Frontloading and intensity of skilled home health visits: a state of the science.

Frontloading of skilled nursing visits is one way home health providers have attempted to reduce hospital readmissions among skilled home health patients. Upon review of the frontloading evidence, visit intensity emerged as being closely related. This state of the science presents a critique and synthesis of the published empirical evidence related to frontloading and visit intensity.

The new survey and certification process.

This article discusses changes that have occurred in the survey process over the past 2 years including instructions issued to surveyors on how to conduct surveys. On the surface, surveys will appear to occur much as they have in the past. However, attention will also be focused on OASIS data collection, data transmission, and the use of agency-specific reports that are now available to state agencies and home health agencies.