Keeping your patient admission materials updated and in compliance with government regulations can be a daunting task – that’s why we’re here to help. By printing a MedForms patient admission booklet, whether it’s home health, hospice or private duty, you can rest assured that you will always receive the latest and greatest state and federal updates that apply to your booklet.
We have a meticulous team that monitors and interprets regulations and helps our editors incorporate those requirements into your admission booklets in a way that is both compliant and understandable to the patient. Each day, our regulatory department monitors changes closely and keeps up with proposed changes and final rules as published in the Federal Register. We also monitor the standards of the health and hospice accrediting bodies – The Joint Commission, Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP).
Another aspect is state-specific updates. We are a member of many state and national industry associations and organizations, which keeps us aware of upcoming regulatory changes, especially on the state level. Additionally, we regularly monitor state forms for released revisions.
But we also welcome our clients to send us feedback from surveys. Ask us about any changes that you have heard of – we value your insight and are happy to research the information you have and make updates as necessary.
When possible, we also strive to give you some advance notice for upcoming changes, so you can plan ahead for your next reorder. For example, CMS’s Proposed 2022 Hospice Wage Index is currently in the comment period and is pending release of the final rule. As always, MedForms is monitoring the proposed changes and will be ready to make any applicable updates once the rule becomes final, likely in late July or early August (effective October 1, 2021). From our preliminary overview of the proposed changes that may affect the booklet, we anticipate there will be some minor additions and revisions made to the “addendum” form (Patient Notification of Hospice Non-Covered Items, Services and Drugs). With each hospice reorder, our editors are currently making clients aware of the pending changes.
Another update we are monitoring is on the state level for Tennessee. Governor Lee just signed a new law allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign orders for home health. For more information, visit: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0478. It does not directly impact the content of our booklets but could impact the use of the booklet. It opens up a large and entirely new pool of potential referral sources that may lead to an increase in admissions.
Our goal is to help make the patient admission process easier and more efficient for health care providers, and that includes providing booklet material to our clients that is up-to-date and in compliance with all regulations[1]. The work you do is difficult and vital, and we want to come alongside you in that. If you are interested in developing a booklet or have questions, please call (615) 386-6320 or visit medforms.com. If you would like to place a reorder for booklets, please fill out our online form.
[1] Remember, we recommend ordering no more than a six-month supply of booklets so that your patient admission booklet will be regularly updated.
