Description

Hospice Nuts and Bolts is unlike any Hospice 101 or 201 class you have ever attended. This is a virtual, intensive three half-day program presented by Wellsky/Corridor powered by WellSky. The program is designed to reinforce the regulatory and compliance components of hospice for all clinicians and individuals in leadership positions in hospice organizations. Association Members may attend this course at the discounted rate of $325 per person. Each participant will receive a comprehensive resource participant guide packed with an extensive amount of resources and information.

WellSky/Corridor powered by WellSky delivers comprehensive training on Medicare’s Conditions of Participation for hospice care, including implementation of the new Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool. The program covers clinical aspects of the Medicare benefit, including eligibility, recertification, coverage, care levels, and patient status changes.

Participants learn essential documentation requirements across the care continuum, focusing on eligibility verification, care levels, symptom management, and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs). The curriculum examines the Comprehensive Assessment, Plan of Care requirements, and Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) operations. Facility-based care coordination and respective responsibilities are also addressed.

The program concludes with detailed coverage of Quality Assessment Performance Improvement (QAPI), corporate compliance, risk areas, and regulatory enforcement.

• Objectives of Hospice Nuts and Bolts:
• Understand the basics related to the Hospice Conditions of Participation
• Define key components of the Medicare Hospice Benefit
• Identify documentation requirements regarding:
• Eligibility
• Comprehensive assessment
• Recertification
• LCDs
• Plan of Care
• Understand the form and function of the IDG
• Describe the HQRP and HOPE tool
• Identify areas of Risk and the entities that enforce compliance

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Joanne Ford RN, CDP, HCC 

Joanne Ford is a Registered Nurse with over 35 years of experience in the hospice and post-acute setting. Having held many positions, from CNA to Clinical VP for a large nonprofit organization, Joanne understands the challenges of providers from all perspectives. She is particularly interested in improving operations for frontline staff while ensuring revenue goals are achieved. Joanne believes the key to improving quality measures can be found in the way teams communicate with each other and their patients. Joanne is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and CHAP Hospice Consultant. She is currently the Director of Hospice Consulting Services for Corridor/Wellsky.

Sharon Seaton, RN, BSN, CHPN, HCS-O, HCS-D, CCS-HH

Sharon Seaton, RN, is a Program Manager within Advisory and Outsource Services at WellSky, where she brings over 35 years of healthcare expertise to her role. With advanced certifications including CHPN, HCS-D, HCS-O, and CCS-HH, Sharon specializes in home health and hospice operations, compliance, and education.

In her current position, Sharon collaborates with stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum to develop and deliver targeted educational programs. She works closely with state professional associations and individual agencies to elevate staff expertise, address regulatory compliance needs, and prepare organizations for surveys. Her comprehensive approach includes both reactive solutions for agencies facing citations and proactive strategies to maintain operational excellence.

Sharon's extensive background includes successful roles as a Hospice Administrator, where she achieved 100% program growth, and as a Quality Manager, where she implemented significant cost-saving measures while improving care delivery. Her expertise extends to OASIS review, ICD-10 coding, and the development of effective QAPI programs.

At WellSky, Sharon also contributes to the development and maintenance of industry-supporting publications, including policy and procedure manuals and other compliance tools that help agencies optimize their operations. Her combination of clinical experience, regulatory knowledge, and educational expertise makes her a valued resource in the home health and hospice community.

PROGRAM AGENDA

Day One - Tuesday, February 11, 2025
9:00am - 12:30pm

9:00am - 9:05am        Introductions and Introduction to Program

9:05am - 10:45am      The Hospice Medicare Benefit

Philosophy of the Hospice Benefit

Core Services

Determining What is Covered

The Role of the Ordering Provider(s)

Face to Face

10:45am - 11:00am  Break

11:00am - 12:30pm  Conditions of Participation: Clinical Aspects

Patient Rights

Initial and Comprehensive Assessment

Coordination of Services

Top 10 Survey Deficiencies

Infection Control

Day Two - Wednesday, February 12, 2025
9:00am - 12:30pm

9:00am - 9:15am        Painting the Picture (Activity)

9:15am - 11:15am      Making the Case for Eligibility

Documentation and Demonstrating Eligibility

The Local Coverage Determination Guidelines

Supporting Prognosis: Making the Case Every Time

Assessment Prompts

Discharge and Revocation

11:15am - 11:30am    Break

11:30am - 12:30pm    Diagnosis Coding and Documentation

What is Diagnosis Coding and Why is it Important?

Why Accurate Coding is Essential

Ensuring Your Comprehensive Assessment Gathers the Necessary Information for an Accurate Claim Terminal Diagnosis and Related Conditions

Prohibited Primary Terminal Diagnoses

Day Three - Thursday, February 13, 2025
9:00am - 12:30pm

9:00am - 10:15am      Interdisciplinary Group and The Plan of Care

Case Study - IDG Decision Making

Barriers to Effective IDG Meetings

The Care Planning Process

Meeting Agenda: Roles and Responsibilities

Individualizing the POC

The Role of the Hospice Physician

10:15am - 10:30am  Break

10:30am - 11:30am  Facility Based Care 

Coordination of Care

The POC and Documentation

Visit Reporting

The Companion Rule: Roles and Responsibilities

The Inpatient Unit and GIP

11:30am - 12:30pm  Proof of Excellence: Hospice Quality Reporting and QAPI

What is QAPI - Building a Culture of Compliance

HQRP: Outcome Measures, HOPE

Hospice Care Index

Performance Improvement Projects