Product Description
Purchase the series of 12 webinars and receive training each month on topics specific to home health care.
This is a cost of $74 per month to educate nurses and therapists with the latest information available.
Each Webinar will provide purchasers a Kornetti & Krafft tool to use in every day practice.
Our content is researched and evident in all regulatory manuals.
2015 Webinar Calendar
all recordings and handouts available at checkout
90-minute Webinars offered by Kornetti & Krafft are as follows: (all times 12:00pm EST unless otherwise indicated)
all webinars recorded and recording is available with purchase
- January 22, 2015: Goal Writing Workshop for the Home Health Clinician (recording link available now with this purchase)
- February: Skilled, Reasonable & Necessary – Defensible Documentation for Strength/Aerobic Capacity Impairments(recording link available now with this purchase)
- March: Homebound Status and Completing the Home Assessment (recording link available now with this purchase)
- April: OT Utilization in Home Health (recording link available now with this purchase)
- May: ST Utilization in Home Health (recording link available now with this purchase)
- June: Using the International Classification of Function (ICF) Model to Stand Up to Audit Scrutiny (recording link available now with this purchase)
- July: Proposed CoPs – Are We Ready for Interdisciplinary Care? (recording link available now with this purchase)
- August: – ICD10 – A Primer for Home Health Therapists (recording link available now with this purchase)
- September: Skilled, Reasonable & Necessary – Defensible Documentation for Balance Impairments(recording link available now with this purchase)
- October: Skilled, Reasonable & Necessary – Defensible Documentation for Gait Impairments (recording link available now with this purchase)
- November: PPS2016 – Overview of the Final Rule (recording link available now with this purchase)
- December: Developing Clinical Competency for Therapists: A Primer and Tool to Get You Started (recording link available now with this purchase)
** March through December links will be emailed prior to live webinar**
January Offering
Title: “Goal Writing for the Home Health Therapist – A How To Guide”
Resource Tool: Goal writing template
References: Guide to PT Practice, 3rd Edition; Palmetto GBA’s “Goal Writing for Dummies”
Recording Available
Overview:
Goal writing for home health patients has become heavily reliant on either the electronic medical record (EMR) in use by the agency, or the template forms purchased. Unfortunately, many of these products have little, if any, clinician input. If clinician input was present during initial development, many times said clinicians may not have been consulted on more recent version modifications. This, along with the plethora of industry resources available, can make it difficult to ensure the accuracy or thoroughness of any one resource to assist the home care clinician. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has made it clear that documentation to ensure reimbursement for skilled services under the Medicare Home Health Part A benefit is the sole responsibility of the clinician, not any specific documentation system. Professional bodies, such as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), support this position, and have clear standards related to documentation by licensed therapists in all settings where care is provided.
This webinar will provide participants with the GO TO resource for home care therapists to assist them to write appropriate patient goals. This will ensure that clinicians will meet professional and industry standards rather than personal or industry “expert” recommendations. In addition to this, all participants will receive a Goal Writing Template for the home health clinician for use in their documentation. Additionally, auditors of therapy documentation will enhance current processes by including a quality element in their review or goal statements to further documentation defensibility.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Incorporate the key elements from professional, regulatory and payor source entities into clinical goals for home health patients.
2. Write appropriate goals that demonstrate measurement and meaningfulness for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
3. Understand the expectations of the home health FI in regards to short- and long-term goal use.
4. Document goal updates throughout the patient’s course of care as well as on mandatory functional reassessments for therapy.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists
February Offering
Title: “Skilled, Reasonable & Necessary – Defensible Documentation for Strength/Aerobic Capacity Impairments”
Resource Tool: Visit Note Checklist
References: Guide to PT Practice, 3rd Edition
Recording Available
Overview:
Defensible documentation to ensure medical necessity and the skilled need of a therapist remains one of the top denial reasons when home health medical records are audited by fiscal intermediaries as well as Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has made it clear that documentation to ensure reimbursement for skilled services under the Medicare Home Health Part A benefit is the responsibility of the clinician, providing regulatory guidance to assist therapists in meeting coverage criteria for payment. Professional bodies, such as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), have clear standards related to documentation by licensed therapists in all settings where care is provided. These standards have recently been updated in the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, 3rd Edition, incorporating the International Classification of Function (ICF) model as a platform to support utilization parameters. Unfortunately, therapists continue to have difficulty when documenting commonly provided services, such as strengthening and aerobic capacity rebuilding interventions.
This webinar will provide participants with the GO TO resource for home care therapists and assistants in documenting strength and endurance interventions defensibly. This will ensure that clinicians will meet professional and industry standards rather than personal or industry “expert” recommendations. In addition to this, all participants will receive a Visit Note Checklist for the home health clinician to use as a documentation guide. Additionally, auditors of therapy documentation can enhance current processes by incorporating this checklist into their reviews.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define what “skilled, reasonable and necessary” means for coverage of therapy services under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key elements of defensible documentation of strengthening interventions for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
3. Identify key elements of defensible documentation of endurance interventions for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
4. Write thorough and accurate assessment component of visit notes for patients receiving strength and endurance interventions.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists
March Offering
Title: “Homebound Status and Completing the Home Assessment”
Resource Tool: Sample Home Assessment
References: Guide to PT Practice, 3rd Edition, Living Life Solutions™
Recording Available
Overview:
Defensible documentation that supports homebound status continues to be an issue for clinicians when auditing activities are underway. It has become common practice that electronic medical record (EMR) systems are relied upon to ensure this requirement for payment of services under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit is met. However, simply utilizing regulatory verbiage is insufficient in demonstrating that homebound status exists, specifically, “considerable and taxing effort” – one frequently cited by clinicians when therapy services are provided to the patient. One underdeveloped area of both the comprehensive assessment (admission) as well as therapy evaluation, is the home assessment. An evidence-based approach to reducing risk of falls includes a standardized assessment of the home environment – where a majority of falls occur for the elderly community-dwelling population. Enhancement of this component of any therapy evaluation can assist in clarifying homebound status as well as support the need for skilled therapy services and assist with reduction of falls.
This webinar will provide participants with resources for home care therapists and assistants in documenting homebound status both clearly and concisely through a critical review of the guidelines provided by CMS. Specific examples of appropriate language to use in therapy documentation will be provided. In addition to this, all participants will be introduced to a comprehensive home assessment program that is easy to use and readily available to clinicians. A sample home assessment tool for use as a template for completing a thorough home assessment will be provided.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define what “homebound status” means for coverage of skilled clinical services under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key elements of documenting homebound status on therapy evaluations, reassessments and routine visits.
3. Analyze home assessment resources currently available to the home health clinician.
4. Incorporate ky elements of a comprehensive home assessment tool into clinical practice in the home health setting.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist
April Offering
Title: “OT Utilization in Home Health”
Resource Tool: OT Evaluation Tool
References: American Occupational Therapy Association’s Standards & Scope of Practice guidelines; Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 7 – Home Health Services
Recording Available
Overview:
Identification of the need for occupational therapy in the home health setting is often falls within the domain of the physical therapist. Currently, physical therapy accounts for approximately 75% of the therapy provided to patients in the home health environment –with occupational therapy (OT) and speech language pathology (SLP), collectively, comprising the remaining 15%. This may be due, in part, to the limited availability of both OT and SLP industry-wide, but this cannot be assumed. The limited knowledge of the Occupational Therapist’s skill set, as well as their contribution to patient habilitation and maintenance, appears to be a significant contributing factor.
This webinar will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy as a critical member of the interdisciplinary care team. Specific examples of appropriate utilization of OT services will be provided, as well as baseline documentation expectations to ensure defensibility of OT services in the home health setting is established. In addition to this, all participants will be introduced to how & when to refer to Occupational Therapy for their home health patient through a review of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) standards and scope of practice guidelines. A sample OT Evaluation tool for use as a template for completing an OT initial assessment will be provided.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define the skill set of the Occupational Therapy under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key OASIS items that can and should be utilized for identification of and referral to Occupational Therapy in the home health setting.
3. Discuss critical components of the OT evaluation and care planning process.
4. Detrmine patient populations that would benefit from a referral for Occupational Therapy services.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist
May Offering
Title: “ST Utilization in Home Health”
Resource Tool: ST Referral Checklist
References: American Speech & Hearing Association (ASHA) guidelines; Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 7 – Home Health Services
Recording Available
Overview:
Identification of the need for Speech Language Pathology services in the home health setting is often minimized due to limited availability of this specific therapy clinician. Currently, physical therapy accounts for approximately 75% of the therapy provided to patients in the home health environment –with occupational therapy (OT) and speech language pathology (SLP), collectively, comprising the remaining 15%. Based on this limited supply of SLP’s, most referrals for speech therapy services are restricted to the “typical” patients treated for language and swallowing impairments resulting from neurological events, such as stroke, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease.
This webinar will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of the role of Speech Language Pathology as a critical member of the interdisciplinary care team. Specific examples of appropriate utilization of SLP services will be provided, as well as baseline documentation expectations to ensure defensibility of SLP services in the home health setting is established. In addition to this, all participants will be introduced to how & when to refer to Speech Language Pathologists for their home health patient for “non-traditional” patients through a review of the American Speech & Hearing Association’s (ASHA) standards and scope of practice guidelines. A ST Referral Checklist tool will be provided to assist other members of the patient care team in appropriate identification of speech language pathology services.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define the skill set of the Speech Language Pathologist under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key OASIS items that can and should be utilized for identification of and referral to Speech Language Pathology in the home health setting.
3. Discuss critical components of the ST evaluation and care planning process.
4. Determine patient populations that would benefit from a referral for Speech Language Pathology services.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist
June Offering
Title: “Using the International Classification of Function (ICF) Model to Stand Up to Audit Scrutiny”
Resource Tool: ICF Resource Tool
References: Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, 3rd Edition; Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 7 – Home Health Services;
Recording Available
Overview:
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is a statistical tool for describing the lived experience of functioning and its restrictions in the context of diseases and other health conditions which are classified in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). ICF has been developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2001, as well as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in June of 2008.
The ICF provides a common framework and language to support the development of better policies and services to meet the needs of people with disabilities. The ICF provides a framework for the description of human functioning on a continuum. It classifies functioning, not people. Because the development and testing of the ICF involved people from a broad range of backgrounds and disciplines, including people with disability, the ICF has a wide range of potential applications, making its use in the home health setting desirable when providing therapy services.
This webinar will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of the ICF model related to the delivery of PT, OT and SLP services in the home health setting. Specific examples of appropriate utilization of the ICF model in relationship to care plan development of commonly treated therapy diagnoses will be provided. An ICF Resource tool will be provided to assist therapists in the appropriate application of the ICF model for defensibly documenting therapy services in the home health setting.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define key terminology of the International Classification of Function (ICF) structure/components.
2. Apply ICF model to common conditions treated by therapy in the home health setting.
3. Analyze the role of ICF model in the home health care planning process.
4. Utilize the ICF model in patient-specific case scenarios commonly encountered in the home health setting.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist
July Offering
Title: “Proposed Conditions of Participation (CoPs) – Are We Ready for Interdisciplinary Care”
Resource Tool: Care Coordination Tool
References: State Operations Manual Appendix B – Guidance to Surveyors: Home Health Agencies; Chapter 10 – Survey and Enforcement Process for Home Health Agencies; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies
Date: July 2, 2015 12:00 pm
Overview:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes to conditions of participation for home health agencies with an expected implementation date in the near future. CMS has proposed changes in the past, with the transition to a prospective payment system (PPS) approximately 15 years ago, however, these were never adopted, holding providers to conditions of participation that were written in 1989. Many industry experts are supportive of an overhaul of the CoPs to better reflect the modernization of these regulations and reflect current industry practice. The proposed changes to CoPs emphasize care coordination and communication strategies that focus on both timely and appropriate delivery of interdisciplinary care with a focus on optimal outcomes..
This webinar will provide participants with a detailed review of the (proposed/new) CoPs. Specific examples of how these changes will impact current industry activities will be provided, including expansion of the patient rights requirements, care coordination and integrated communication standards for the home health agency. Detailed discussion of the new data driven quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program requirement will be provided. A Care Coordination Tool will be provided to assist agencies in ensuring that systems and clinicians are able to meet standards established by these updates to conditions of participation in the Medicare Home Health program.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe key components of the (proposed/new) CoPs for the home health industry.
2. Outline development and implementation of the home health agency QAPI program, emphasizing therapy services. .
3. Analyze integrated patient care planning and delivery process.
4. Operationalize communication strategies to assure patient receive the right care from the right discipline at the right time during delivery of home health care services.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language
August Offering
Title: “ICD10 – A Primer for Home Health Therapists”
Resource Tool:
References: APTA, ASHA and AOTA; AHIMA, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – coding guidelines; Decision Health ICD10 Coding Manual
Date: August 6, 2015 12:00 pm
Overview:
On October 1, 2015, the ICD-9 code sets used to report diagnoses and inpatient procedures will be replaced by ICD-10 code sets. The transition will affect all entities and providers covered by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA). This transition to a replacement diagnosis and inpatient procedure classification system may be challenging for home health providers as a post-acute setting due to the inconsistencies currently experienced in gathering patient history & physical information from referral sources (hospitals, primary and specialist physicians). As an admitting clinician, both the physical therapist and speech language pathologist may be required to complete “therapy only” admissions, including the OASIS C1 data set. Accurate completion of the coding items on the OASIS requires a greater specificity for patient diagnosis, so it is critical that documentation systems and behaviors are assessed to assure that they support coding for ICD-10.
This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the nuances specific to ICD-10, as well as compare/contract with ICD-9 coding conventions and guidelines. Specific examples of coding scenarios specific to patient diagnoses commonly seen by PT, OT and SLP in the home health setting will be presented. Current ICD-10 resources will be reviewed. A ICD-10 Fracture Coding Tool will be provided to assist therapists to ensure that documentation standards for coding these diagnoses in the home health setting are met.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe key components of the ICD10 codes related to fractures and aftercare therapy in the home health setting.
2. Analyze resources for skin tear classifications to accurately code in ICD10 system.
3. Identify documentation requirements for accurate coding of common therapy diagnoses in the home health setting.
4. Apply basic concepts of ICD10 coding in home health therapy patient scenarios.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist
September Offering
Title: “Skilled, Reasonable & Necessary – Defensible Documentation for Balance Impairments”
Resource Tool: Visit Note Checklist
References: Guide to PT Practice, 3rd Edition
Date: September 3, 2015 12:00 pm
Overview:
Defensible documentation to ensure medical necessity and the skilled need of a therapist remains one of the top denial reasons when home health medical records are audited by fiscal intermediaries as well as Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has made it clear that documentation to ensure reimbursement for skilled services under the Medicare Home Health Part A benefit is the responsibility of the clinician, providing regulatory guidance to assist therapists in meeting coverage criteria for payment. Professional bodies, such as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), have clear standards related to documentation by licensed therapists in all settings where care is provided. These standards have recently been updated in the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, 3rd Edition, incorporating the International Classification of Function (ICF) model as a platform to support utilization parameters. Unfortunately, therapists continue to have difficulty when documenting commonly provided services, such as evidence-based balance interventions.
This webinar will provide participants with the GO TO resource for home care therapists and assistants in documenting balance impairments and skilled interventions defensibly. This will ensure that clinicians will meet professional and industry standards rather than personal or industry “expert” recommendations. In addition to this, all participants will receive a Visit Note Checklist for the home health clinician to use as a documentation guide. Additionally, auditors of therapy documentation can enhance current processes by incorporating this checklist into their reviews.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define what “skilled, reasonable and necessary” means for coverage of therapy services under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key elements of objective documentation of balance impairments for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
3. Identify key elements of defensible documentation of balance interventions for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
4. Write thorough and accurate assessment component of visit notes for patients receiving balance interventions.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists
October Offering
Title: “Skilled, Reasonable & Necessary – Defensible Documentation for Gait Impairments”
Resource Tool: Visit Note Checklist
Refeences: Guide to PT Practice, 3rd Edition
Date:October 1, 2015 12:00 pm
Overview:
Defensible documentation to ensure medical necessity and the skilled need of a therapist remains one of the top denial reasons when home health medical records are audited by fiscal intermediaries as well as Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has made it clear that documentation to ensure reimbursement for skilled services under the Medicare Home Health Part A benefit is the responsibility of the clinician, providing regulatory guidance to assist therapists in meeting coverage criteria for payment. Professional bodies, such as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), have clear standards related to documentation by licensed therapists in all settings where care is provided. These standards have recently been updated in the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, 3rd Edition, incorporating the International Classification of Function (ICF) model as a platform to support utilization parameters. Unfortunately, therapists continue to have difficulty when documenting commonly provided services, such as progressive gait training interventions.
This webinar will provide participants with the GO TO resource for home care therapists and assistants in documenting gait impairments and skilled interventions defensibly. This will ensure that clinicians will meet professional and industry standards rather than personal or industry “expert” recommendations. In addition to this, all participants will receive a Visit Note Checklist for the home health clinician to use as a documentation guide. Additionally, auditors of therapy documentation can enhance current processes by incorporating this checklist into their reviews.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define what “skilled, reasonable and necessary” means for coverage of therapy services under the Medicare Part A Home Health benefit.
2. Identify key elements of objective documentation of gait impairments for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
3. Identify key elements of defensible documentation of gait interventions for both restorative and maintenance patients in the home health setting.
4. Write thorough and accurate assessment component of visit notes for patients receiving gait interventions.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists
November Offering
Title: “PPS2016 – Overview of the Final Rule”
Resource Tool: PPS2016 Summary Fact Sheet
References: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – Proposed Rule 2016
Date: November 5, 2015 12:00 pm
Overview:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide yearly updates to the existing prospective payment system (PPS) for the home health industry. This proposed rule usually is released in July, followed by a minimum of a 60-day comment period for industry input to proposed changes. This comment period usually closes in September, with release of the final rule by end of the year (November or December) after review and response to industry comments have occurred. Last year saw an historical response from the industry and individual providers about revamping the mandatory therapy reassessment time frame. Based on this response, Kornetti & Krafft is motivated to continue to support a grass roots effort of individual responses to proposed changes in the PPS-2016 final rule that affect the delivery of therapy services in the home health setting.
This webinar will provide participants with the GO TO resource for home care therapists regarding the 2016 PPS proposed, and if available, final rule . Be prepared for what is coming in the new year related to your practice and the delivery of therapy services to the patients for whom you care! Attendees will be provided a PPS2016 Summary Fact Sheet regarding therapy-specific regulatory changes.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Identify changes proposed in the prospective payment system (PPS) in 2016 for the home health setting.
2. Discuss the potential implications of proposed changes to current agency policies and procedures.
3. Assess the impact of proposed change to current therapy service delivery procedures in the home health setting.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists
December Offering
Title: “Developing Clinical Competency for Therapists: A Primer and tool to Get You Started”
Resource Tool: Self-Assessment Tool for Therapist
References: Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, 3rd Edition (APTA); Standards of Practice (AOTA)
Date: December 3, 2015 12:00 pm
Overview:
Continuing education, clinical competency and life-long learning are important components not only of licensure renewal, but maintenance of a therapist’s clinical skill set. With an ever-increasing demand for competent and capable therapy clinicians, it is important that home health organizations have a defined procedure to ensure that they are employing more than “a warm license.” Establishing a competency assessment and proficiency program will allow an agency to reduce risk associated with denial of therapy services under additional documentation requests (ADRs) and recovery audit contractors (RACs), as well as position themselves for improved publicly reported patient outcomes.
This webinar will provide participants with a roadmap for developing a clinical competency program for home health clinicians (therapists). Attendees will be provided a Self-Assessment Tool for Therapists to assist in determining baseline competencies in the home health setting.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar course, participants will be able to:
1. Define the concepts of clinical competency and life-long learning for therapists in the home health setting.
2. Evaluate current agency competency program and therapist assessment tool.
3. Develop a clinical competency and life-long learning program for continuing education of therapists in the home health setting.
Target Audience: Clinical Supervisors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists