OIG's Scary Falls Report: Trick or Treat?

Course overview

In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a concerning report. It revealed that among Medicare home health patients who were hospitalized due to falls resulting in major injuries, a staggering 55% of these falls were not properly documented on patient assessments by home health agencies (HHAs) as mandated. Furthermore, the report disclosed that the reporting of falls on the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) was notably deficient among younger home health patients when compared to their older counterparts, as well as among patients who identified as Black, Hispanic, or Asian in comparison to White patients. Additionally, for-profit HHAs displayed lower reporting rates compared to non-profit and government-owned agencies. With more than half of falls resulting in major injuries and subsequent hospitalizations going unreported, the question arises: will there be heightened reporting requirements imposed on home health providers? This situation calls for agencies to pay close attention, as the OIG perceives it as a significant issue. Now is the opportune moment for agencies to thoroughly assess their fall prevention programs, evaluate best practices, and scrutinize their internal policies pertaining to the correct procedures that their clinicians and caregivers should be adhering to. This webinar will explore the essential steps that should be taken concerning fall prevention education, documentation, and reporting of falls leading to injuries, whether they result in hospital admission or not. By participating, you can ensure that your agency remains compliant with data submission requirements and proactively works towards enhancing patient outcomes, pre-empting any potential actions by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as recommended by the OIG.