TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025 | 9:00am - 10:00am

K100 | Home Care and Hospice 2025: National Update from Washington

Dr. Steven Landers, Chief Executive, Officer, National Alliance for Care at Home

   

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025 | 9:00am - 10:00am

 K200 | Overcoming Burnout: The Pathway Forward

 Patrick Reicke, Director, Dignity and Spiritual Care, Parkview Health

What is moral distress? How do I know if I am experiencing it? If I am in moral distress, what should I do? How can I help my coworkers who have these feelings? In this presentation, Patrick Riecke will provide you and your team with a roadmap as you face these challenges.  Patrick understands moral distress and burnout firsthand.  He incorporates his personal story of awareness and  recovery to help others with similar experiences.

 

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025 | 9:00am - 10:00am

K300 | 3 Habits of Consciously Intentional Leaders

Dan Irvin, Professional Speaker, Dan Irvin Training Co.

Being intentional means setting a success framework that packs a serious punch in terms of keeping you and your team motivated and structured. The problem is, most of us fall short in that mission.  In this presentation, Dan speaks to leaders looking to sharpen their talents and be more intentional.  Relatable insights include how to keep distractions from taking center stage, how to recognize when the same way of doing things doesn’t cut it anymore, and how to establish the SMARTEST goals.

 

H100 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 10:15am - 11:45am

How to Succeed at NGS Hospice ADRs!
Annette Lee, RN, MS, HCS-D, COS-C, CEO & Founder, Provider Insights

The MAC (among a variety of other auditors) are looking more and more closely at hospices!  California has additional scrutiny being one of the four states that CMS has indicated must go through additional medical review.  Learn how other hospice agencies in California have been successful on graduation- even in the first round with ADRs using a very standard approach to a "triple check" prior to billing, comparative data for supporting terminal prognosis, along with a table of contents modeled after the Medical Review Hierarchy!  
TOOLS included! 

H200 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 1:45pm - 3:15pm

NGS Medicare Hospice Update

H300 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Hospice Rulebooks: COPs vs Payment Rules
Annette Lee, RN, MS, HCS-D, COS-C, CEO & Founder, Provider Insights

H400 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 10:45am - 12:15pm

Demystifying Pain Management
Caren McHenry Martin, PharmD, BCGP, Senior Clinical Manager, Enclara Pharmacia

Pain management is a top priority, particularly in hospice and palliative care. This session will review the various medication options and dispel some of the myths that are barriers to effective pain management.  Options for both long-acting and breakthrough pain control will be reviewed, as well as strategies for recognizing and managing opioid-related adverse effects. You'll leave this session feeling more confident in your ability to provide patient-centered pain management.  Objectives include:

• Discuss the various medication options for long-acting pain control, including costs, metabolic considerations, dose forms
• Review appropriate use and dosing of short-acting pain medications and adjuvant medications
• Provide strategies for recognizing and managing opioid-related adverse effects including allodynia, hyperalgesia, neurotoxicity, GI effects, pruritis    

H500 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 1:45pm - 3:15pm

Managing Less Common But Troublesome Symptoms
Caren McHenry Martin, PharmD, BCGP, Senior Clinical Manager, Enclara Pharmacia

Symptoms such as cough, itching, hiccups, and dry mouth that can be troublesome to patients and somewhat challenging to treat. This presentation will discuss treatment strategies for these troublesome symptoms to enable the hospice and palliative care clinician to understand the clinical data behind various treatment options and to feel as expert in managing these symptoms as they do the other more common end of life symptoms.  Objectives include:

• Identify when less common symptoms at end of life such as pruritus, cough, hiccups, and dry mouth require treatment
• Recommend appropriate non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management of these symptoms based on currently available evidence
• Establish goals of treatment and regularly re-evaluate with patient and caregivers

H600 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Implementing The HOPE Instrument
Kathy Ahearn, CEO & Founder, ALECC, Inc.

This session focuses on implementation of the HOPE Instrument, replacing HIS. HOPE requires the collection of patient-level data at additional timepoints. Required timepoints at admission and discharge, along with the two additional Hope Update Visits (HUV) are reviewed. The tool, the two new quality measures, symptom follow-up visits will be presented. Who must participate, who can complete the tool, required filing time frames also anticipated visit/administrative time considerations.  Objectives Include:

• Identify the 4 required HOPE Data Collection Timepoints
• Explain what is the required timeframe for a Symptom Follow-up visit if a symptom is coded moderate or severe
• Recognize how the HOPE Instrument with its additional timepoint assessments will help to update the patients Plan of Care and improve quality of care.

H700 | Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 10:15am - 11:45am

Managing to Eliminate Hospice Cap
Anne-Marie Fontenot Marcantel, Senior Manager, SimiTree | Cameron Pirouz, MBA, FACHE, Director of Operations – Hospice, Sutter Health    

Learn how effective hospice cap management and proactive liability reduction can safeguard your organization's financial health and compliance. In this session, discover practical strategies to avoid costly Medicare penalties, protect your reputation, and ensure long-term success. If you're looking to elevate your hospice leadership skills and navigate regulatory challenges with confidence, this is a must-attend event!  Objectives include:

• Understand Hospice Cap Management: Learn how to effectively manage the hospice cap to prevent Medicare penalties and ensure financial stability.
• Identify and Mitigate Liability Risks: Discover key strategies to reduce legal liabilities and protect your organization from potential disputes
• Implement Best Practices for Compliance: Gain actionable insights to maintain regulatory compliance and strengthen your organization's reputation

M100 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 10:15am - 11:45am

M200 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 1:45pm - 3:15pm

Melinda Gaboury, CEO, Healthcare Provider Solutions, Inc.

HHVBP began January 1, 2023.  This session will detail the process of the Value-Based Purchasing Model.  The Interim Performance Reports will be reviewed during this session. The session will also review the calculation methodology of VBP Expansion and what agencies should be doing to be successful in 2025 and beyond.  The impact of HHVBP changes for 2025 will be detailed in this session.

• Detail the current items in 2025 involved in the HHVBP calculations
• Review the Interim Performance Reports details 
• Detail variance in calculation of 2024 vs 2025 scores

M300 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Sharon Fredrichs, President, S&S Home Care Consulting | Kym Kapella, BSN, RN, LCP, CCM, Associate Consultant, S&S Home Care Consulting

Changes and clarifications in the Home Health State Operations Manual (SOM) may have helped surveyors perform an easier survey. Let's look at how the multiple revisions can help guide you in 'easy' survey preparation. Survey procedures, in-home and patient interviews are specific. Interpretive guidelines clarify and direct the surveyors in final agency evaluation. Using this tool, we will analyze your agency survey status with the current Top 10 deficiencies and initiate 'easy' survey protocols.

• Understand the purpose of SOM Appendix B revision, changes, deletions, including only Level 1 survey findings
• Participate in rating your agency's current status, using the surveyor's preparation data, plus visit observation findings. Prepare to share your survey with referral sources
• Identify your most vulnerable areas within the Top 10 common deficiencies. Link multiple (new) interpretive guidelines and survey findings from a few standards to other CoPs

M400 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 10:45am - 12:15pm

Melinda Gaboury, CEO, Healthcare Provider Solutions, Inc.

2025 is set to be a year of major changes in the Home Health arena. This webinar will provide a detail review of the 2025 Final Rule in Home Health. Any changes that are set to be implemented for 2025 will be reviewed with best practices for implementation.

This session will include the most recent update on the Value Based Purchasing Expansion, which has already had numerous changes finalized for 2025 implementation.

• Define Key Elements of Home Health Final Rule 2025
• Detail Reimbursement/Rate Changes in Rule regarding PDGM
• Confirm HHVBP Changes for 2025

M500 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 1:45pm - 3:15pm

David Thomas, PT, COS-C, RPT, Associate, S&S Home Care Consulting | Sharon Fredrichs, President, S&S Home Care Consulting

OASIS functional assessments drive outcomes, satisfaction, and indicate reimbursement-all linked to HHVBP. Is your team really scoring the critical GG and M assessments accurately? Painting the best picture? Nurses and therapists observe and assess differently. Pseudo-patient (Kym Kapella, BSN) roleplays functional limits, audience scores, a case conference  paints the picture to reach a final decision. A creative teaching tool for competency and improving OASIS deficiencies. Bring your team! 

• Understand the OASIS intention of GG and M assessments and accuracy in item scoring required for payment and quality purposes. Painting the picture assists in individualizing goals, improving outcomes and mitigating documentation risks
• Guide an multi-disciplinary case conference with direct interactions to achieve accurate scoring. Offering the steps to accomplishing a conference prior to the 5th day and locking an accurate OASIS
• Discover the importance of the interconnections of GG assessments and how areas are affected. Improve outcomes- particularly dyspnea, feeding and medication effectiveness and thus achieve increased score in HHVB

M600 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm

In this presentation, we will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate and understand managed care contracts. They will learn how to identify and comprehend the key components of these contracts, enabling them to make informed decisions and successfully negotiate favorable terms. By the end of this training, participants will possess the necessary tools to confidently engage in managed care contracting and ensure the best possible outcomes for their organization.

• Outline the current state of Medicare Advantage enrollment 
• Detail key elements of contracting with Managed Care Plans
• Review setting up new contracts and billing claims

M700 | Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 10:15am – 11:45 am

Arnie Cisneros, President, Home Health Strategic Management - HHSM | Kimberly McCormick, Executive Clinical Director, Home Health Strategic Management - HHSM 

HH reforms such as PDGM have altered the formula that produces HH Case-Mix levels in order to improve acuity-based care. Many HH Providers have experienced Case-Mix that fail to achieve the levels seen under PDGM. This progressive presentation analyzes the path to accurate and defensible Case-Mix levels in a denial-proof manner. Learn the how's and whys of PDGM Case-Mix; how to assure accurate episodic levels, and the specifics of hard-wiring your Case-Mix protocol.

• Identify Case-Mix process under PDGM, and contrast it to the PPS Model
• Outline a HH Operational Model that assures both accurate and elevated Case-Mix Outcomes
• Demo multiple HH Providers who have adopted HH admission processes to assure accurate and elevated Case-Mix results

M800 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 10:15am - 11:45am

Successful Culture Change in Home Health 
Arnie Cisneros, President, Home Health Strategic Management | Kimberly McCormick, Executive Clinical Director, Home Health Strategic Management 

PDGM & VBP have altered how HH programming is developed & delivered. These changes have challenged all areas of HH, & the changes to legacy HH care delivery processes have proved stressful for HH Providers. Most agencies are worried about staff loss, management of elevated clinical processes, & assurance of care integrity through operational changes. This presentation breaks down the challenge of cultural change, & how to lead your staff successfully & happily through Value-base culture change.

• Demo traditional struggles with HH staff management that compromises agency and clinical delivery integrity
• Contrast HH clinical and operational management to other Medicare Part A Providers 
• Demo HH Operational processes that assist HH Clinical staff to adopt value-based care delivery programming that achieves HH success in the Value Era

M900 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 1:45pm – 3:15pm

Unlock Hidden Referral/Revenue Streams 
Melanie Stover, Owner, Home Care Sales

Home care agencies leave money on the table, without even realizing it. This session will uncover untapped revenue streams that can significantly boost your agency's profitability. From leveraging strategic partnerships to optimizing current census, you'll discover actionable strategies your competitors overlook. This isn't about doing more of the same, it's about doing what works more intelligently and faster. Small shifts can lead to significant referral wins!

• Identify at least three new revenue/referral streams hidden within your current operations
• Learn how to create partnerships that drive referrals and growth
• Implement immediate actions that add to your top line without overburdening your team

M1000 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Home Health and Hospice Clinician Boundaries: Achieving Balance and Avoiding Burnout
Cindy Campbell, Senior Director Advisory Services, Wellsky | Katherine Morrison, MSN, RN, CHPN, Director of Hospice Consulting Operations, WellSky

The intimacy of care delivery intersecting with patients served in their own setting runs deep, as does the aligned importance of establishing and maintaining professional boundaries. Workforce shortages, burnout and compassion fatigue can be made even worse when professional boundaries are not understood nor respected. Healthcare at home is fraught with opportunities to lose sight of where professional responsibilities end and personal accountability begins. Knowing where to draw the lines of professional boundaries, in actions and in words, can help your clinicians and teams protect themselves, their patients and families, as well as their teammates and agencies, while building communication skills and self-care tools. We will share simple, yet powerful tools for recognition of boundaries-related-risks and how to best manage them. Learned from both theory and the many voices of providers, mastery of professional boundaries management in care at home will accrue to both your culture, your team engagement and your patient and family satisfaction.   

• Describe the importance of establishing clear professional boundaries in healthcare at home care delivery 
• Explain two ways effective boundary-setting impacts compassion fatigue and burnout 
• Discuss the impact of maintaining healthy boundaries on patient and family satisfaction 

M1100 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 10:45am – 12:15pm

Sales Truths and  Proven Strategies For Growth
Mark Wilson, Vice President of Business Development , Wilshire Business Partners

Discover sales truths, failures, proven strategies and power principles that create growth.  Learn market tested strategies that will advance your sales and referral development efforts.  Elevate your team’s performance by discovering your customer’s value frame.  Explore methods and tools that will result in conversations that articulate value more effectively.  Steps to establishing a selling system that enables performance accountability, consistent results, and measurable growth.  

• Ensure your sales/marketing teams have the knowledge and skills required for success
• Learn the critical conversations that lead to preferred provider status
• Gain clarity and confidence in your business development and revenue growth strategy

M1200 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 1:45pm - 3:15pm

Managing Critical Challenges Facing Homecare 
Tricia Smith, President & CEO, Wilshire Home Health & Community Services | Susan Dailey, Vice President of Reimbursement, Wilshire Home Health & Community Services

Are you still struggling with your five star rating?  Feeling like you have hit a brick wall?  We will empower you in this session with all of the winning strategies from agencies across the nation who have turned their lackluster rating into a 4-5 Stars!  Come learn and discuss why this rating is a moving target, the changes to the ranking over time- and how a holistic approach from layered OASIS training, to a standardized approach to assessment, as well as quality oversight can make your agency a Five star winner!  BONUS- “At a glance” TOOL for OASIS items overlapping in Five Star, HHVBP and PDGM. 

• Improve staff recruitment and retention by exploring the strategy/culture connection. Your brand as leading indicator or your company's culture. What employees really want from leadership   
• Successfully managing revenue and costs.  Examine revenue cycle management key performance indicators. How much more cost can you endure and is it time to explore outsourcing
• Overcoming regulatory challenges. Sound revenue cycle management and billing systems that stand up to major analysis from auditors and regulators. Examining the financial challenges related to compliance.