2020-2021 TAHCH Webinars

 

Wednesday, January 6th, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

COVID-19 Employee Health Issues for Home Health Hospice Agencies

Despite the approval, release and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine, the numbers of available doses are still not sufficient to vaccinate all at-risk populations and individuals.  Thus, home health and hospice agencies may have to make difficult decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccines.  The questions we will cover include whether the State of Texas, the Federal Government or a home health agency or hospice may require employees to receive a coronavirus vaccine, what conditions may exempt or excuse an employee from getting a vaccine, and what recourse an employer may have if an employee refuses a coronavirus vaccine.  And how should you handle patients who ask if their caregivers are vaccinated?  Join attorneys Heidi Kocher and Jennifer Papapanagiotou for a discussion of the considerations home health agencies and hospices must evaluate in developing their policies. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow. Registration is free for all TAHCH members and Liles Parker clients. 

 

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

OIG Work Plan 2021 – Is Your Home Health, Hospice or Personal Care Agency in the Government’s Crosshairs?

The Office of Inspector General’s “Work Plan” is its general audit and investigative plan for the upcoming year. The publication of OIG’s Work Plan serves to publicize law enforcement’s program integrity concerns with respect to certain claims and services, types of providers and specific conduct that is thought to be improper. It is an essential tool all health care providers should use to know where to focus its compliance efforts. In this webinar, attorneys Lester Johnson and Jason Cabell will discuss the current OIG Work Plan and how it will affect home health and hospice providers, along with other ancillary providers related to them.  This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.  

Wednesday, November 18th, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

Are Your Marketing Practices Legal?

Marketing activities that would normally qualify as ordinary business courtesies if extended to an actual or potential source of referrals in other industries, are often illegal in the context of Federal health business programs. In this session, we will discuss whether a number of common marketing practices comply with Stark and the Federal Anti-kickback Statute.  We will also examine various Texas State laws that must be considering before an agency engages in marketing. In this webinar, attorneys Heidi Kocher and Michael Cook discuss how Stark regulates gifts and other marketing activities aimed at referral sources.  They will also learn how the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute impacts the provision of gifts and other marketing activities aimed at referral sources.  Finally, the presenters will discuss how Texas State statutes regulate the provision of gifts on referral sources.  This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2020, 1 P.M. EST / NOON CST / 10:00 A.M. PST

Effective Compliance Program:  How will Law Enforcement Evaluate Your Efforts If There Is A Problem.

In February 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice published guidance describing specific factors that prosecutors should consider when conducting an investigation of a corporate entity in order to determine whether to bring criminal charges. These factors, commonly known as the “Filip Factors,” include “the existence and effectiveness of the corporation’s preexisting compliance program” and the corporation’s remedial efforts “to implement an effective corporate compliance program or to improve an existing one.” Notably, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), followed-up in March 2017 with a list of questions that health care providers can use to evaluate the effectiveness of their organization’s compliance program. During this session, attorneys Richard Pecore and Leonard Schneider will examine what the government expects and the steps you can take to better ensure that your health care organization is complying with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2020, 1 P.M. EST / NOON CST / 10:00 A.M. PST

Targeted Probe and Educate:  Two Years and Counting — Results and How to Help Your Agency. 

CMS believes results of the Home Health Targeted Probe and Educate program have been favorable based on the decrease in claim errors after providers received education.  In this webinar, Lorraine Rosado and Richard Pecore will discuss the steps involved in a TPE audit, how to respond and steps you can take to minimize your exposure. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

Problems and Pitfalls With Home Health and Hospice EHR Systems -- Address These Software Deficiencies Now, Before it is Too Late! 

As the use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems has expanded, so has the number of documentation, coding and billing problems associated with the use of these record keeping systems.  Unfortunately, it seems like many of the EHR systems being used by Home Health, Hospice and Personal Care Agencies were developed primarily by programmers, with only minimal input from the clinicians, coders and billers responsible for actually ensuring that the services recorded are factually accurate and fully comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.  In recent years, we have seen administrative, civil and criminal cases brought against agencies based on false or fraudulent information entered into an agency’s EHR.  In this session, we will examine the primary problems typically identified by government auditors and discuss how these problems could have been avoided.  We will also examine how one agency tackled this problem head-on, and decided the best way to fix these common, recurrent, EHR problems was to build their own!  Join Robert W. Liles and Lee Vasic, Owner of Heartwood Home Health & Hospice, and developer of “Agency Data, LLC,” a Home Health / Hospice / Private Duty EHR system built FOR agencies BY clinical and administrative agency personnel.  This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, July 1st, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

Cybersecurity Issues for Home Health and Hospice Providers.

Cybersecurity threats that can cause financial losses, problems with government regulators and damage to your agency’s reputation. This presentation will provide an overview of current cybersecurity issues faced by home health providers and the latest legal developments. The presenters also will discuss best practices for managing cybersecurity risk and how to address a security breach. Join attorneys Heidi Kocher and Meaghan McCormick as they discuss these important issues.This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

 

Wednesday, June 03th, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

What the {bleep}!?! How Should Your Agency React When Something Goes Wrong?

Mistakes happen.  What should you do if an “excluded” party is advertently hired?  How should overpayments be handled?  What are your obligations is you uncover evidence of patient abuse?  How should you respond if you learn that one your marketing personnel has been engaging in improper or illegal solicitation activities?  How should you react if a physician demands a “fee” in order to receive referrals? Join us as we discuss these issues and more!  Attorneys Heidi Kocher and Richard Pecore will discuss the steps you should take to reduce your level of risk and make any necessary disclosures to the government.  This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020, 1 p.m. EST / Noon CST / 10:00 a.m. PST

Recent Developments for Expanded Coverage of Services Such as Personal Care by Medicare Advantage Plans.

Approximately 35% of Medicare beneficiaries choose to be covered by managed care plans under the Medicare Advantage program.  Beginning in January 2019, Medicare expanded the types of supplemental benefits that these plans could cover to include services such as personal care.  Beginning in January of 2020, these plans were able to expand even further the types of services that they could provide as such benefits.  Attorneys Michael Cook and Jennifer Papapanagiotou will discuss the opportunities for home health and home care agencies to take advantage of these new opportunities to expand the benefits that they provide under these programs.  It will also discuss new compliance and contracting issues that these opportunities create.

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

Top 10 Survey Deficiencies.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services is required to compile and report survey and enforcement data every year in its Regulatory Services Annual Report. The vast majority of the top 10 deficiencies listed in the latest annual report continue to be top 10 issues or deficiencies. In this webinar, attorneys Jennifer Papapanagiotou and Mary Soule will discuss the latest report to help home health agencies and hospices identify the most frequently cited deficiencies, review sample survey citations, recognize areas where your agency or hospice may improve patient services and how to respond to imposition of administrative penalties and enforcement action. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

An Overview of the CMS Preclusion List.

As if the federal and state exclusions lists weren’t enough, CMS has now created a “Preclusion List” that is different from existing exclusions databases. The CMS preclusion list is a register of all health care providers, suppliers, and prescribers who are precluded from receiving reimbursement for Medicare Advantage items and services or Part D drugs that are provided or prescribed to Medicare beneficiaries. CMS has established the preclusion list in an effort to better ensure patient safety and to protect the integrity of the Medicare Trust Funds from the actions of providers and prescribers that have been identified as “bad actors.” During this session, attorneys Robert Liles and Paul Weidenfeld will discuss the genesis of this list, how an entity is placed on the list and what information is available about those who are on the CMS Preclusion List. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, February 5th, 2020

Medicare Provider Enrollment Changes: 100 New Ways to Lose Your Billing Privileges.

On September 10, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register entitled, “Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Programs; Program Integrity Enhancements to the Provider Enrollment Process.” Under the Final Rule, the reporting obligations of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP providers and suppliers will dramatically increase when they file a new enrollment application, re-validate their enrollment, need to file a change of information, or need to notify the agency of a change in ownership. During this session, attorney Jennifer Papapanagiotou will take a “first look” at the impact of the Final Rule on the obligations of providers and suppliers. Additionally, they will also review CMS’ new revocation and denial authorities, and discuss a number of the challenges that home health and hospice agencies may soon face. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, January 15th, 2020

Update on the Review Claim Demonstration Project – Recommendations for Texas Home Health Providers.

Despite repeated delays, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), remains committed in its efforts to initiate the Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services project here in Texas.  This initiative is the renamed, repackaged version of the prior Pre-Claim Review Demonstration project that was initiated, then placed on hold (due in large part to provider protests), in April 2017.  In this webinar, attorneys Ashley Morgan and Michael Cook will discuss the Review Demonstration Project and its likely impact on your home health agency. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

2019 TAHCH Webinars

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Importance of Incorporation and Asset Protection for Home Health and Hospice Agencies

Unfortunately, sometimes even your best efforts are insufficient to keep an organization solvent. If your third-party billing company or your practice is forced into bankruptcy, can you be held liable? Are your personal assets at risk? What impact will a bankruptcy action have on your ability to start a new company? Join attorneys Leonard Schneider and Jennifer Papapanagiotou as they discuss these important issues.This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

What are the Obligations of Your Home Health or Hospice Agency with Respect to Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation Reporting. 

Despite your best efforts to screen and train members of your staff, care issues and complaints will eventually arise.  What steps can you take to prevent incidents of abuse, neglect of exploitation from happening in the first place?  If allegations such as these arise, what are your obligations to investigate and report these complaints?  How can you better prevent allegations of neglect associated with:

• The prevention, identification and treatment of bedsores.
• The safe lifting and transfer of a patient from a bed to a wheelchair in a safe fashion without falls.
• The proper administration of medication.
• The communication of patient concerns you have identified to family members.
• Caring for patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s or another mental condition that can be challenging.
• Communicating with the patient physician when there is a change in a patient’s condition.

Join attorneys Richard Pecore and Heidi Kocher for a discussion of these issues. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Buying and Selling a Texas-Based Home Health and Hospice Agencies.

Are you in the market to buy or sell your agency? What are the various concerns you need to address when engaging in this type of business transaction? What steps can you take to reduce your level of risk? Join attorneys Jennifer Papapanagiotou and Heidi Kocher as they discuss these important issues. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

No-Cost and Low-Cost Digital Marketing Steps You Can Take to Ethically Market Your Home Health, Hospice and / or Private Duty Agency

Home health, hospice and private duty agencies have heavily relied on old-school marketing practices to ramp-up patient referrals.  Today, patients and their families are actively reviewing their care options using the internet.  With the exception of large home health and hospice agencies, most agencies haven’t engaged in active online marketing.  In this session, Salma Mokbel and attorney Meaghan McCormick will cover a number of the digital marketing steps you can take that are free or very inexpensive. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Value-Based Purchasing – Where Does Your Home Health and / or Hospice Fit Into Delivery System Reform.

Medicare is moving rapidly from fee for service payments to payment based on quality. Through such mechanisms as ACOs, penalties on hospital re-admissions, other value-based purchasing initiatives and pilot projects initiated through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations, the program is placing payment incentives for care that is based on quality and not quantity. Many state Medicaid programs and private insurers are following suit. Michael Cook and Heidi Kocher will discuss how your home health agency and hospice can take advantage of these initiatives and avoid being left out in the cold. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Improper Home Health and Hospice Marketing Practices:  Are Your Marketing Practices Legal?

Marketing activities that would normally qualify as ordinary business courtesies if extended to an actual or potential source of referrals in other industries, are often illegal in the context of Federal health business programs. In this session, we will discuss a number of problematic home health and hospice marketing practices and whether such practices violate Federal or State laws.  In this webinar, attorneys Michael Cook and Heidi Kocher will also discuss the importance of ensuring that an agency’s employment of a Medical Director fully comply with applicable Federal and State laws. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Preventing the Revocation of Your Texas Home Health or Hospice Agency from the Medicare Program - Tips on Avoiding an Adverse Action and on Responding to Such an Event

Over the past year, the number of revocation and termination actions taken against Texas home health and hospice agencies has continued to increase. How should you respond if your agency if revoked or terminated from the Medicare program? What impact do these actions have on a home health or hospice agency? In this webinar, attorneys Jennifer Papapanagiotou and Ashley Morgan will discuss the current revocation actions being pursued by the government how your agency can reduce its risk of being subjected to such an adverse action. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q and A session to follow.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

TPE Audits, ADRs, Pre-Payment Reviews, Post-Payment Audits and Suspensions - The Impact of these Administrative Enforcement Tools on Home Health and Hospice Agencies

Pre-payment reviews are now being conducted by both ZPICs and RACs. While the government has placed some restrictions on their use, contractors continue to exercise great latitude in their scope and the length that they are imposed. Similarly, contractors remain in control of post-payments conducted and suspension actions recommended to CMS. In this webinar, attorneys Meaghan McCormick and Mary Soule will discuss these enforcement actions and outline the adverse impact each action can have on your agency. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 

The Current Enforcement Environment Facing Texas Home Health, Hospice and Personal Care Agency Owners, Staff and Affiliated Professionals

In this session, we will go review the types of civil and criminal cases brought against Texas home health, hospice and personal care agencies, their owners, staff and affiliated professionals.  We will also discuss the statutory violations that have repeatedly led to criminal prosecutions in Texas.  Finally, we will discuss steps you can take to reduce your level of statutory and regulatory risk. In this webinar, attorneys Paul Weidenfeld and Ashley Morgan will discuss the importance of compliance and the likely penalties of non-compliance with the law. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q and A session to follow.

Wednesday, February 6, 2018

Measuring Compliance Program Effectiveness Including the Use of Surveys, and/or Sanction Screening.

Home health, hospice and personal care agencies remain under considerable government scrutiny.  The development, implementation and monitoring of an effective Compliance Program is an essential step that your agency can take to reduce its level of statutory and regulatory risk.  In this webinar, attorney Heidi Kocher will discuss your compliance obligations under Federal and State law. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Texas Home Health Providers Remain Under the Statutory Microscope.  The Impact of the “Review Demonstration Project” on Your Agency

Despite repeated delays, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), remains committed in its efforts to initiate the Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services project here in Texas.  This initiative is the renamed, repackaged version of the prior Pre-Claim Review Demonstration project that was initiated, then placed on hold (due in large part to provider protests), in April 2017.  In this webinar, attorneys Ashley Morgan and Lorraine Rosado will discuss the Review Demonstration Project and its likely impact on your home health agency. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

2019 AACE Webinars

Monday, August 19, 2019

EKRA, the Anti-Kickback Statue and State All Payor Rules- Steps Your Endocrinology Practice Should Take to Stay Out of Trouble

EKRA was designed to address patient brokering and other kickback schemes involving private payor claims. Under EKRA, the maximum penalties for illegal remunerations paid by recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, or laboratories in an effort to induce referrals can result in penalties of $200,000 and 10 years of imprisonment per occurrence. In this webinar, attorneys Robert Liles and Paul Weidenfeld will discuss EKRA, the Anti-Kickback Statue and State All Payor Rules along with steps your practice should take to stay out of trouble. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q and A session to follow.

 

2019 Provider Hour Webinars

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

The Implications and Fallout from the Forest Park Medical Center Convictions

This month's webinar is a roundtable discussion with Attorneys Heidi Kocher and Jennifer Papapanagiotou regarding the implications and fallout from the Forest Park Medical Center (Dallas) convictions and what this means for the future of physician arrangements and contracts. The jury in this case decided that the defendants conspired to pay or receive healthcare bribes. Federal prosecutors originally (in December 2016) obtained indictments against 21 Forest Park officials, including eight doctors. Ten of the defendants, including three physicians, pleaded guilty before trial. Some of them, including a founding physician, testified for the government as part of their plea agreements. The main allegation was that physicians steered patients to the hospital for expensive out-of-network surgeries in exchange for bribes. Those kickbacks were disguised as marketing payments.

We encourage attendees to ask questions, and our presenters will attempt to address as many as possible live in the sessions. We expect this webinar to be of great value for providers who are trying to better-understand their ongoing and ever-changing responsibilities with regard to compliance.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

10 Steps to Improve Compliance and Help You Stay Out of Trouble with The Government.

Being a medical provider in 2019 means navigating a difficult compliance landscape. The experienced team at Liles Parker is pleased to present this monthly webinar to aid providers in cutting through to the most pertinent information. We are kicking off with 10 steps that providers should be taking to improve their compliance and stay out of trouble with the government. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes and will be followed-up with a Q&A session. Attendees are strongly encouraged to submit their questions so we can address them during the session

2018 ACCE Webinars

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Health Care Business Relationships – Is Your Practice in Violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark or the False Claims Act

Health care business practices remain under considerable regulatory scrutiny. Over the past few years, the number of Anti-Kickback, Stark and False Claims Act cases brought against health care providers have continued to increase. Is your practice at risk? Have you analyzed your business and referral relationships? In this webinar, Robert W. Liles and Paul Weidenfeld will discuss how these statutes work and steps you should be taking to reduce both your personal and practice's potential liability. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Endocrinologist Considerations When Negotiating a New Employment Contract AND When Leaving a Job

 

 

 

 

 

Join Robert W. Liles and Jennifer Papapanagiotou for a 1-hour webinar as they discuss the following issues:

New Employment Contract Considerations:

• Preliminary due diligence. Payor mix? Credentialing and payor contracting issues.
• Flat salary vs. production-based compensation schemes. How will revenues be allocated to you?
• Ancillary revenue streams in large, multi-specialty practices.
• Benefits. Retirement plan funding concerns.
• Recruitment agreement considerations (hiring bonus, relocation expenses). What happens if you break your recruiting agreement obligations?
• Applicability of non-compete provisions. What is permissible in your state?
• Non-solicitation restrictions.
• Corporate practice of medicine Issues.
• Partnership track concerns.
• Professional Services Agreements.

Leaving a Job? Considerations: 

• Notice provisions.
• Compliance obligation concerns if you received a recruitment bonus and failed to meet your obligations.
• Contractual terminations "for cause" vs. "without cause."
• Non-solicitation issues.
• Long-term planning.
• Benefits. What can you take with you?
• State licensure notice requirements.
• Hanging your own shingle! How should you move forward?

This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q and A session to follow.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Employer Scrutiny and Screening for Current and New Employees and Providers

In recent years, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has "ramped-up" its use of administrative exclusion as a sanction. It is therefore imperative that endocrinology practices (and other health care providers participating in Medicare and / or Medicaid) conduct exclusion screening on a monthly basis. In this webinar, attorneys Paul Weidenfeld and Robert W. Liles will discuss the importance of exclusion screening, how to screen and which exact databases must be screened. According to both federal and state regulations, how often and which employees providers must screen, and how providers must document their exclusion screening efforts in order to comply with the law. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q and A session to follow.

2018 TAHCH Webinars

Wednesday December 5, 2018

OIG Work Plan 2019 – Is Your Home Health, Hospice or Personal Care Agency in the Government’s Cross-Hairs?

The Office of Inspector General’s annual “Work Plan” is its general audit and investigative plan for the upcoming year. The publication of OIG’s Work Plan serves to publicize law enforcement’s program integrity concerns with respect to certain claims and services, types of providers and specific conduct that is thought to be improper. It is an essential tool all health care providers should use to know where to focus its compliance efforts. In this webinar, attorneys Meaghan McCormick and Mary Soule will discuss the 2019 OIG Work Plan and how it will effect home health and hospice providers, along with other ancillary providers related to them. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q and A session to follow.

Wednesday November 7, 2018

Effective Compliance Program: How will Law Enforcement Evaluate Your Efforts if there is a Problem?

In February 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice published guidance describing specific factors that prosecutors should consider when conducting an investigation of a corporate entity in order to determine whether to bring criminal charges. These factors, commonly known as the “Filip Factors,” include “the existence and effectiveness of the corporation’s preexisting compliance program” and the corporation’s remedial efforts “to implement an effective corporate compliance program or to improve an existing one.” Notably, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), followed-?up in March 2017 with a list of questions that health care providers can use to evaluate the effectiveness of their organization's compliance program. During this session, attorneys Michael Cook and Heidi Kocher will examine what the government expects and the steps you can take to better ensure that your health care organization is complying with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday October 3, 2018

Navigating Targeted Probe and Educate & Using PEPPER.

CMS believes results of the Home Health Probe and Educate program have been favorable based on the decrease in claim errors after providers received education. It is now moving from a broad Probe and Educate program to a more targeted one. The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) is a comparative data report that summarizes a single provider’s Medicare claims data statistics in areas identified as at risk for improper Medicare payments. To develop the HHA PEPPER, Medicare claims data for all HHAs in the nation were analyzed to identify “target areas” which could be at risk for improper Medicare payment. In this webinar, Anthony Cutrona and Heidi Kocher will discuss details of these programs and what steps take to navigate and utilize them. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday September 5, 2018

The Importance of Incorporation and Asset Protection for Home Health and Hospice Owners.

Unfortunately, sometimes even you best efforts are insufficient to keep an organization solvent. If your home health or hospice agency is forced into bankruptcy, can you be held liable? Are your personal assets at risk? What impact will a bankruptcy action have on your ability to start a new home health or hospice agency? Join attorneys Jennifer Papapanagiotou and Leonard Schneider as they discuss these important issues. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday August 1, 2018

Current Regulatory and Operational Challenges for Hospices. 

In this webinar, Robert Liles and Meaghan McCormick will discuss the challenges facing hospices in navigating current state and federal regulatory requirements and how hospices can address the day-?to-?day challenges they face in providing quality and essential end-?of-?life care to its patients and their families. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Sensitive Issues in Home Health and Hospice Employment.

Home health and hospice agencies are facing more regulatory challenges on a daily basis than ever before. The employment landscape has changed in recent years and it is essential that you remain up-to-date on the current state of the law. Join us as we discuss the following cutting-edge issues so that you can reduce your agency’s level of regulatory risk:

 

 

• Religious Discrimination in the Workplace. How is the EEOC Viewing These Issues?
• Transgender Discrimination – What is the Current Position Being Taken by EEOC?
• Sexual Harassment, Workplace Harassment and Violence in the Workplace
• Marijuana Use and Drug and Substance Abuse Testing
• Recent Holdings Under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• New EEOC Guidance on Domestic Violence and Stalking

In this webinar, attorney Anthony Cutrona will discuss ways your agency can reduce its level of risk. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday June 6, 2018

WTF! How Should Your Agency React When Something Goes Wrong?

Mistakes happen. What should you do if an “excluded” party is advertently hired? How should overpayments be handled? What are your obligations is you uncover evidence of patient abuse? How should you respond if you learn that one your marketing personnel has been engaging in improper or illegal solicitation activities? How should you react if a physician demands a “fee” in order to receive referrals? Join us as we discuss these issues and more! Attorneys Michael Cook and Heidi Kocher will discuss the steps you should take to reduce your level of risk and make any necessary disclosures to the government. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday May 2, 2018

Cybersecurity Issues for Home Health Providers

Cybersecurity threats that can cause financial losses, problems with government regulators and damage to your agency’s reputation. This presentation will provide an overview of current cybersecurity issues faced by home health providers and the latest legal developments. The presenters also will discuss best practices for managing cybersecurity risk and how to address a security breach. Join attorneys Jennifer Papapanagiotou and Ashley Morgan as they discuss these important issues. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday April 4, 2018

Workplace Violence in Home Care – Protecting Your Patients and Staff

Researchers have found “violence against health care workers accounted for nearly as many injuries as in all other industries combined, which is four times greater than the average U.S. worker.” In this session, we will discuss the current workplace violence risks facing you, your staff and your patients. Attorneys Anthony Cutrona and Richard Pecore will cover strategies for responding to incidents of workplace violence. Participants will learn about the prevalence of workplace violence incidents in health care, about the typical profile of a perpetrator of health care violence, and about the importance of staff training regarding workplace violence prevention. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow. 

Wednesday March 7, 2018

Home Health and Hospice Marketing Practices: Are Your Marketing Practices Legal?

Marketing activities that would normally qualify as ordinary business courtesies if extended to an actual or potential source of referrals in other industries, are often illegal in the context of Federal health business programs. In this session, we will discuss whether a number of common marketing practices comply with Stark and the Federal Anti-?kickback Statute. We will also examine various Texas State laws that must be considering before an agency engages in marketing. In this webinar, attorneys Heidi Kocher and Michael Cook discuss how Stark regulates gifts and other marketing activities aimed at referral sources. They will also learn how the Federal Anti-?Kickback Statute impacts the provision of gifts and other marketing activities aimed at referral sources. Finally, the presenters will discuss how Texas State statutes regulate the provision of gifts on referral sources. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow. 

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 

Reading the Tea Leaves – What are the Top Ten Risks Your Home Health Agency and / or Hospice will Face in 2018?

Join us as we discuss the likely challenges and risks facing your home health agency and / or hospice in the upcoming year. What are the chances that your agency will be audited? What are the administrative enforcement remedies currently being pursued by UPICs and ZPICs? How should your agency respond? In this webinar, attorneys Richard Pecore and Lorraine Rosado will discuss ways your agency can reduce its level of risk. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

2017 TAHCH Webinars

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

ADRs, Pre-Payment Reviews, Post-Payment Audits and Suspensions - The Impact of these Administrative Enforcement Tools on Home Health and Hospice Agencies.

Pre-payment reviews are now being conducted by both ZPICs and RACs. While the government has placed some restrictions on their use, contractors continue to exercise great latitude in their scope and the length that they are imposed. Similarly, contractors remain in control of post-payments conducted and suspension actions recommended to CMS. In this webinar, attorneys  Ashley Hudson and Adam Bird will discuss these enforcement actions and outline the adverse impact each action can have on your agency. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017 

Value-Based Purchasing – Where Does Your Home Health and / or Hospice Fit Into Delivery System Reform.

Medicare is moving rapidly from fee for service payments to payment based on quality. Through such mechanisms as ACOs, penalties on hospital re-admissions, other value based purchasing initiatives and pilot projects initiated through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations, the program is placing payment incentives for care that is based on quality and not quantity. Many state Medicaid programs and private insurers are following suit. Michael Cook and Heidi Kocher will discuss how your home health agency and hospice can take advantage of these initiatives and avoid being left out in the cold. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Home Health and Hospice Business Relationships – Is Your Agency in Violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark or the False Claims Act?

Home health and hospice agencies remain under considerable regulatory scrutiny. Over the past few years, the number of Anti-Kickback, Stark and False Claims Act cases brought against these providers have continued to increase. Is your agency at risk? Have you analyzed your Medical Director and other referral relationships? In this webinar, Robert W. Liles and Jennifer Papapanagiotou will discuss how these statutes work and steps you should be taking to reduce your agency’s potential liability. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

The False Claims Act and its Impact on Home Health and Hospice Agencies.

Home health and hospice agencies around the country are under the microscope. With the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the False Claims Act is more important than ever before. Join us as we discuss how the False Claims Act impacts your home health and / or hospice agency. Learn how to identify and address risks in your agency. Join attorneys Adam Bird and Ashley Hudson as they discuss how the government is applying the law, prosecuting the cases and interpreting the statute. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Buying and Selling Home Health and Hospice Agencies.

Are you in the market to buy or sell your agency? What are the various concerns you need to address when engaging in this type of business transaction? What steps can you take to reduce your level of risk? Join attorneys Jennifer Papapanagiotou and Heidi Kocher as they discuss these important issues. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Liability of Agency in Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation Reporting.

Despite your best efforts to screen and train members of your staff, care issues and complaints will eventually arise.  What steps can you take to prevent incidents of abuse, neglect of exploitation from happening in the first place?  If allegations such as these arise, what are your obligations to investigate and report these complaints?  How can you better prevent allegations of neglect associated with:

• The prevention, identification and treatment of bedsores.
• The safe lifting and transfer of a patient from a bed to a wheelchair in a safe fashion without falls.
• The proper administration of medication.
• The communication of patient concerns you have identified to family members.
• Caring for patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s or another mental condition that can be challenging.
• Communicating with the patient physician when there is a change in a patient’s condition.

Join Michael Cook and Richard Pecore for a discussion of these issues. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 

Emergency Preparedness – Is Your Agency Ready to Respond in the Event of a Disaster or an Incident of Workplace Violence?

Join us as we discuss the steps your agency can take, prospectively to better face an emergency or a natural disaster.  We will discuss the preparation of a comprehensive policy that your agency can utilize to train your staff.  We will also go over the steps you can take to respond to an incident of workplace violence. Join attorneys Heidi Kocher and Anthony Cutrona as they outline the existing and new OIG regulatory concerns now facing home health and hospice agencies. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A session to follow.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

OIG’s 2018 Workplan – Is Your Home Health, Hospice or Personal Care Agency in the Government’s Cross Hairs?

Join us as we discuss the new and recurring areas of concern outlined in OIG's 2018 Workplan. We will review a number of the areas deemed problematic by law enforcement and discuss steps you can take to keep you home health, hospice and / or personal care agency within the four corners of the law. Join attorneys Richard Pecore and Anthony Cutrona as they outline the existing and new OIG regulatory concerns now facing home health and hospice agencies. This webinar is scheduled for 60 minutes with a Q & A sessions to follow.