The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the Home Health Quality Improvement Organization Support Center (HHQIOSC), has launched a national home health quality improvement campaign targeting home health agencies and key stakeholders.  The goal is to unite the home care community under the shared vision of reducing avoidable hospitalizations and to improve patient quality care. 

LHCR and HCLA are partnering together to serve as Local Area Networks for Excellence (LANEs).  All home health agencies are encouraged to participate in this National Campaign.  Participants will receive:

• monthly individual agency reports         
• intervention packets that include
  • educational tools and resources with opportunities to earn CEUs
  • success stories and
  • best practice education

Why Participate?

• Optimize performance
• Don’t be left behind
• Cope with staff turnover
• Continue to improve your ACH rate or sustain an exemplary ACH rate
• No data collection required
• Participation is free

Registration begins on January 11, 2007.  However, you must register between noon 1/11/2007 and midnight 1/12/2007 to be granted Premier status, which demonstrates your commitment to quality improvement from the onset of the campaign.  You will receive a special “Premier” logo if you register in the designated timeframe.    After midnight 1/12/2007, you will have Participating status and will receive a “Participating” HHQI logo. Your agency will receive an electronic welcome package within two to three weeks from registration. The welcome package will include an informational letter, the exclusive HHQI logo and a certificate of participation.  Your first intervention package will arrive in March 2007.

How do you register?  Follow these simple quick steps:

1) Visit www.homehealthquality.org

2) Click on “Home Health Agency Registration”

3) Fill out the form on the Web site – you will need your six digit Medicare provider number when you register

4) Click “Submit”