<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Think Home Care Blog</title>
	<atom:link href="http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com</link>
	<description>The Official Blog of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:34:51 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.com/</generator>
<cloud domain='thinkhomecare.wordpress.com' port='80' path='/?rsscloud=notify' registerProcedure='' protocol='http-post' />
<image>
		<url>http://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.png</url>
		<title>Think Home Care Blog</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com</link>
	</image>
	<atom:link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/osd.xml" title="Think Home Care Blog" />
	<atom:link rel='hub' href='http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?pushpress=hub'/>
		<item>
		<title>CMS adds Guidance on Independence at Home Demonstration</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/cms-adds-guidance-on-independence-at-home-demonstration/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/cms-adds-guidance-on-independence-at-home-demonstration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:34:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2540</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CMS has offered guidance in the form of additional FAQ&#8217;s on the Independence at Home Demonstration, which aims to test a service delivery model that utilizes physician and nurse practitioner-directed primary care teams to provide services to certain Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic illnesses in their homes. Based on the opportunity for home care agencies [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2540&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/cms-adds-guidance-on-independence-at-home-demonstration/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Governor Releases FY13 Budget Blueprint</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/governor-releases-fy13-budget-blueprint/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/governor-releases-fy13-budget-blueprint/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:30:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MassHealth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicaid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State Budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2537</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Governor Deval Patrick released his proposal for the state&#8217;s fiscal year 2013 budget, which sets the stage for the legislature to work out their own versions and come to an eventual agreement over the next six months. The Governor&#8217;s budget does not include any projected increases or cuts for home health, as is the case [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2537&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/governor-releases-fy13-budget-blueprint/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Career Center Expands to Include All of New England</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/career-center-expands-to-include-all-of-new-england/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/career-center-expands-to-include-all-of-new-england/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:56:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Meyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Careers in Home Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Membership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Care Association of New Hampshire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Care Careers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New England Careers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vermont Assembly of Home Health Agencies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2456</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last June, the Alliance launched its new Career Center to connect Massachusetts home care agencies with the professionals they need to expand and enhance their businesses.  This month, we&#8217;re pleased to announce that the Career Center is expanding into the rest of the region, and will include new partner associations from across New England. As a successful [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2456&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/career-center-expands-to-include-all-of-new-england/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/2c6c8ba08a625a5b789001f38eac162c?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Tom Meyer</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://thinkhomecare.org/associations/1892/files/NE-Home-Health-Career-Center-600.png" medium="image" />
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Check out the New Facebook Page on Nurse Delegation</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/check-out-the-new-facebook-page-on-nurse-delegation/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/check-out-the-new-facebook-page-on-nurse-delegation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:48:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nurse delegation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2530</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Home Care Alliance invites members, advocates, and anyone interested to &#8220;like&#8221; a new Facebook page focused on passing Senate Bill 1138, An Act Relative to Home Health Aides, which is also known as the Nurse Delegation bill. The page will provide updates on the bill and the nurse delegation issue in general. Other important [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2530&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/check-out-the-new-facebook-page-on-nurse-delegation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Home Health Line: TPL Demonstration Reinstatement Under Consideration?</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/home-health-line-tpl-demonstration-reinstatement-under-consideration/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/home-health-line-tpl-demonstration-reinstatement-under-consideration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:48:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Pat  Kelleher</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Membership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2524</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today&#8217;s (January 23, 2012) issue of Home Health Line reports that &#8220;pressure from government auditors may lead to the revival&#8221; of the TPL demonstration that ran for seven years in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York and that handled resolution of home health payments through a sampling rather than a case by case medical review.    [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2524&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/home-health-line-tpl-demonstration-reinstatement-under-consideration/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/0079cd6e004408036777ff50c59da37e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">pkelleher</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Congressional District Maps Available</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/new-congressional-district-maps-available/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/new-congressional-district-maps-available/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:50:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Meyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2012 Election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Massachusetts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Redistricting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. Congress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2476</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Late last year, the state&#8217;s Special Joint Committee on Redistricting approved new congressional districts for Massachusetts&#8217;s federal delegation.  Due to loss of one seat following the 2010 census, the new lines are significantly altered; this November, members will likely find themselves and their agencies in different districts and/or with different incumbent* representatives. In order to help sort through [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2476&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/new-congressional-district-maps-available/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/2c6c8ba08a625a5b789001f38eac162c?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Tom Meyer</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>HCA Informs Members on Pioneer ACO and Independence at Home Programs</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/hca-informs-members-on-pioneer-aco-and-independence-at-home-programs/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/hca-informs-members-on-pioneer-aco-and-independence-at-home-programs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:23:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ACO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Care Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2469</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Home Care Alliance held a well-attended conference call to inform members about two major programs recently announced by CMS: First, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the first 32 organizations in 18 states that will participate in the new Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiative. This program is operated by the CMS [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2469&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/hca-informs-members-on-pioneer-aco-and-independence-at-home-programs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Advocacy Message to Support Nurse Delegation</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/new-advocacy-message-to-support-nurse-delegation/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/new-advocacy-message-to-support-nurse-delegation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:05:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[care transitions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Falls Prevention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nurse delegation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2453</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The &#8220;Nurse Delegation&#8221; bill (S.1138, An Act Relative to Home Health Aides) has been stuck in the Joint Committee on Public Health since it was among a list of other matters that had a public hearing last July. The Home Care Alliance&#8217;s Legislative Action Center now includes an email message that can be sent to [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2453&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/new-advocacy-message-to-support-nurse-delegation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Last Call for Presentations: New England Home Care Conference and Trade Show</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/last-call-for-presentations-new-england-home-care-conference-and-trade-show/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/last-call-for-presentations-new-england-home-care-conference-and-trade-show/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:37:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New England Home Care Conference & Trade Show]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The New England Home Care Conference &#38; Trade Show is issuing a LAST CALL for presentations. Event organizers are looking for faculty with expertise and experience to present at this year&#8217;s conference, which will take place at MGM Grand Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut on May 31st and June 1st. Last year&#8217;s event saw 400 attendees [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2450&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/last-call-for-presentations-new-england-home-care-conference-and-trade-show/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>NewMMIS Announcement of Grace Period for Electronic Claims Submission Policy</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/newmmis-announcement-of-grace-period-for-electronic-claims-submission-policy/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/newmmis-announcement-of-grace-period-for-electronic-claims-submission-policy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:15:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MassHealth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2448</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All Provider Bulletins 212  from May 2011 (&#8220;Important Claims Submission Policy Changes&#8221;) and 217  from September 2011 (&#8220;Waiver Policy for Claim Submissions&#8221;) both announced an important change in the claims submission policy. Effective January 1, 2012, all MassHealth claims must be submitted electronically unless a provider has an approved electronic claim submission waiver. Effective January 1, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2448&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/newmmis-announcement-of-grace-period-for-electronic-claims-submission-policy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Twas the Night Before &#8230;</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/twas-the-night-before/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/twas-the-night-before/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Pat  Kelleher</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2443</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This past week, Helen Siegel, our Director of Regulatory and Clinical Affairs retired after 17 years of supporting our member agencies in all issues clinical, QI,  and regulatory.  Helen took more calls than anyone in our office and responded to any and all questions sent her way.  Her knowledge and presence will be missed. As [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2443&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/twas-the-night-before/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/0079cd6e004408036777ff50c59da37e?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">pkelleher</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>CMS Announces Independence At Home Demonstration Program</title>
		<link>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/cms-announces-independence-at-home-demonstration-program/</link>
		<comments>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/cms-announces-independence-at-home-demonstration-program/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:32:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>James  Fuccione</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Care Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[telehealth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/?p=2436</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CMS continues to roll out initiatives from the Affordable Care Act in an attempt to test new ways to improve health care and lower cost. The latest in this line of programs and funding opportunities is the Independence At Home Demonstration (Section 3024 of the ACA), which aims to test a service delivery model that [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=thinkhomecare.wordpress.com&amp;blog=7463991&amp;post=2436&amp;subd=thinkhomecare&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://thinkhomecare.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/cms-announces-independence-at-home-demonstration-program/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/b3b1a63fd8c85e6e9edbe647d4254667?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">jfuccione</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
