HCA University

Online courses for health care professionals

HCA Education and Research has partnered with Care2Learn to bring you the best possible online learning experiences for the health care profession.

Whether you are a nurse, therapist, home health aide or home care leader, there is a Care2Learn course for you. Click the Care2Learn button above for more information.

HCA Statewide CFO Forum

March 17, 2010 — Albany

HCA is convening our statewide CFO Forum on Wednesday, March 17 in Albany. Senior executives, financial managers, and others responsible for the fiscal operations at your agency should plan to attend.

This members-only forum offers an important opportunity for attendees to hear from the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), which will provide an update on the billing and audit process following the expiration of the Third Party Liability (TPL) Demonstration Project and other issues related to the TPL.

During the forum, HCA staff will also provide updates on the financial impacts of the proposed 2010-11 State Budget. State Department of Health staff will be on hand to discuss recent developments related to Medicaid reimbursement.

»Register now

New Trends and Options: Increasing Home Care Referrals

March 16, 2010 — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (webinar)

There is no question that the consistent flow of referrals is the key to any agency's success. But, with the increasing numbers agencies of home care, competition is hotter than ever. Finding new and better ways to be the agency of choice is essential. Learn what it takes to get the referrals you need to succeed. Find out what discharge planners, physicians, and managed care companies say it takes to get their business.

• Learn how to deal with the toughest competitors.
• Discover the fundamentals of creating the optimal marketing and sales program.

»Download the Brochure

Introduction to the Coding Manual

March 16, 2010 — 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (webinar)

This session is a great beginning to ICD-9-CM coding through an introduction to the ICD-9-CM Coding Manual. The Coding Manual is a coder's best friend and the ultimate resource to guide you through the coding process. This session will highlight the differences and use of the three volumes of the coding manual, common conventions for coding that you must know and a guide to the abbreviations and directions that help you select the correct code. Like all areas of specialization, ICD-9-CM has its own language and rules. So join us for this audio-conference to see why your coding manual will become your best friend. The session will integrate illustrative examples of basic coding skills and answer questions that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Which volume of the coding manual must you use first?
• What information is located in each of the three volumes?
• How do you determine how many digits are needed for a code?
• What do all the notes mean in the manual?
• How do I even start finding the correct diagnosis code?

»Download the Brochure

OASIS-C and Risk Management

March 23, 2010 — 1 to 2 p.m. (teleconference)

The OASIS-C provides clinicians with a wealth of assessment data for refined care planning, coordination and service delivery. CMS-revised OBQI and OBQM reports also provide agencies with a depth of outcomes and events to track and trend to further enhance care. What elements of the OASIS-C challenge aspects of risk management in your agency? What processes have been implemented by your peers to reduce the heightened risks experienced with this revised tool? How can you support your clinicians to accurately assess, document and ensure refined care delivery in this new home health era.

Program Goals include:

• Identifying elements and processes associated with the revised OASIS-C that present ongoing risk management issues for certified home health
  providers;
• Discussing proactive initiatives to address heightened riskmanagement issues identified with the OASIS-C;
• Detailing revised tools that support clinician documentation of vital care practices to reduce agencyrisk(s);
• Applying revised processes to inherent OASIS-C risks that minimize agency liability and enhance clinician documentation.

»Download the Brochure

OASIS-C & ICD-9-CM Code Updates Beyond the Basics

March 23, 2010 — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (teleconference)

CMS continues to clarify the new and revised OASIS-C items to address provider confusion evident in clinician discussions and queries. What recent OASIS-C and Code updates require further agency focus to ensure clinician accuracy to meet the intent of this new document? What strategies have some of your peers refined to successfully implement these critical updates and recent clarifications? This teleconference details the most recent clarifications from CMS on the accurate completion of the new and revised OASIS-C items. Additional focus on the OASIS-C Final Guidance, including some diagnosis code considerations, will further enhance wound item accuracy. How will these clarifications impact your agencies practices and protocols?

Join HCA Education and Research and RBC Limited in this session to identify and detail the most recent clarifications on the AOSIS-C and Diagnosis coding that impacts accurate assessment and documentation practices. Receive audit tools that support accurate assessment and documentation of the revised OASIS-C.

»Download the Brochure

Documentation to Support Medicare Services

April 8, 2010 — 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (webinar)

During the last decade, there has been a shift in focus from meticulous documentation that demonstrates compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation and coverage guidelines to learning all of the complexities of a changing Medicare prospective payment system based on responses to selected OASIS assessment items. But the recent increased emphasis on accuracy of claims submission and processing means thorough and accurate documentation in our home health records will once again become a major concern.

Part two of this webinar series will review the requirements for documentation necessary to support regulatory and reimbursement requirements in home health.

»Download the Brochure

Home Health Compliance: What You Need to Know

April 14 and 15, 2010 — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (a two-part audio conference)

Every other day a home health provider is facing an audit, investigation or survey by the OMIG, OIG or DOH. Whistleblowers are becoming overnight millionaires by filing complaints against their current or former employers.

This two-part webinar (in 90-minute sessions) will examine specific clinical, billing, marketing, referral, inducement and cost report issues being targeted.

Areas to be covered include:

• OIG 31 Risk Areas
• OMIG Audit Issues for CHHAs and LTHHCPs
• OMIG Workplan
• OIG Workplan and Fraud Alerts
• TPL Audits; the role of ABNs and Demand Billing
• RAC Home Health Issues
  

The program will touch upon: requirements of the mandatory OMIG Compliance Plan; compliance strategies for meeting audit challenges; and the new provisions of federal and state False Claims Acts, which stress enforcement actions.

»Download the Brochure

HCA's Annual Conference

May 19-21, 2010 — Saratoga Springs

HCA's Annual Conference is our flagship annual event, bringing together home care policymakers, operational management experts, clinicians, corporate compliance professionals, vendors, and others who provide education and information designed to support the work of New York's home care agencies in providing quality care to patients.

This three-day event, held in historic Saratoga Springs, contains an action-packed agenda of workshops, presentations, entertainment and networking opportunities designed to help home care agency professionals engage, learn, recharge and, as a result, enhance their operations.

More information will be available shortly. In the meantime, save the date for May 19-21 in Saratoga.

»Download the brochure

»Download the Agenda-at-a-glance

»Sponsorship information

»Download a registration form

»REGISTER ONLINE

HCA's Senior and Financial Managers Retreat

August 17-18, 2010 — Saratoga Springs

Save the date! More information coming soon.

HCA's Clinical and Technology Conference

November 3-4, 2010 — Albany

Save the date! More information coming soon.

»Sponsorship information

All programs offered by HCA Education and Research,

an affiliate of the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA)