Are you struggling to keep your Medicare-enrolled Home Health or Hospice agency compliant, or worried about upcoming surveys? At The Home Health Consultant (THC), we know that keeping pace with regulatory demands can feel overwhelming, and we’re here to help agencies like yours achieve reliable, year-round compliance.
With our Administrative Compliance Program, we work best with agencies that share specific characteristics. This enables us to deliver the most successful results. But don’t worry, you don’t need to check all these boxes to have a successful relationship with us!
In this article, you'll learn six traits that define the clients who benefit most from our program—and find out if we’re the right partner to help elevate your agency’s compliance and performance.
1. Your Agency is Enrolled in Medicare
Our services are specifically tailored to agencies that are enrolled in Medicare, which brings a unique set of compliance and regulatory requirements. THC’s years of experience align specifically with Medicare-enrolled agencies. Navigating Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) is our area of expertise and drives our program’s structure and services.
Why Medicare Enrollment Matters
Because our service is structured around Medicare CoPs, we can support agencies in managing the expectations and standards set by CMS. This ensures you stay up-to-date on any changes in Medicare regulations, and stay ready for surveys.
2. You Possess Basic Tech Skills
Our ideal clients are comfortable with basic technology, which allows us to communicate effectively and conduct our compliance processes smoothly. When we say “tech-skills,” we don’t mean that clients must be tech experts. Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to be a coder extraordinaire! We simply need you to be familiar with handling emails, participating in screen-sharing sessions, and navigating our online portal.
You will still of course receive guidance from our compliance representatives. For example, when you sign up for our Admin Compliance program, one of your first calls with us is a demonstration of how to use our portal.
Basic Tech Skills Expectations
To list more specifically what we’re looking for, essential skills include:
- accessing emails
- following short straightforward instructions for our portal demo
- joining online meetings
We’re always here to walk clients through any technical steps, but basic tech comfort helps make these interactions more productive.
Why Having Basic Tech Skills Matters
This is a virtual service. Our compliance management system involves sharing documents, conducting assessments, and collaborating digitally. Agencies with basic tech capabilities can interact with our platform and streamline communications, allowing us to work efficiently on your compliance needs.
3. You’re An Active Participant
For your agency to reap the full benefits of our Admin Compliance program, you must be engaged and actively participate in the compliance program. This collaboration is vital for both our quarterly call and implementing recommended improvements.
Active Participant Expectations
We ask clients to attend the quarterly call, provide agency specific information, and grant access to their records as needed. Active participants share data like EMR access, incident reports, and compliance documentation, helping us prepare thoroughly for quarterly check-ins and provide accurate guidance.
It is impossible for us to do our job without having access to your agency’s specific data. Not only that, but a major benefit of our program is receiving QAPIs and PIPs tailored to your specific agency and areas you want to improve. Time and money are saved when agencies want to be involved in the program, so we can create the perfect plan for your needs.
Why Being an Active Participant Matters
Compliance is a team effort. When agencies are willing to provide insight and information, our consultants can deliver more relevant recommendations. This two-way collaboration is central to the success of our Administrative Compliance Program.
4. You’re Committed to Fostering Respectful Interactions
Like personal relationships, respectful communication is key to a positive and productive working relationship. We work best with clients who maintain a professional demeanor, allowing for smooth, respectful exchanges that benefit both teams.
Respectful Interaction Expectations
We totally understand the stress of running an agency and maintaining compliance. Everyone is human, and we are definitely compassionate with certain levels of frustration that may arise. Regardless of this, respectful clients:
- engage professionally
- respond in a timely manner
- are open to constructive feedback
Our team is, of course, expected to deliver the same level of respect, creating an environment of mutual understanding.
Why Respectful Interactions Matters
A foundation of respect builds trust and allows our team to work more effectively with clients. Respectful interactions keep the focus on achieving compliance and allow our team to deliver high-quality service without unnecessary friction.
5. You Want It Done Right
Our program works best with clients who prioritize consistent compliance rather than rushing into last-minute preparations before a survey. We refer to this as ‘Survey Prep v.s. Survey Readiness’. Proactive clients who value overall routine compliance see the most benefit from our services.
Want It Done Right Expectations
Some agencies seek a consultant only to ensure they pass a survey, and there is nothing wrong with that. It may be all your agency needs. However, this is not the kind of service that our Administrative Compliance program offers.
We emphasize a quarterly improvement process, ensuring that agencies are always “survey-ready.” This continuous approach reduces the risk of falling behind on compliance tasks. It also minimizes the likelihood of survey failure during unscheduled CMS or state inspections.
Why Wanting It Done Right Matters
While some agencies may focus on survey preparation right before an inspection, this reactive approach leaves them vulnerable to surprise audits and complaint surveys. In maintaining ongoing compliance, our clients protect themselves against unexpected inspections and avoid the last-minute stress of catching up on compliance requirements.
However, maintaining constant survey readiness is just one of the many benefits our Admin Compliance program offers.
Maintaining compliance does so much more than keep you ready for survey. It improves patient care, patient satisfaction, HHCAHPS ratings, OBQI scores, and HHVBP scores. We help protect against unnecessary payment reductions and give agencies a place to ask questions as they arise.
6. You See Value in Our Service
The ideal client sees the value in what we provide and understands the long-term benefits of continuous compliance. They appreciate the reduced risks and the ongoing improvements that come from working with our team.
Seeing the Value Expectations
Compliance isn’t just about passing surveys. By working with us, agencies improve their understanding of operations and gain insights into the quality of patient care they provide. Our ideal customers aren’t interested in slapping a bandaid on their compliance struggles, they want to improve them long-term.
They are also interested in education and learning about the compliance process. Education is a huge section of our program. This proactive approach not only reduces the chances of sudden issues, but prepares your key staff with the ability to discuss issues with surveyors.
Why Seeing the Value Matters
With the industry moving toward value-based purchasing models in 2025, continuous compliance gives agencies an edge in ensuring the longevity of your business. Medicare payments to your agency are now directly linked to your level of care and compliance, with a potential payment variation of up to 10%. Our clients who recognize this value understand that compliance is not only about avoiding penalties but also about enhancing quality, efficiency, and financial outcomes.
When clients see compliance as a long-term investment, they can experience the full impact of our program’s benefits. In our experience, these agencies are often the ones that thrive.
Am I A Good Fit For the Admin Compliance Program?
Not every single person who works at your agency needs all of these traits for us to form a healthy working relationship. As a member of our program, we require you appoint a compliance representative from your agency. The Home Health Consultant works best with compliance representatives who embody these six traits:
- Medicare-enrolled
- Tech-enabled
- Active participants
- Respectful
- Committed to doing things right
- See value in our service
Additionally, we’ve found it’s most beneficial for a compliance representative to:
- Be a full-time, in-person employee at your agency
- Not hold one of the major required staff positions
For example, while we recommend your administrator and owner being involved in the quarterly calls, we do not recommend the administrator or owner being the compliance representative. Ideally the compliance representative is someone involved in the day-to-day, but with enough free time to send us the information we need as requested.
When your compliance representative embodies these traits, THC can work alongside your agency to ensure:
- ongoing compliance
- smooth operations
- survey readiness
- improved patient care outcomes and satisfaction
- Improved Value Based Purchasing, OBQI and Star Rating scores
Together, we’ll set a high standard for compliance that benefits your agency, supports your staff, and enhances patient care.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us to discuss how our Administrative Compliance Program can support your agency’s specific needs and goals.
*This article was written in consultation with Mariam Treystman, Sarah Allen, & Kaylee Villegas.
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