| HCS Home Care/Hospice Salary & Benefits Studies Underway | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/HCS-Home-CareHospice-Salary-&-Benefits-Studies-Underway-.aspx | HCS Home Care/Hospice Salary & Benefits Studies Underway | | | | | 6/17/2025 4:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div><strong>Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS)</strong> has announced the 2025 <strong>Home Care</strong> and <strong>Hospice Salary & Benefits studies</strong> are now underway. The <strong>Reports </strong>are recognized as <em>the</em> authoritative source for comprehensive marketplace data for home health + hospice agencies. Last year’s <strong>Home Care Report</strong> contained data from 1,079 home health agencies. The <strong>Hospice Report</strong> had data from 797 hospice agencies. </div><div><br></div><div>Both studies include questions on staffing issues, nursing turnover/vacancy rates, and sign-on bonuses used by agencies to attract new employees. The results cover salaries/bonuses and hourly/per visit rates for 60 positions, with job data reported by auspice type, revenue size, region, state, and CBSA. Also included are 19 fringe benefits, planned salary increases, productivity/caseload, and data on visit and shift differentials. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>Directions to Participate in the HCS Home Care or Hospice Salary & Benefits Study: </strong></div><div><br></div><div><ol><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">D</span><span style="font-size:11pt;">ownload the questionnaire from the </span><a href="http://www.hhcsinc.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>HCS website</strong></a><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>.</strong></span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Select either the single site or multi-site questionnaire for the Home Care or Hospice study. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">E</span><span style="font-size:11pt;">mail </span><a href="mailto:surveys@hhcsinc.com" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>surveys@hhcsinc.com</strong></a><span style="font-size:11pt;"> to confirm your planned participation. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Email your completed questionnaire to <strong>HCS</strong> by August 11th.</span></li></ol></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">There is no cost to participate. Participants save over 50% off the <strong>Report</strong> price. If you have any survey questions, or need a deadline extension, please call or email Rosanne Zabka, Director of Reports, <strong>HCS</strong>, </span><a href="mailto:rzabka@hhcsinc.com" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">rzabka@hhcsinc.com</a><span style="font-size:11pt;"> or (201) 405-0075, ext. 11. </span></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/HCS-Home-CareHospice-Salary-%26-Benefits-Studies-Underway-/Capture.PNG" alt="Capture.PNG" style="margin:5px;" /><br></div><div><em style="font-size:11pt;">As always, all individual data will be kept strictly confidential. Study results are reported as aggregated percentiles per job – No information will be released to any person or organization which will identify individual participants. </em></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">The Home Care results cover marketplace data for 59 jobs; the Hospice results cover 62 jobs. The 35th annual <strong>Home Care Report </strong>will be published in October; the 34th annual <strong>Hospice Report</strong> will be published in November. </span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;"><strong>HCS</strong>, founded in 1971, is recognized as the leader in national healthcare salary and benefits research. <strong>HCS</strong> conducts national and custom marketplace studies, publishing more than ten specialized <strong>Reports</strong> each year. </span></div><div><br></div><div> <br></div><p><br><br></p> | Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service has announced the 2025 Home Care and Hospice Salary & Benefits studies are now underway. | |
| CMS Surveyors Begin Using Updated Guidance | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Surveyors-Begin-Using-Updated-Guidance-.aspx | CMS Surveyors Begin Using Updated Guidance | | | | | 5/6/2025 4:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/policy-memos/policy-memos-states-and-cms-locations/revised-revised-long-term-care-ltc-surveyor-guidance-significant-revisions-enhance-quality-and-0" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">QSO-25-14-NH</a> in March, which included significant updates for surveyor guidance to several regulatory areas effective April 28, 2025. The memo updated the previously released memos from November 18, 2024, and January 15, 2025. <br></div><div><br></div><div>CMS has released additional updated resources, including updated Critical Element Pathways (CEP) within the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/survey-resources.zip" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">surveyor resources folder</a>. CMS has not yet released a final version of Appendix PP, and providers should refer to the advanced copy from the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/policy-memos/policy-memos-states-and-cms-locations/revised-revised-long-term-care-ltc-surveyor-guidance-significant-revisions-enhance-quality-and-0" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">QSO memo</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>AHCA previously released a webinar titled, <em>Preparing for Upcoming CMS Guidance Changes: Key Updates and Action Items for Compliance</em>, which is available on <a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/preparing-for-upcoming-cms-guidance-changes-key-updates-and-action-items-for-compliance" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">ahcancalED</a>. Additionally, action tools for reach regulation are available where guidance was updated on the <a href="/Survey-Regulatory-Legal/Pages/default.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">AHCA Survey Regulatory Page</a>. Please email <a href="mailto:regulatory@ahca.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">regulatory@ahca.org</a> with any questions. <br></div><p></p> | The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released QSO-25-14-NH in March, which included significant updates for surveyor guidance to several regulatory areas effective April 28, 2025. | |
| CMS Releases Survey Process Toolkit | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Releases-Survey-Process-Toolkit-.aspx | CMS Releases Survey Process Toolkit | | | | | 4/16/2025 4:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>On April 16, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new resource for providers on the survey process and common requests providers may receive during surveys. CMS states the toolkit is intended to help providers navigate the survey process effectively. </div><div><br></div><div>Key topics include: </div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>CMS and federal health and safety requirements; <br><br></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Survey purpose and the surveyor’s role; and <br><br></span></li><li><span style="font-size:11pt;">Cooperation during surveys. </span></li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>Providers can access the toolkit on the <a href="https://qsep.cms.gov/ProvidersAndOthers/publictraining.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">Quality, Safety & Education Portal (QSEP)</a> public access training catalog by navigating to the “E” section within the alphabetical list of trainings. Once you locate “Essential Survey Information for CMS-Certified Providers,” select “Launch” on the right side of your screen. <br></div><div><br></div><div>If you have questions or need help accessing this toolkit, please contact the <a href="mailto:helpdesk@qsep.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">QSEP Helpdesk</a>. Please send any questions to <a href="mailto:regulatory@ahca.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">regulatory@ahca.org</a>. <br></div><p></p> | On April 16, 2025, CMS released a new resource for providers on the survey process and common requests providers may receive during surveys. | |
| National Dementia Workforce Study Surveys Underway | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/National-Dementia-Workforce-Study-Surveys-Underway-.aspx | National Dementia Workforce Study Surveys Underway | | | | | 4/8/2025 4:00:00 AM | | <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">You can make a difference in how we understand the health care workforce who cares for people living with dementia across the United States. </span></p><div><span style="font-size:11pt;">The </span><a href="http://www.ndws.org/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">National Dementia Workforce Study</a><span style="font-size:11pt;">, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging of the NIH, is conducting surveys of community clinicians, and staff and administrators in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care agencies. </span></div><div><br></div><div>The key purpose of this national study is to learn more about the workforce, including your needs and how to better support you. To do that, NDWS needs your help. Surveys are currently underway and will continue annually through 2028. </div><div><br></div><div>We encourage you to participate if you are invited. Help NDWS understand the challenges you face and ultimately contribute to research that will help health care organizations, clinicians, and workers improve retention, target training, and improve outcomes. </div><div><br></div><div>NDWS is led by investigators at the University of Michigan, the University of California, San Francisco, and other university and non-profit partners. The Alzheimer’s Association is also collaborating and welcomes your participation. Learn more at <a href="https://www.ndws.org/participant-center" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">www.ndws.org/participant-center</a>. <br></div><p></p> | You can make a difference in how we understand the health care workforce who cares for people living with dementia across the United States.
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