An informative report from the United Hospital Fund described the overly complex process patients and their families go through to navigate Post-Acute Care (PAC) options such as skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and home health agencies (HHA) after a hospital stay. SHP's CareStat product addresses current challenges with transitioning care by providing hospitals and ACOs with real-time home quality and patient data.

At their December 14th HH QRP webinar, CMS announced the deletion of the Influenza Immunization Received for Current Flu Season measure from the algorithm in calculating the home health Quality of Patient Care (QoPC) Star ratings. CMS made this after the month-long comment period ended in November 2017. The change will take effect in the April 2018 Home Health Compare (HHC) refresh.

I was curious to see how rehospitalization rates have been changing over the last several years. With CHF widely being touted by CMS as one of the diagnosis categories with high avoidable readmissions, I figured I would start there.

CMS made the Star Rating Preview Reports available within the last two weeks. Where does your agency fall in the ratings?

I'm interested in learning how your agency has responded to the change.

We're pleased to announce that the SHP Real-time Home Health Compare report will be right in synch with the CMS changes.

If you have an outside data management company such as Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) and you have been analyzing your process measure data, good for you.