Category: Training

Categories
HCCIntel Practice Management Tip of the Month Training Training & Education

Strategies for Telehealth Implementation

telemedicine

telemedicine

Telehealth is an important clinical delivery model, especially for home-based providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some practical implementation considerations:

Practice Implementation

  • Consider current and future COVID-related workflow needs when selecting a technology vendor
  • Train staff by conducting mock virtual visits among team members
  • Develop documentation templates and educate staff on documentation and consent requirements
  • Define the scheduling process (e.g., time slot allotments for virtual versus in-person visits)
  • Use support staff to set up the visit with patients/caregivers before connecting the provider

Provider Telehealth Etiquette

  • Conduct visits in a well-lit, private space; choose solid-colored clothing/backgrounds
  • Greet patients as you would normally, consider showing your I.D. badge to new patients
  • Set camera at eye level, maintain eye contact, and explain if and why you need to look away
  • Speak in a normal tone of voice using empathetic speech and body language
  • Keep “lag time” of technology in mind, allow for pauses
  • Communicate next steps (e.g., follow-up appointments, prescriptions)

Post-Visit

  • Conduct patient and caregiver satisfaction surveys, analyze feedback
  • Identify outcome metrics (e.g., number of successful visits, phone versus video, technical difficulties, billing level)
  • Discuss challenges and successes with your team
  • Conduct internal monitoring and audits to ensure documentation and compliance requirements are met for all types of telehealth encounters
Categories
Benefits of HBPC Training

SURVEY: Understanding COVID-19 in home-based care practices

Survey request

Survey request

HCCI is sharing this request on behalf of our colleagues Drs. Christine Ritchie and Bruce Leff and the National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network.

Dear Colleague,

We are researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins University writing to alert you to a new research study supported by the National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network.

We wish for you to take 10 minutes to help home-based primary care practices learn from each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This survey is being fielded to help increase our understanding of COVID-related practice challenges and the strategies used to overcome them.

The ultimate goal and benefit to you is to help home-based care practices learn from one another to navigate the current and potential future pandemics.

Our COVID-19 survey is strictly voluntary. Participation in the survey will determine consent. If particular practice leaders do not wish to complete the COVID-19 survey, they have the right to refuse without consequence. This one-time survey can be completed by anyone in your practice and should take 10 minutes or less to complete.

Please complete the survey HERE 

Please send your responses by Tuesday, June 9th 2020

Our goal is to quickly obtain and report back to you the findings from this survey so that you can use it in your practice.

Your participation in this research will make a huge difference. We thank you in advance for your help.

If you run into any technical difficulties completing this survey, please email our program manager, Naomi Gallopyn, at [email protected].

Christine Ritchie
Ken Minaker Endowed Chair in Geriatric Medicine
Research Director, Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital Mongan Institute

Bruce Leff, MD
Professor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University of Medicine

Categories
HCCIntel Practice Management Tip of the Month Training Training & Education

Agendas for Interdisciplinary Team Meetings

Interdisciplinary team meeting
Interdisciplinary team meeting

Interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings improve staff communication, encourage teamwork, and promote optimal patient care and outcomes within house call programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, IDT meetings are especially important for maintaining team cohesiveness. Following a structured meeting agenda can help maximize IDT meeting effectiveness. In addition, brief staff huddles can serve to supplement IDT meetings and address immediate concerns.

Sample IDT Meeting Agenda:

  1. Key Metrics – discuss outcomes and/or clinical quality metrics being used
  2. Hospitalizations – review recent hospitalizations, brainstorm solutions for future
  3. Case Management – social workers, pharmacists, clinical staff, and/or providers present complex cases to initiate action/planning for patient resources
  4. Announcements / Updates – address logistical or operational changes affecting the team
  5. Waste Identification – discuss process breakdowns/inefficiencies, assign team members to strategize solutions
  6. Recognition – encourage team members to acknowledge others who have gone above and beyond or highlight a team accomplishment to end the meeting on a high note

Effective IDT meetings are a proven way to optimize patient care and outcomes, but they require planning, commitment, and time. To access and download a copy of the full IDT sample agenda, click here (new users will need to complete a one-time registration).

 

Categories
HCCIntel Practice Management Tip of the Month Training

Infection Control in Home-Based Primary Care

As home-based primary care (HBPC) expands across the U.S., we’re reminded of how critical this model of care is, particularly during a Public Health Emergency like COVID-19.  Because of this, and more than ever, HBPC providers must keep infection surveillance, prevention, and control efforts top-of-mind to protect patients, caregivers, household family members, and themselves. To this end, HCCI offers these important reminders for providers about basic infection control strategies:

  • When scheduling appointments, ask about the travel history and current state of health of the patient and all household contacts.
  • Use proper hygiene and follow recommendations for transporting, storing and disposing of supplies.
  • Disinfect the medical bag and supplies before and after every visit.
  • Assess the home environment before entering and use appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE).
  • Position the medical bag and laptop/tablet on clean, dry surfaces, out of reach of children and pets.

For more information about practical infection control strategies for HBPC providers, download HCCI’s Infection Control Resource Guide.  You can also access more information and resources on the HCCI COVID-19 Information Hub, including HCCI’s online course, Infection Control in Home-Based Primary Care, available at no cost now through June 30, 2020.

Categories
HCCIntel Legislative News Practice Management Training Training & Education

COVID-19 Update 04/08/20 – Additional Key Information and Flexibilities in the CMS Interim Final Rule

In addition to changes in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Interim Final Rule discussed in our previous update, Providers and practices should be aware of the following additional information and waiver flexibilities in the rule:

  • Home Health Agencies can now provide additional services to patients via telehealth if it’s part of the patient’s plan of care and does not replace the needed in-person care as ordered in the plan of care.
  • Hospice Organizations can provide services to Medicare patients via telehealth if feasible and appropriate to do so.
  • Clinicians now have maximum flexibility in determining patient needs for respiratory-related devices and equipment and the flexibility for more patients to manage their treatments at home. The current National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) that restrict coverage of these devices and services to patients with specific clinical characteristics do not apply during the Public Health Emergency. For example, Medicare will cover non-invasive ventilators, respiratory assist devices, and continuous positive airway pressure devices based on the clinician’s assessment of the patient. So, in summary, on an interim basis, CMS will not enforce clinical indications across respiratory (including home oxygen), home anticoagulation management, and infusion pump NCDs and LCDs (including articles).

The above policies include but are not limited to the following:

  • Home Oxygen
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Respiratory Assist Devices (ventilators for home use)
  • Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilator
  • Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment (for home use)
  • Home Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) Monitoring for Anticoagulation Management
  • Infusion Pumps
  • External Infusion Pumps

For additional information:

Previous HCCI Updates related to COVID-19:

Disclaimer: This information is current as of 4/08/2020. COVID-19 guidelines are changing daily. Please note for the purposes of the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) population: The Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) focuses our content on CMS guidelines relevant for traditional Medicare billing. It’s always recommended to check with local MACs for specific guidance for your geographic region.

Categories
HCCIntel Practice Management Training

COVID-19 HCCI Update: Week of 03/30/20

During HCCI’s recent webinar, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Home-Based Providers, Practices, and Patients we encouraged practices to reach out to their local Medicare Administrator Contractors (MAC) for specific guidance on whether home-based primary care (HBPC) providers can bill for the home and domiciliary visit CPT code ranges under the 1135 telehealth waiver.

New Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fact Sheet

On March 30, CMS published an important new fact sheet announcing that they’re adding 80 additional services when furnished via telehealth. CMS also added home and domiciliary CPT codes to the list. These codes can now be billed for when performed via telehealth using two-way audio and video.

Following are the home and domiciliary visits added for payment during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency:

  • New patient domiciliary visits CPT code 99327 (Level 4 New/60 minutes) and CPT 99328 (Level 5 New/75 minutes)
  • Established patient domiciliary visits CPT code range 99334-99337 (complete levels of service 1-4)
  • New patient home visits CPT code range 99341-99345 (complete levels of service 1-5)
  • Established patient home visits CPT code range 99347-99350 (complete levels of service 1-4)

Please note that CMS advised they expect providers to use the Evaluation & Management (E/M) code that best describes the nature of the care they are providing, regardless of the physical location or status of the patient (e.g., HBPC providers using home and domiciliary visits rather than the office visit code set).

As a result of the new interim final rule, CMS also did the following:

NEW MODIFIER and Place of Service REQUIREMENTS

  • Finalized its interim policy of requiring modifier 95 for E/M services furnished via telehealth. CMS no longer requires the use of Place of Service 02 for telehealth; instead, providers are instructed to report the POS that would have been reported if the visit was conducted face-to-face (e.g., POS 12 for home) and modifier 95 which identifies the service as telehealth. Following is a complete description:
    • Modifier 95 is used to indicate services performed via real-time interactive audio and visual telecommunication system.
    • You can also refer to the CMS interim final rule for a complete list of covered telehealth services.
  • Added CPT code ranges for Telephone E/M services which allow for payment of audio-only interactions:
    • CPT 99441 Telephone E/M 5-10 minutes; National Facility Payment $13.32
    • CPT 99442 Telephone E/M 11-20 minutes; National Facility Payment $26.64
    • CPT 99443 Telephone E/M 21-30 minutes; National Facility Payment $39.60
  • Other qualified healthcare professionals who can bill for telehealth services per CMS include licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. These providers can bill for telephone E/M services using the following CPT codes:
    • CPT 98966 Telephone E/M 5-10 minutes Non-Physician Practitioner; National Facility Payment $13.32
    • CPT 98967 Telephone E/M 11-20 minutes Non-Physician Practitioner; National Facility Payment $26.64
    • CPT 98968 Telephone E/M 21-30 minutes Non-Physician Practitioner; National Facility Payment $39.60
  • Clarified that their interim policy for telephone E/M, virtual check-ins, and E-visits can now be furnished to new and established patients. POS 02 and modifier 95 should not be used in these instances since they are not considered to be “telehealth” services. Instead, the POS where the services would typically be rendered should be used.
  • Retained the requirement that the Communication Technology-Based Services (CTBS), e.g., virtual check-ins and telephone E/M, described above cannot be related to an E/M visit within the past 7 days and cannot result in the need for a face-to-face visit or a telehealth E/M visit. (To see additional information on CTBS, refer to the links for the previous HCCI COVID-19 articles below.)

Additional Legislation Updates

  • On March 25, the United States Senate passed H.R. 748 – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (The CARES Act).
    • The Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) is pleased to announce that section 3708 of the CARES Act allows Nurse Practitioners (NP), Physician Assistants (PA), and Certified Nurse Specialists (CNS) to prescribe and certify home health services and be reimbursed for such services under Medicare Parts A & B.
    • With the new act, Advanced Practice Providers can now establish the plan of care and fulfill plan review requirements. This also applies to Medicaid requirements and must be implemented within 6 months of the date of enactment of the act.
  • CMS also announced the Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program, which may be beneficial for practices and providers struggling with cash flow issues due to COVID-19.
  • Home Health and Hospice agencies also have increased flexibility in the types of services they can perform via telehealth, which is further described in the interim final rule.

Please continue to visit HCCI’s COVID-19 Information Hub When you’re on the site, look for the word “New,” which will flag the information added that week.

You can also join the conversation happening in the new Home Centered Care Institute COVID-19 Group on LinkedIn. Once you’re logged into LinkedIn, join your colleagues who are already members by searching the name of the group on LinkedIn and requesting to join – or by going directly to https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12383537/ to make the request.

Previous HCCI COVID-19 Update Articles:

Disclaimer: This information is current as of 4/1/2020. COVID-19 guidelines are changing daily. Please note for the purposes of the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) population: The Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) focuses our content on CMS guidelines relevant for traditional Medicare billing. It’s always recommended to check with local MACs for specific guidance for your geographic region.

Categories
HCCIntel Legislative News Practice Management Training Training & Education

Providing Telephonic and Virtual Care Requirements as part of COVID-19 Precautions

telemedicine female physicianThe Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) understands that many Home-Based Practices and Providers are increasing the use of virtual and telephonic care as an alternative to face-to-face care, as appropriate, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Though a telehealth waiver is mentioned under recent legislation (H.R.6074 – Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020), CMS initially responded to the bill advising providers to use Communication-Technology Based Services (CTBS) and interprofessional consults.

In the CMS FAQ published on 3/5/2020, Medicare directs providers to use the current CTBS services as a means of telehealth for traditional Medicare purposes. There are, however, exceptions for Medicare Advantage (MA) patients whose MA Plan offers telemedicine as one of their supplemental benefits.

On 3/17/2020, a new Medicare Fact Sheet and FAQ’s (links below) were then published, indicating authority for the expansion of telehealth under the 1135 waiver to pay for Evaluation & Management (E/M) Office visits, Hospital visits, and other specified visits in the patient’s place of residence valid 3/6/2020.

Before billing for E/M Home Visits (CPT Code Range 99347-99350) or Domiciliary Visits, e.g., assisted living and group homes (CPT Code Range 99334-99337), however, please be advised these services are not included on the list of Medicare Telehealth Services. So, in summary, E/M Office visits (CPT Code Ranges 99201-99205 and 99211-99215) can be paid under telehealth, but E/M Home and E/M Domiciliary visits cannot at this time.

Below are the limited services included on Medicare’s list of telehealth services, which Home-Based Providers typically provide and can potentially bill for − if furnished via telehealth using Place of Service (POS) code 02 for telehealth:

  • CPT codes 99495 and 99496 for Transitional Care Management
  • CPT codes 99497 and 99498 for Advance Care Planning
  • Annual Wellness Visits CPT codes G0438 and G0439
  • CPT code 96161 − Administration of caregiver-focused health risk assessment instrument (e.g., depression inventory) for the benefit of the patient, with scoring, and documentation, per standardized instrument.

CTBS Services and E-Visits (CPT Code Range 99421-99423) can be provided and billed for now and prior to the telehealth waiver without Medicare telehealth restrictions.  We’ve detailed the requirements to bill for these services below (currently, and per the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, there is no frequency limitation for G2012 and G2010):

G2012: Brief Communication Technology-Based Virtual Check-in

  • Includes a minimum of a 5-10-minute medical discussion by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional (e.g., Advanced Practice Providers) with the patient/caregiver; this cannot include clinical staff time
  • Communication may be audio-only (e.g., telephone) or two-way video
  • Can only be used for established patients
  • Intended to assess the patient’s condition to determine if a face-to-face (F2F) visit is needed
  • Cannot be related to an E/M F2F visit within the previous 7 days and cannot result in an E/M visit within the next 24 hours or the next available appointment
  • Requires a patient-initiated question or call
  • Verbal patient consent is required, however, please note that, as a result of the Medicare 2020 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, only a once-per-year annual consent is required for CTBS services as long as the patient is made aware of possible cost-sharing
  • CMS National Payment Amount: $14.80

G2010: Remote Evaluation of Recorded Video and/or images

  • Pre-recorded image and/or video of sufficient quality provided by the patient or caregiver
  • Requires documentation of consent at least once per year (may be verbal, written, or electronic)
  • Requires interpretation and follow-up to the patient and/or caregiver within 24 business hours (follow-up may be via a patient portal communication, telephone, secure text/email or two-way video)
  • Can only be used for established patients
  • CMS National Payment Amount: $12.27

Please note: In the CMS FAQ published on 3/17/20, CMS clarifies that, while these interactions must be patient-initiated, CMS does condone providers making their patients aware of these services and billing for them, as appropriate. Please keep in mind medical necessity is always a requirement of payment, and documentation needs to support the necessity and decision-making of the care provided.

  • Supporting excerpt from CMS FAQ: “We expect that these virtual services will be initiated by the patient, however, practitioners may need to educate beneficiaries on the availability of the service prior to patient initiation.”

CMS has explicitly stated that they do not consider Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Services and CTBS to be part of their definition of telehealth services. Therefore, you can bill for the above and below additional services without the regulatory restrictions of Medicare telehealth requirements (e.g., originating and distant site, geographic restrictions do not apply).

  • 99451, 99452, 99446-99449 (Interprofessional Telephone/Internet/Electronic Health Record Consultation Services)
  • 99453, 99454, 99457, 99458 (Remote Physiologic Monitoring)
  • 99091 (Review and analysis of physiologic data)
  • 99421, 99422, 99423 (Online Digital E/M by a qualified provider); Please note this service is bundled with Chronic Care Management (CCM); Refer to our 2/19/20 HCCIntelligence™ Webinar “What You Should Know About 2020 Coding Updates!” for further details regarding online E/M services
  • G2061, G2062, G2063 (Online Digital E/M by a nonphysician healthcare professional); Please note this service is bundled with CCM

Other Key Considerations:

  • CMS will not enforce an existing provider-patient relationship to furnish telehealth services. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) advised: “HHS will not conduct audits to ensure an existing provider relationship during this public health emergency.”
  • Effective immediately, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will exercise enforcement discretion and waive penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers who serve patients in good faith through everyday communications technologies, such as FaceTime or Skype, during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. For more information: https://edit.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-telehealth-frequently-asked-questions-faqs-31720.pdf
  • HCCI encourages all Home-Based Providers and Practices to contact their local Medicare Administrator Contractor (MAC) to inquire if they will pay for E/M Home Visits furnished via telehealth under the current telehealth waiver.

For additional information on COVID-19 regulations and legislation, please visit the CMS current emergencies page or contact a member of the HCCIntelligence™ Hotline staff at 630-283-9222 or email [email protected]..

You can also visit the HCCI COVID-19 Information Hub for additional information and resources.

Disclaimer: This information is current as of 3/17/2020. Coding regulations are subject to change annually, and COVID-19 guidelines are changing daily. Please note for the purposes of the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) population; the Home Centered Care Institute focuses our content on CMS guidelines. All G codes are used for Medicare purposes, and commercial payors utilize a corresponding set of CPT codes.

 

Categories
Event HBPC in the News Training Training & Education Uncategorized

HCCI and NNPEN Conference: Different Strategies, Shared Vision

HCCI NNPEN joint conference

HCCI NNPEN joint conference

How can Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and others effectively start-up and/or expand a home-based primary care (HBPC) practice? Just ask the participants who attended the February 7- 8 joint conference hosted by the Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) and the National Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Network (NNPEN) in Phoenix.

With NPs being the fastest-growing segment of HBPC providers, the conference provided attendees with critical information on planning and operating a successful and sustainable HBPC practice. Participants brought varying backgrounds and HBPC experience levels to the conference, entitled, “Blueprint for Success: Building and Growing Your Home-Based Primary Care Practice.” The first day concluded with a well-attended “Open Office Hours” segment, where participants were able to ask questions about their specific situations, which invariably applied to many in the room.

The two organizations’ strategies are necessarily distinct. HCCI focuses on professional development for NPs who have a specific interest in HBPC while NNPEN, as Sandy Berkowitz, RN, JD, and Co-founder and CEO of NNPEN, explains, “focuses on supporting nurse practitioners as professionals who want to be their own boss.”

At the same time, though, HCCI and NNPEN have a similar vision. “We share the same vision and passion to create access for a primary care population of frail and elderly patients who are vastly underserved,” Berkowitz continues, “and to explore how advanced practice providers can do well by doing good.”

In sharing her own conference takeaways, Heather Hodge, Director of Education for HCCI, said, “During the conference, I was struck again by how providers are offering HBPC through a variety of business models. It’s not a one-size-fits-all. Plus, people seemed to take something from every session that they could immediately apply to their own situations. Finally, the conference gave people a place to ask their top-of-mind questions and share their successes and challenges, like managing different state laws, payer requirements, and so on. In all, the event helped many see they weren’t alone and that, if they were having an issue, someone else probably was, too.”

For NPs and others with questions about developing or sustaining an HBPC practice, HCCIntelligence™ offers webinars and a hotline at 630-283-9222 and [email protected].

 

Categories
HCCIntel Tip of the Month Training

Optimizing Front Office Operations

Maximize front office efficiency
Maximize front office efficiency
House Call programs can become more efficient, drive collaboration and enhance overall effectiveness by optimizing their daily operations. These operations can include managing phone calls, paperwork, record requests, and geographic scheduling; confirming appointments and verifying insurance, conducting patient intake and processing referrals, and assisting with practice billing and coding, among other areas.
Here are several tips to help your practice be successful:
  • Develop scripting and decision-tree guides for the front office to follow when speaking with new patients
  • Use real-time eligibility within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to verify active patients and correct insurance prior to patients being seen
  • Consider using an electronic fax platform with E-Signature capability to streamline orders and paperwork
  • Use clear and concise patient intake and referral checklists to ensure appropriate information is collected in advance and services are explained upon enrollment
  • Define territory zones for each provider and use map-based tools to plan visits and routes
  • Don’t confirm appointments until one week to a few days beforehand to allow for schedule flexibility and ensure patients/caregivers are expecting the provider
  • Explore Health Information Exchange (HIE) options in your area for prompt access to medical records
  • Determine which services may require a review to ensure documentation and coding requirements are met and provide real-time feedback to the providers
  • Taking the time upfront to optimize these operations will prevent task duplication, promote efficiency, and increase patient and team satisfaction.
Categories
HCCIntel Training Training & Education

New HCCI Online Course Helps Take the Mystery Out of Home-Based Primary Care

About the Article:

Have you ever wondered what a career in home-based primary care would be like? According to Heather Hodge, Director of Education for the Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI), the organization’s new online course, House Calls 101: An Introduction to HBPC, is a great way to find out.

Article:

While home-based primary care (HBPC) is a growing field, many providers may not fully appreciate the numerous benefits of seeing patients in a home-based setting, nor understand how practicing within an in-home environment may differ from an office-based setting. In addition, many HBPC practice managers and operations staff are seeking a better understanding of house call components.

The Home Centered Care Institute’s (HCCI) new online course, House Calls 101, was developed to offer providers, practice managers and operations staff the unique opportunity to virtually shadow an HBPC physician and her medical assistant on a simulated house call.  The course also provides a detailed breakdown of the steps to be taken before, during, and after a home visit, and offers insight into the characteristics and personal qualities of successful HBPC providers.

House Calls 101 is HCCI’s newest online course.  According to Heather Hodge, HCCI Director of Education, the course was developed as a tool to expand the HBPC provider talent pool and give practice managers and operations staff a closer look at what goes into a house call.  “Only about 15% of the patients who truly need HBPC services receive them,” Hodge said, “which correlates directly to the need to expand the HBPC provider network and provide a strong practice management foundation.”

Hodge’s background in the design and development of continuing medical education programs played a key role in creating the 30-minute course. She sat down with HCCInsights to discuss her perspective on the course and its ability to realistically demonstrate what it’s like to be an HBPC provider.

HCCInsights: What was the main objective behind the development of the course?
Hodge: The course is part of HCCI’s overall commitment to developing the HBPC workforce. The demand for HBPC providers currently exceeds the supply, but not every provider is suited for a career in HBPC.  We created this course to give prospective HBPC providers, practice managers and operations staff a realistic and impartial look at what HBPC is like in the real world.

HCCInsights: What are some of the unique features of the course?
Hodge:  It’s more of a primer or introduction to HBPC in general versus some of our other online course offerings that focus on one specific topic, such as Telehealth or Coding. It also introduces video as part of our instruction material for the first time — and is highly engaging with interactive elements.

HCCInsights: What do you think course participants will find most valuable?
Hodge: House Calls 101 de-mystifies the house call process. It walks through each of the main components of a house call ─ from preparing for the day all the way through to completing post-visit activities. In addition, the course covers what it’s like to travel with a Medical Assistant (MA) and takes a deep dive into the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) that can significantly impact a patient’s health and well-being, and health care utilization. Finally, the course profiles the characteristics and personal qualities required to be successful as an HBPC practitioner.

HCCInsights: Why is it important for HBPC providers, practice managers and operations staff to understand the “Geriatric 5Ms” covered in the course?
Hodge: The “Geriatric 5Ms” is a framework for caring for complex patients. It aligns perfectly with the home-based primary care model; this is what the providers do every day.  It focuses on key areas: Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity and Matters Most. These areas are critical to understand because most HBPC patients are older adults with multiple chronic conditions and functional impairments.

HCCInsights: Can course participants earn CME by taking House Calls 101?
Hodge: Yes. House Calls 101 was planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of PeerPoint Medical Education Institute, LLC and HCCI.

To learn more about House Calls 101: An Introduction to HBPC and to register, click here.