The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has announced a final rule, effective February 8, 2024, modifying the confidentiality regulations for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) patient records under 42 CFR Part 2. This aligns Part 2 with HIPAA and HITECH as mandated by the CARES Act of March 27, 2020. Key Changes:
Tag: policy
Emergency Preparedness
Hurricane season is upon us. The flu season is looming, and COVID-19 continues. In the midst of all of this, hospice and home health organizations need to ensure their emergency preparedness policies and procedures are reviewed and updated at least every two years. Within recent years, the healthcare industry has faced multiple changes—COVID related, emerging…
High-Risk Drug Classes
As the new OASIS data set–OASIS-E—is approaching for implementation on January 1, 2023, Medicare-certified home health agencies must prepare their clinicians and quality assurance staff for the changes. One of the new items is N0415, High-Risk Drug Classes. This item identifies if the patient is taking any of six high-risk medications, and if there is…
Emergency Preparedness Policies
Your agency’s emergency preparedness policies must reflect the recent Interpretive Guidelines released by CMS. Policies should include guidance related to Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs), alternate energy sources, patient surge and staffing, facility needs during emergencies among others. These policy changes can and will affect your State survey so prepare now! Appendix Z – State Operations…
COVID-19 Vaccine Policy
Home health and hospice agencies are at a higher demand, now more than ever, for protecting their patients and staff from COVID-19. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized two vaccines for public use in December 2020 and a third in February 2021.
