical Excellence, Therapy 2000
Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
10:45AM - 11:45AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M3. CY2025 Home Health Final Rule: A Financial Deep Dive
This session will dive into the financial aspects of the home health Medicare final payment rule for 2025, including a deep dive of those issues that most directly impact financial health, including payment rate changes, wage-index adjustments—which are significant for 2025—and VBP. Additionally, this session will share relevant financial benchmarks important to the financial health of your home health operations.
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Speakers: M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Director, Forvis Mazars – Home Care & Hospice
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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HOSPICE TRACK
H3. Unlocking the Secrets of Hospice Financial Management: Demystifying CAP Reporting and Calculation
In this comprehensive session, we will take a deep dive into the financial management of Hospice care, with a special focus on the often-misunderstood Capped Annual Payment (CAP) Reporting and Calculation. This critical aspect of financial management can be complex, but it is essential to ensuring your Hospice agency’s financial health and optimizing reimbursements.
Led by an expert in the field, this session will guide you step-by-step through the nuances of CAP reporting, helping you gain a clear understanding of its importance and impact. You’ll learn how to accurately calculate and manage CAP, empowering your team to make informed financial decisions that can improve operational stability and sustainability.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into CAP reporting and transform your approach to Hospice financial management. You’ll walk away with the knowledge and tools to maximize your agency’s reimbursement potential and maintain financial stability.
Speaker: Brian W. Lebanion, MBA, CPC, RNC, HCS-O, HCS-D, CEO/Consultant, BC Healthcare Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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COMMUNITY CARE TRACK
CC3. Relationship Building and Provider Advocacy
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Join us for a session focused on agency advocacy and managing complaints in Managed Care. Hear from a panel of health plans and providers to learn best practices and most successful strategies in resolving issues impacting your agency. Gain a better understanding of MCO requirements and why you should not be intimidated to advocate for your agency and file complaints when you are not getting to timely resolutions.
Speaker: Kristen Robison, RN, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health
PANELISTS: Maria Moreland, Vice President, Network Management, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan; Carl D. Tapia, Aetna
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
12:00PM - 1:00PM
MEDICARE TRACK
M4. The 2025 Home Health Landscape- How do the changes included in the Final Rule impact your agency?
The home health landscape continues to evolve with ever changing payment and regulatory complexities. This session will provide an overview of the issues impacting the landscape, including the latest information and status related to PDGM, payment updates, and Value-Based Purchasing, as well as issues relating to new OASIS requirements and quality reporting. This session will also provide insights on other issues impacting the landscape, such as Medicare Advantage and evolving payment models. Join Lisa Selman-Holman and M. Aaron Little as they offer industry insights into what your agency can do today to successfully navigate this dynamic environment.
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Speakers: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, Vice President of Quality & Education,McBee and M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Director, Forvis Mazars – Home Care & Hospice
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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HOSPICE TRACK
H4. Hospice Final Rule CY25 and What’s to Come
The "Hospice Final Rule CY25 and What’s to Come" session will provide an in-depth analysis of the recently issued CMS Hospice Final Rule for Calendar Year 2025. Participants will gain insight into the latest regulatory updates, reimbursement changes, and quality measures impacting the hospice industry. This session will explore the implications of the new cap and payment rate adjustments, review changes to the hospice wage index, and discuss compliance requirements for hospice providers. Attendees will also learn about forthcoming trends and regulatory shifts that may shape hospice care in the near future, equipping them with strategies to navigate these changes effectively.
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Speaker: Brian W. Lebanion, MBA, CPC, RNC, HCS-O, HCS-D, CEO/Consultant, BC Healthcare Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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COMMUNITY CARE TRACK
CC4. Cultural Competency in Community Care
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In this session, Rosalind will provide comprehensive guidance on updating your agency's policies and training programs to meet current cultural competency standards. She will also offer practical strategies to effectively implement these practices within your organization. Given her extensive background, including her tenure as a senior policy specialist at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Rosalind is well-equipped to assist agencies in enhancing their cultural competency frameworks.
Speaker: : Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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