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March 2006

Finding CMS and Other Web Resources Just-In-Time

Are you having difficulty locating certain information related to home health or hospice on the web? As the amount of information grows, you must know where to find the needed information just-in-time. Over the years, I have found a Web Site References sheet to be extremely helpful. This Reference sheet includes specific organizations and information topics with the related web sites for areas from accreditation, OASIS, diagnosis coding, quality initiatives, standards of practice and CMS. For additional resources, click here (PDF 36K).

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new site has a wealth of information. It sometimes becomes difficult to find information as CMS integrates all types of provider information together and we have to learn to navigate. However, there is a tutorial guide. The CMS Manuals section shows general information, internet-only-manuals (IOMs) and paper manual information. Following the IOMs to Publication 100 will provide information on all aspects of Medicare and crosswalks in each chapter indicate where the content was in other manuals.

Updates to the manuals are found in CMS Transmittals. The Medicare Learning Network often releases Medlearn Matters articles to highlight applicability, effective date, changes, etc. Remember, the paper manuals (HIM-11 for home health and HIM-15) are not being updated, so be sure you get and stay current.

Pub.100-07 is the State Operations Manual (SOM) for all Medicare providers. In the Appendixes, you find the Home Health Interpretive Guidelines in Appendix B and the Hospice ones in Appendix M. Updates to the Interpretive Guidelines are integrated into the pertinent appendix more readily now with the IOM system. If you are looking for the Conditions of Participation (COPs), they are the Interpretive Guidelines. Instead of a Resource Information page for each Home Health and Hospice, there are two new “Center” pages. They appear to be evolving with content similar to their former versions. In the past, saving these two pages in “Favorites” facilitated linking to many pertinent areas very efficiently.

The CMS OASIS pages have also changed. The extremely helpful reorganization of OASIS Questions and Answers at OASIS Download site through QIES Technical Support was done some time ago. This site has excellent resource information.

Home Health Quality Initiatives will take you to Home Health Compare. Outcome related information through the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) is growing. And MedQIC is definitely one for finding evidence-based information, as well as saving agencies from “re-inventing the wheel.”

In summary, know how to find what you need just-in-time. Tailor your Web Site Reference worksheet for your organization and identify which sites need to be bookmarked. Make an appointment with yourself to periodically visit some of these sites. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much user-friendly, helpful information is out there.

Karen J. Suedkamp, RN, MSN, HCS-D
Consultant, Suedkamp Enterprise, Inc.

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