Resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued temporary amendments to the home health and hospice regulations to allow the use of telecommunications technology in conjunction with home visits. The use of telecommunications technology must be related to the services being furnished and must be included on the plan of care, along with a description of how it will help to achieve the goals on the plan of care, without serving as a substitute for a visit ordered on the plan of care. More details and background information can be found in the Interim Final Rule CMS-1744-IFC, specifically, in Section G (pg. 64) for home health and Section H (pg. 72) for hospice.

In response to these changes, HealthCare ConsultLink (HCL) has created the following policies and forms in the event that your agency has implemented or plans to implement telecommunications.

• Home Health Telecommunication in Care Delivery Policy
• Home Health Remote Visits Plan of Care Sample
• Skilled Nursing Progress Note for Home Health
• Social Worker Progress Note for Home Health
• Therapy Progress Note for Home Health
• Home Health Order for Services Template with Worksheet

• Hospice Telecommunications in Care Delivery Policy
• Hospice Remote Visits Plan of Care Sample
• Initial and Comprehensive Nursing Assessment for Hospice
• Chaplain Progress Note for Hospice
• Nursing Note for Hospice
• Occupational Therapy Progress Note for Hospice
• Physical Therapy Progress Note for Hospice
• Social Worker Progress Note for Hospice
• Speech Therapy Progress Note for Hospice
• Hospice Order for Services Template with Worksheet

These policies and forms offer guidance based on current state and federal recommendations. These informational materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal, business, or medical advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances.