SESSIONS
DAY 1
Mon. November 17
DAY 2
Tues. November 18
DAY 3
Wed. November 19
NOVEMBER 17
Core Program
* Denotes required topics for first time Administrators / Alternates.
Both Tracks
9:00 AM -10:00 AM
A. General Session: Industry Update
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.
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
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
558.259 (c) (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
558.259 (c) (2) (A) (B) & (G) 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. A CASE STUDY: Unplanned Hospital Readmissions of Seniors - What We Have Learned and What the Future Holds
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In this session we will review the history of why and when unplanned hospital readmissions of seniors became an important issue for U.S. policy makers, and for home health agencies. We will also review the healthcare system response to the focus on unplanned readmissions. Researchers across the country, and around the globe, have published innumerable papers on the phenomenon and we will discuss the four major focus areas of that research and what we can learn from their work. And finally, we will look forward and discuss options for how home health agencies can continue to have a positive impact on reducing unplanned readmissions.
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Speaker: Ronnie Madison, CFO/Owner, BSA Compassion Home Care
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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 Budgeting & Financial Management
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tTBD
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Speaker: Thomas Rose, CEO/President, 21st Century Health Care Consultants
Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
NOVEMBER 18
Core Program
Standard Track
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8:15 AM -9:45 AM
*4A. Complaint, Investigation and Resolution
558.259 (d)(3)(4) (5) 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. Advanced Concepts in Leadership
Equip yourself with proven communication frameworks and leadership strategies to effectively manage distributed home care teams. Learn to navigate the unique challenges of supervising remote caregivers, conduct meaningful check-ins, deliver constructive feedback, resolve conflicts, and build a cohesive team culture—even when your staff works independently across multiple client homes.
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Speaker: J’non Griffin, RN, MHA, HCS-D, HCS-O, COS-C, HCS-H, HCS-C, SVP Coding and OASIS/Compliance, SimiTree
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
Standard Track
10:00 AM -11:30 AM
*5A. Emergency Preparedness
558.259 (d)(6) 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.
Speakers: Lisa McClammy, RN, MAC Legacy
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. Advanced Concepts in Operations: Efficiency for Better Outcomes in the Home​
Delivering Home-based services has become commonplace as reforms and programming advances allow an increasing number of patients to receive care while at home. As more patients are able to receive these Home-Based services, regulatory and reimbursement changes have altered how patient needs are addressed. As a result, all types of Providers have had to adopt care and delivery practices to address current regulatory and programming requirements. This progressive presentation addresses how Operational changes in terms of efficiency can produce better outcomes while servicing patients in the home. Learn how Providers have rewired day-to-day operations for value-based outcomes managed by Key Performance Indicators (KPI) metrics to assure ongoing performance.
Speaker: Arnie Cisneros, President; Home Health Strategic Management & Kimberly McCormick, Executive Clinical Director
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Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
Standard Track
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
*6A. Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
558.259 (d) (7) 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.
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Speakers: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC and Bradley Madison, Administrator, CPCS
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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 Quality: Enhancing the Quality Culture of Your Organization​
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This interactive session provides a guide to developing a sustainable culture of quality. Participants will discover moving beyond mere compliance to a state where excellence is a shared value and a natural part of everyone's day to day. We will explore the critical elements of a strong quality culture, including bought-in leadership, transparent communication, and continuous improvement. Through practical hands-on exercises, attendees will gain actionable insights for assessing their current culture and creating a strategic action plan. This workshop is designed for leaders, managers, and quality professionals who are ready to transform their organization and build a sustainable advantage through quality.
Speaker: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
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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 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
558.259 (d) (1) 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 Strategic Planning- Using Data to Build Your Value Proposition for each Specific Referral Partner to Drive Growth​
In today’s competitive healthcare landscape, referral relationships are no longer built on clinical quality alone—they’re won by clearly demonstrating value. This strategic planning session equips home health and hospice leaders with a framework to use data effectively in crafting customized value propositions for each referral source. Participants will explore how to align internal performance metrics with the specific priorities of hospitals, SNFs, ACOs, and physician groups.
Attendees will learn how to:
• Understand how to use market data to identify trends for specific referral sources within each county that they service
• Identify key metrics that matter to different referral partners (e.g., readmission rates, quality measures, LOS, satisfaction scores)
• Segment referral sources and tailor value messaging accordingly
• Turn performance data into compelling, growth-focused conversations
• Set strategic goals that tie data insights to referral growth initiatives
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Speaker: Michael Simione, MBA, VP of Post Acute Data Analytics, SimiTree
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate;
NOVEMBER 19
Specialty Program
8:15 AM -9:15 AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M1. CY2026 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 2026 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, VP Clinical Services, 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. The Hospice Final Rule 2026 – What’s Changing and What It Means for You
Get ready to unpack the big shifts ahead for hospice care in 2026! This session dives deep into the CMS Hospice Final Rule, breaking down the financial, operational, and compliance changes that every hospice leader needs to understand now. We’ll explore how reimbursement updates, wage index adjustments, and evolving quality reporting expectations will shape the year ahead—and, more importantly, how your organization can turn these changes into strategic opportunities. Walk away with actionable insights, tools, and strategies to strengthen your agency’s financial performance, ensure compliance, and stay ahead of the curve as CMS continues to refine hospice oversight.
You’ll Learn How To:
• Decode key provisions of the 2026 Hospice Final Rule and their real-world implications.
• Align operations and financial practices with the latest CMS updates.
• Build an action plan that positions your hospice for success and sustainability in 2026 and beyond.
Speaker: Brian Lebanion, BC Healthcare Consulting
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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. New Attendant Rates Update
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TBD
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Speaker: Rachel Hammon, RN, BSN, Executive Director, Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice
Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate​​
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9:30AM - 10:30AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M2. CY2026 Home Health Final Rule: What’s Changing and How to Stay Ahead: Key VBP Updates You Can’t Afford to Miss
Major changes are on the horizon for Value-Based Purchasing (VBP), and staying ahead of the curve is essential for your agency’s success. In this session, Lisa Selman-Holman breaks down the CY2026 Final Rule with a clear, side-by-side comparison of current versus upcoming measures—so you know exactly what’s shifting and how to respond.
Discharge Function remains a heavy hitter, still accounting for 15% of the Total Performance Score (TPS), but CMS is reintroducing M1800 items for dressing and bathing—adding complexity and opportunity. Meanwhile, HHCAHPS is significantly scaled back, and agencies excelling in potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) may be surprised by the new direction CMS is taking. The Discharge to Community (DTC) measure is also gaining weight, increasing from 9% to 15% of the TPS.
This session is packed with actionable insights to help your agency prioritize what matters most right now. You’ll learn how to optimize performance under the new VBP framework, reduce hospitalizations, and prepare your team to thrive in the next phase of home health quality reporting.
Speakers: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, VP Clinical Services, 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 CAP Mastery – Protecting Your Bottom Line Before It’s Too Late​
The Hospice Aggregate CAP isn’t just a compliance requirement—it’s a financial risk that can make or break your agency’s year-end performance. In this high-impact session, we’ll take a practical, data-driven look at how to monitor, manage, and minimize CAP exposure before it becomes a costly problem.
You’ll learn proven techniques for forecasting CAP trends, identifying risk early, and using analytics to drive confident decision-making. Whether you’re new to CAP or looking to refine your financial strategy, this session will equip you with the insights and tools to stay compliant, in control, and profitable.
You’ll Learn How To:
• Break down CAP calculations and self-determination with confidence.
• Implement proactive monitoring to catch potential overages early.
• Use CAP data to guide smarter financial and operational strategies.
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Speaker: Brian Lebanion, BC Healthcare Consulting
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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. EVV Compliance
​TBD
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Speaker: Tracie Teague, EVV Contract Specialist, HHSC & Patrick Kampman, Deputy Director, Medicaid Provider Services, HHSC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
10:45AM - 11:45AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M3. CY2026 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 2026, including a deep dive of those issues that most directly impact financial health, including payment rate changes, wage-index adjustments, 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. Hospice Audits and Documentation
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 “must”, 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.
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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. Unlocking Regulatory Success: Mastering Functional Assessments for Personal Assistance Services
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This discussion will address the critical role of functional assessments in Personal Assistance Services (PAS) agencies, with a focus on Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs) operating in Texas. Attendees will learn how comprehensive functional assessments serve as the foundation for determining client needs, guiding service planning, and ensuring the assignment of appropriately skilled and compatible staff. The presentation will emphasize regulatory requirements set forth by Texas state licensing standards, highlighting the limitations of relying solely on community services contract case managers for assessment determination. Practical strategies for achieving compliance and enhancing quality of care will be discussed, with actionable insights for agency administrators and PAS supervisors. Content applies to the functional assessment in other states as well.
Speaker: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
12:00PM - 1:00PM
MEDICARE TRACK
M4. The 2026 Home Health Landscape: How the Final Rule Impacts Your Agency
As the home health industry faces a significant rate change, agencies must understand how the change will impact them and how to adapt financially and operationally to remain successful. In this session, Lisa Selman-Holman and M. Aaron Little will provide a comprehensive overview of the CY2026 Final Rule and its implications for your agency. Topics include the latest updates regarding payment rate changes, PDGM, payment adjustments, Value-Based Purchasing, etc. You’ll gain practical insights into how these updates affect day-to-day operations and what your agency can do now to prepare. Join us for expert analysis and actionable strategies to help your organization navigate the complexities of today’s home health environment with confidence.
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Speakers: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, VP Clinical Services, 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. HQRP (Hospice Quality Reporting Program)
This session will describe the components of the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) and the financial impact for hospice providers who do not meet the reporting requirements. Discussion will include the transition from HIS to HOPE including the new quality measures, data submission requirements, guidance to changes on HCAHPS questions and tips to ensure the compliance threshold is met.
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Speaker: Victoria Barron, MBA, BSN, RN, COS-C Clinical Consultant, Healthcare Provider Solutions, Inc
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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. TBD
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TBD
Speaker: TBD
Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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