FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page contains frequently asked questions about Maxim and Maxim’s
Compliance efforts.
1. How often should the medication refrigerator temperature be checked?
The CDC and vaccine manufactures require tight temperature controls for storing vaccines. The CDC provides a refrigerator log that has slots for recording the temperature twice a day. It is important to monitor your refrigerator temperature throughout the day as opening and closing the door will create temperature changes. Variations in the amount and placement of the vaccines in the refrigerator can also produce temperature variations.
http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/isd/immtoolkit/content/products/log_f.pdf
2. Why is it important to complete an Oasis for Medicaid patients 18 and older?
Collecting OASIS data is the best way to measure patient outcomes and is a requirement of the Conditions of Participation. OASIS data is only required for Medicare and/or Medicaid patients; OASIS data is not collected for private pay patients. Also, please refer to your state specific waiver programs for any specific reporting requirements under those programs.
3. How often is the OASIS data collected?
Medicare certified home care agencies are required to conduct patient-specific comprehensive assessments at specified time points. The data are collected at start of care, 60-day follow-ups, and discharge (and surrounding an inpatient facility stay).
4. Where can an agency find information regarding OASIS?
The CMS – Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services - The purpose of this site is to store and disseminate policy and technical information related to OASIS (the Outcome and Assessment Information Set) data set for use in home health agencies (HHA’s), State agencies, software vendors, professional associations and other Federal agencies in implementing and maintaining OASIS.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/oasis/
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OASIS/Downloads/newhhas.pdf
5. What is the Deficit Reduction Act?
On February 8, 2006 the President signed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). This legislation affects many aspects of domestic entitlement programs, including both Medicare and Medicaid.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060208-9.html
6. What is the definition of “Immediate Jeopardy?”
It is a situation in which a provider’s noncompliance with one or more requirements of participation has caused, or is likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death to a resident.” (CFR 489.3)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/downloads/som107ap_q_immedjeopardy.pdf|
7. The HHA advertises it offers skilled nursing and home health aide services. Reviewing the patient's chart and documentation strongly shows the patient would benefit from medical social services. What is the agency's responsibility to provide the service or to refer the patient and make sure there is social service intervention?
The HHA is required to accept patients for treatment on the basis of a reasonable expectation that the patient's medical, nursing, and social needs can be met by the agency in the patient's place of residence. If the HHA does not provide social services as one of its services, HHA staff should discuss the patient's needs with his doctor to determine other resources that are available to the patient.
8. What are some questions a surveyor might ask during a home visit?
A surveyor might ask about many areas during a home visit to a patient’s home. The following are some but not all of the items that might be asked: how much does the patient know about their rights, how was that information given to the patient, how are medications stored or prepared, chemicals used for cleaning patient DME, universal precautions kit, hand washing knowledge, and whether there is a copy of the current plan of care available.
9. When should you use alcohol based hand rub?
CDC guidelines state it can be used between patient contacts and anytime hands are not visibly dirty. Hand rub should be rubbed until hands are completely dry. More information can be found at: www.cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/fs021025.htm