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  • 1.  30-Day Therapy Reassessment Schedule

    Posted 03-01-2024 04:16 PM
    It has been our understanding that when you are counting days between therapy reassessments, Day 1 starts on the first therapy visit date.  However, I came across a reassessment schedule on the NGS website that would support the idea that Day 1 starts the day after the first therapy visit date.  In reading the CoPs, the 30-Day clock begins with the first therapy service (of that discipline). Below is a snip-it of the 30-Day Home Health Therapy Reassessment Schedule. Is this a reliable tool to use? Thank you. 

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    Deborah Haberman, RN, COS-C

    Quality Specialist

    Confluence Health  |  Confluence Health Home Care Services

    p: 509.433.3700  x: 33755  |  f: 509.433.3762  |  e: deborah.haberman@confluencehealth.org

     

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  • 2.  RE: 30-Day Therapy Reassessment Schedule

    Posted 03-04-2024 01:01 AM
    Yes, that till from NGS is accurate! Also, I found this FAQ from CMS when they first implemented the 30-day reassessments....
     Question 7: How should home health agencies and providers count therapy visits to ensure 
    that they are meeting the "at least every 30 days" visit requirement?
    Answer 7: For determining when the next therapy reassessment visit by a qualified therapist 
    (for each discipline if multiple types of therapists are caring for the patient) would be required 
    as it relates to the "at least every 30 days-requirement, the counting should begin the day after 
    the service is provided. For example, if a therapist conducted and documented an assessment 
    of a patient during a visit on April 1, the count would begin on April 2. In this case, to meet 
    the requirement of making at least one visit every 30 days, the therapist rather than an assistant 
    would need to return by May 1. The therapist then conducted and documented an assessment 
    of the patient during a visit on May 1, the clock resets and the next 30-day count would begin 
    May 2. We note that the intent of the policy is to ensure that at a minimum, a patient sees a 
    therapist rather than an assistant at least once every 30 days. Also, this requirement is in 
    addition to the 13th and 19th visit requirements that occur for each episode that a beneficiary
    receives home health services.






  • 3.  RE: 30-Day Therapy Reassessment Schedule

    Posted 03-04-2024 11:49 AM
    Hello again!

    SO, my apologies-- I didn't "count" the days on the calendar-- and you are right- the calendar is off a day!

    The Q&A I posted from CMS IS correct-- the count begins the day AFTER the reassessment.  Katie W will be chiming in and will ensure NGS can get this corrected!

    The good thing-- if you used the calendar- you were still compliant-- maybe just a day early! :)

    --

    Annette Lee
    CEO and Founder | Provider Insights, Inc.

    T: 515-240-5265

    E: annette@providerinsights.com

    W: www.providerinsights.com

    A: 1060 36th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311






  • 4.  RE: 30-Day Therapy Reassessment Schedule

    Posted 03-04-2024 02:01 PM

    Yes, CMS begins counting the day after the therapy visit is made.  The CMS therapy Q&A document referenced (dated February 28, 2013) is the most recent guidance from CMS.  It can be somewhat confusing Question 6 addresses when the reassessment clock begins.  CMS guides that the assessment clock begins with the therapists first visit. Question 7 differentiates the counting of the days from when the reassessment clock begins, and guides that day 1 is the day after the service is provided. 

    Thank you for bringing this to our attention!  We are reaching out to NGS.



    ------------------------------
    Katie Wehri
    Director of Home Health & Hospice Regulatory Affairs
    NAHC
    Washington, DC
    202-240-9254 #3360
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: 30-Day Therapy Reassessment Schedule

    Posted 03-05-2024 09:36 AM
      |   view attached

    Here is the 30-day FRA calendar I put together which is a spin-off of the NGS calendar with the corrected dates. I hope this helps.  



    ------------------------------
    Kirsten Yonkin
    Compliance Coordinator
    BayCare HomeCare
    Largo FL
    +1 (727) 394-6461
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  • 6.  RE: 30-Day Therapy Reassessment Schedule

    Posted 03-12-2024 12:48 PM
    THANK YOU so much, Katie for always being ON point! :)  We sure appreciate you!

    Annette

    --

    Annette Lee
    CEO and Founder | Provider Insights, Inc.

    T: 515-240-5265

    E: annette@providerinsights.com

    W: www.providerinsights.com

    A: 1060 36th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311