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SESSIONS
Wednesday, February 18th
DAY 1
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
GS1: General Session - Leadership Resilience in Times of Change: Thriving Amid Uncertainty​
Session Description:
Join Marcylle Combs for an unforgettable keynote that focuses on equipping leaders with the mindset and strategies to remain resilient during organizational transitions. It highlights adaptability, emotional intelligence, and proactive decision-making as essential tools for guiding teams through disruption and fostering long-term
success.
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Speaker: Marcylle Combs, BS, MS, RN, CHCE, MAC Legacy
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Break & Quick Hit Sessions
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10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
1a. Improve 2026 Fiscal Margins through Improved Clinical Outcomes
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Session Description: Home Health reforms continue in terms of programming and reimbursement changes as outlined in the 2026 Final Rule. Providers seeking success will face new challenges when addressing HHCAHPS and VBP changes, with cuts in reimbursement occurring simultaneously. The result is a Home Health landscape considerably different from what most of us have worked under during the PPS and early PDGM era. When traditional operations and programming approaches fail to deliver desired outcomes under PDGM and in areas such as VBP and HHCAHPS, many Providers find themselves behind the eight-ball in terms of episodic margins. But the Volume-2-Value (V2V) element of PDGM combines with the Pay-for-Performance (P4P) identity of VBP to outline a clinical path to address Home Health Fiscal margins. By addressing clinical programming for optimal Outcomes, HH agencies can develop Value-Era efficiencies that result in significant improvements in Fiscal margins. This progressive presentation includes Case Studies that drill down on the pathway to develop Clinical programming that produces Improved Fiscal Margins.
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Speaker: Arnie Cisneros, President; Home Health Strategic Management & Kimberly McCormick, Executive Clinical Director, Home Health Strategic Management
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Continuing Education: : 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
1c. The OIG Will See You Now: Understanding the US HHS Office of Inspector General
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Session Description: “The O-I-G”-- Another scary 3-letter agency! But do you know what the OIG really does and what resources it makes available to healthcare providers? Join us to learn about the scope of the OIG’s authority, what it does, and how your agency can access many free resources. Learn about The Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) new project focused on home health agency outliers and much more!
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Speaker: Heidi Kocher Esq., J.D., M.B.A., C.H.C. Liles Parker PLLC
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
1b. Hospice Revenue Cycle Management
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Session Description: This session will highlight specific areas of the Hospice Revenue Cycle that have a direct impact on reimbursement and data that impact decisions about medical review targets.
Speaker: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
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Continuing Education: : 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Healthcare Leaders C-suite Education
1d. Right People. Right Seats. Real Accountablility
Session Description: Attendees will learn three simple tools that take the guesswork (and drama) out of people management: (1) the Accountability Chart to clarify who owns what and what “winning” looks like, (2) the People Analyzer + GWC to quickly assess values-fit and seat-fit, and (3) a Quarterly Coaching Conversation that gives you an easy, repeatable set of questions to coach performance, reinforce what’s working, and address what’s not—before issues become exits.
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Speaker: Tom Bouwer, co-author of multiple books and founder of The EOS Conference, The Bouwer Group
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
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11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
2a. The FY2026 Home Health Final Rule: Quality Counts: HHQRP, CAHPS Evolution & HHVBP Changes
Session Description: Quality measures are shifting fast. It is vital to not only know, but to understand which measures are being removed and which ones are being added. Quality measures impact your outcomes and your reimbursement and there isn’t a time more important than now to understand how CAHPS updates will impact HHVBP scoring and your performance strategy. Don’t let these changes surprise you once it is too late.
Speaker: Lisa McClammy, Senior Clinical Education Consultant, BSN, RN, COS-C, HCS-D, HCS-O
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
2c. Protecting the Integrity of Home Care and Hospice Services (All Medicaid providers) ​
Session Description: Join Inspector General Winter and Principal Deputy Inspector General Biles as they discuss the agency’s latest work to combat fraud, waste and abuse in Texas health and human services and provide valuable insight on recent OIG activities involving home care and hospice providers.
Speaker: Texas HHS OIG Inspector General Raymond Charles Winter and Principal Deputy Inspector General Susan Biles
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates​
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
2b. Hospice Clues: What’s Next in Quality and Compliance
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Session Description: Hospice is entering a new era of quality expectations, data requirements, and regulatory scrutiny. This session helps leaders interpret today’s signals and understand what is coming next. Attendees will gain practical guidance to strengthen operations, prepare teams, and elevate quality and compliance in a rapidly evolving environment.
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Speaker: Chris Gallarneau, Senior Education Consultant, MAC Legacy
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Healthcare Leaders C-suite Education
2d. The Cycle of Accountability​
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Session Description: This session introduces a practical, five-step framework for building a healthy accountability culture—so teams know what “winning” looks like and leaders can reinforce it consistently. It also equips managers with tools for diagnosing performance breakdowns, choosing coaching vs. counseling, and planning tough conversations using clear feedback scripting and a simple escalation path when performance doesn’t improve.
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Speaker: Tom Bouwer, co-author of multiple books and founder of The EOS Conference and The Bouwer Group
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Continuing Education: 1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
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12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
General Lunch (included in registration)
Owner’s Lunch (limited to those owning 20% or more of agency)
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
3a. Home Health Medical Review & The New F2F Clarification
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Session Description: Escalation of medical review scrutiny in home health leaves agencies struggling to know where to focus in avoiding denials. This webinar will highlight the current top denials and specific documentation tweaks that if implemented will assist in avoiding denials if the chart is medically reviewed. In addition, this session will cover the nuances of the new Face-to-Face Clarification from the Home Health Final Rule 2026.
Speaker: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
3c. From Chaos to Clarity: Reinventing Home Care & Hospice Referral Intake With AI (All HCSSAs)
Session Description:
Referral intake remains one of the most operationally fragile areas in home health and hospice, especially with over 30% of referrals arriving after business hours and slipping through the cracks. This session explores how agencies can modernize referral intake using AI-powered tools to achieve 24/7 readiness, eliminate manual bottlenecks, and improve response times.
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Attendees will see practical models for AI-assisted triage, night/weekend coverage, centralized referral dashboards (EHR portals, e-fax, email, hospital systems, etc.), and automated clinical summaries that support faster, more accurate decision-making.
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This presentation provides a clear roadmap for turning referral chaos into operational clarity, improving both admissions and patient access to care.
Speaker: Siva Juturi, Co-founder & Chief Customer Officer at AutomationEdge
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
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2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
3b. Mastering Hospice Medical Review in a High-Risk Enforcement Era​
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Session Description: Hospice medical reviews have intensified, with increased scrutiny around eligibility, documentation consistency, and compliance with Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs). In this session, participants will explore the most common medical review denial trends impacting hospice agencies and learn how to proactively strengthen clinical documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and review readiness. Attendees will leave with trail-tested strategies to reduce denials, improve defensibility, and confidently navigate Medicare medical reviews while maintaining a patient-centered approach to care.​
Speaker: Brian Lebanion, CEO/Consultant, BC Healthcare Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Concurrent Track - Healthcare Leaders C-suite Education
3d. Leading Change with Confidence: Building Resilient, Accountable Teams in Times of Transformation
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Session Description: Change is no longer an occasional disruption—it is a constant leadership responsibility. This interactive session equips leaders with the mindset, tools, and practical strategies needed to lead people through uncertainty, resistance, and transformation with confidence and clarity.
Participants will explore why change initiatives often fail, how emotions and personality styles influence reactions to change, and what it truly means to lead change rather than manage tasks. Through real-world scenarios, guided discussion, and proven change management frameworks, leaders will learn how to communicate effectively, empower change agents, build resilience, and foster accountability at every level of the organization.
This session emphasizes self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and leadership accountability—helping leaders model adaptability, inspire trust, manage resistance, and create sustainable change that sticks.
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Speaker: J’non Griffin, RN, MHA, HCS-D, HCS-O, COS-C, HCS-H, HCS-C, SVP Coding and OASIS/Compliance, SimiTree
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates​
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3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
​​4a. Home Health Value Based Purchasing: Determining and Monitoring What Measures Matter
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Session Description: The Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model continues to evolve, with significant changes impacting reimbursement and quality performance beginning in 2026. In this comprehensive and interactive session, participants will gain a deep understanding of how to interpret, audit, and improve the key measures that matter most under HHVBP.
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Speaker: J’non Griffin, RN, MHA, HCS-D, HCS-O, COS-C, HCS-H, HCS-C, SVP Coding and OASIS/Compliance, SimiTree
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
4c. Panel Session: Strengthening Training and Competency Practices
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Session Description: Join us for an insightful panel discussion focused on improving staff training, competency, and compliance in today’s challenging healthcare environment. Our panel of experts will take a real-talk approach to explore the common obstacles HCSSAs face and offer actionable strategies to overcome them.
Discover how to:​
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Ensure your staff is effectively trained and truly competent
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Streamline your orientation process for greater operational efficiency
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Stay compliant with both state and federal regulations
These best practices will help your agency elevate performance, boost confidence, and strengthen compliance—all while maintaining high-quality care standards.
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Speaker: Moderated Panel with Candyce Slusher, LVN, Home Care Consultant, SLUSHER Consulting & Brian Lebanion, CEO/Consultant, BC Healthcare Consulting, LLC and Lisa McClammy, Senior Clinical Education Consultant, BSN, RN, COS-C, HCS-D, HCS-O , MAC Legacy
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
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3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
4b. A Practical Approach to Navigating IDG and Plan of Care Updates
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Session Description: This session provides a focused review of the requirements and best practices for the hospice IDG and Plan of Care, including how the new HOPE assessment findings must be incorporated into individualized, measurable goals and interventions. Participants will learn how surveyors evaluate IDG collaboration, care planning, and documentation throughout the hospice election. Practical examples of patient specific goals and interventions will be shared to support compliant, patient centered care.
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Speaker: Colleen Woods, MSNED, RN, Senior Consultant, Primary Nurse Planner, JCC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Concurrent Track - Healthcare Leaders C-suite Education
4d. The Strategic Executive’s Guide to Managed Care:
From cost pressures to value based growth—what leaders need no
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Session Description: Navigate the rapidly evolving managed care environment with confidence. This strategic session equips C-suite leaders from home health and hospice organizations with data-driven insights into healthcare cost pressures, government policy impacts, and value-based care opportunities. Explore how providers can navigate the new realities of a value-based world to enhanced reimbursement, reduced administrative burden, and position themselves for strategic success in managed care. Leave with essential intelligence and actionable strategies that will build confidence for sustainable growth opportunities in the value-based care era.
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Speaker: Joe Russell, Vice President of Network Management & Contracting, Strategic Health Care
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Thursday, February 19th
DAY 2
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
GS2. General Session: INDUSTRY UPDATE Voices that Move Policy: Home Care Leaders on the Power of Advocacy
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Session Description: The momentum is undeniable: home is where people want to receive care. Yet in a fast-shifting policy and regulatory landscape, belief alone won’t shape outcomes—leaders and their voices will.
Join a candid, solutions-focused panel of home care leaders and public advocacy experts as they unpack why advocacy matters right now, in the context of the issues dominating today’s headlines—payment reductions, workforce pressure, regulatory change, juxtaposed to the expanding promise of care-at-home. This is not a training; it’s a timely conversation designed to translate current events into clear priorities and practical next steps for your organization. You’ll hear real-world stories from leaders who’ve navigated barriers—limited time, message fatigue, and the “how do I start?” problem—and turned them into action that resonates with policymakers, partners, and communities. Walk away with clarity on what’s at stake, what’s moving, and where your voice can make the greatest impact in the weeks and months ahead.
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Speaker: Rachel Hammon, Executive Director, TAHC&H, Moderator with Panel: Bradley E. Madison, Administrator, ComPassion Personal Care Services & ComPassion At Home, Dana Madison DNP, MBA, BSN, RN, BSA ComPassion Home Care, Advance Care Management, ComPassion Home Health Care, and Akin Gump Representative
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Break & Quick Hit Sessions
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
5a. Connecting the Dots from Orientation to VBP Success
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Session Description:
This session provides a clear roadmap for organizations to achieve excellence under the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HH VBP) model—starting where it matters most: orientation and training. Attendees will discover how a well-structured onboarding process lays the foundation for staff engagement, clinical quality, and patient-centered care. We’ll explore practical strategies for designing orientation programs that not only educate but also inspire, ensuring new team members understand their role in driving VBP outcomes from day one.
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From initial orientation through ongoing education and performance support, this session will show how to create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Learn how to connect each stage of your operations—staff development, patient care, and quality monitoring—into a seamless system that delivers measurable results.
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Speaker: Tammy Ross, MHA BSN RN CCM, EVP Professional Services and Mike Carr, PT, Senior Director of Training and Education
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
5b. CAHPS Hospice Survey: What Impact Does it Really Have?
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Session Description: This session will dive deep into all the changes that occurred with the CAHPS Hospice Survey implemented in 2025 and will detail the impact that it has for all hospices. We will discuss the impact on reimbursement if the CAHPS requirements are not met, review the implications of the Star Ratings and discuss the impact of negative reviews on the hospice for public reporting on Care Compare. The CAHPS is sometimes treated as just one more requirement that we have to meet….let’s look at making it a tool for use in improving our hospice care overall.
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Speaker: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.25 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)
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10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
5c. Pediatric Payer Puzzle: Navigating Commercial + Medicaid, 2026 MCO Updates, and SIU Readiness​
Session Description: Hear it directly from the MCOs. This provider‑focused session features a live panel of MCO representatives answering your toughest questions on coordinating commercial + Medicaid as payer of last resort, UA modifier interpretations, 2026 STAR Kids policy shifts, SIU activity trends based on Governor Abbot's mandate, and the transition of Medically fragile children to STAR+PLUS. Get clear, practical guidance straight from the source—so you can reduce denials, protect continuity of care and move from confusion to clarity.
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Speaker: Moderated MCO panel, MCOs invited include: Superior, United Health Care, Wellpoint, Community First Health Plans, Texas Children’s Health Plans, BCBS
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Continuing Education: 1.25 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
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11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
General Lunch (included in registration)
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
6a. Trends in PDGM Margins and Metrics
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Session Description: As we enter year seven of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), this session will explore recent trends in PDGM margins and key performance metrics. Participants will gain insight into national benchmarks for payor mix, margins, visit utilization, case-mix, clinical groupings, LUPA rates, and costs. The session will also examine operational factors affecting profitability and sustainability and discuss practical strategies agencies can use to monitor metrics, identify risk, and strengthen financial performance under PDGM.
Speaker: Nick Seabrook, EVP, SimiTree
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education (CNE)​
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12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
6b. The "H" Word: Preparing Team Members to Provide Supportive Hospice Consultations
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Session Description: The word "hospice" is often difficult for patients and caregivers to hear after battling an extended illness or when an acute medical condition strikes. Each patient that is referred to hospice brings a unique experience that resulted in a terminal prognosis and at times hospice referrals are made with minimal information about the hospice philosophy being provided to patients or their loved ones. This session will provide guidance and examples for hospice team members to utilize when meeting with patients and families for the first time. Tips on presenting and answering questions regarding the hospice election and addendum statements will be provided. Discussion will address frequent concerns and questions that patients and caregivers have and provide guidance that supports and guide patients as they navigate the final chapter of their lives.
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Speaker: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
6c. Your Questions, Their Answers: A Live MCO Panel on Community Care in 2026
Session Description: Featuring a live panel of MCO representatives. Join community care leaders for a candid, Texas‑focused discussion on what’s changing— and what to do about it. We’ll cover EVV updates and pain points driving denials/recoupments, potential SIU/audit shifts tied to the Governor’s mandate, attendant workforce wage change impacts (member movement, utilization), service coordinator guidance and consistency across plans, and 2026 STAR+PLUS/MCO contract changes that could affect agency operations. Bring your questions and get answers straight from the source.
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Speaker: Moderated MCO panel, MCOs invited include: Superior, United Health Care, WellPoint, Molina, Community First Health Plan
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates
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2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Concurrent Track - Medicare
7a. Better Data Begins with Better Questions: OASIS‑E2 Essentials
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Session Description: OASIS‑E2 goes live on April 1, 2026, and even though the changes look small, they can have a big impact on your outcomes. New ROC items—Language, Hearing, and Vision—give CMS a clearer picture of patient acuity, which helps make your outcome scores more accurate and fair.
You’ll also see outdated items removed and a few revised, like the updated Transportation item and the retirement of the COVID‑19 vaccine question—changes meant to clean up documentation and improve data quality.
We’ll break down what’s changing, how it affects your functional and hospitalization‑related outcomes, and what your team can do now to get ready. Quick, clear, and focused on what matters most: better data, better outcomes, better care.
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Speaker: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, VP Clinical Services
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education​​​​
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Concurrent Track - Hospice
7b. Trailblazing Financial Management Strategies for Sustainable Hospice Success
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Session Description: Description: In an increasingly complex reimbursement environment, hospice financial leaders must balance compliance, cash flow, and long-term sustainability. This session will guide attendees through key financial risk areas—including hospice cap management, revenue cycle performance, cost reporting, and regulatory impacts—while offering practical strategies to improve financial visibility and decision-making. Participants will learn how to move beyond reactive management and chart a clear, data-driven course toward financial stability and growth.
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Speaker: Brian Lebanion, CEO/Consultant, BC Healthcare Consulting, LLC
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
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2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Concurrent Track - Specialty
7c. Navigating VA Home Care in a Time of Change
Session Description: Veterans Affairs (VA) home care remains a critical but complex revenue stream for home care providers. As contracting structures evolve and reimbursement dynamics shift, providers are facing increased operational strain, payment delays, and uncertainty around future program requirements. This session will provide Texas home care providers with a practical, provider-focused overview of how VA home care billing works today, where breakdowns most commonly occur, and how upcoming changes, particularly related to Optum and TriWest contracting, rate table updates, and the Elizabeth Dole Act may impact service delivery and financial performance. The session will also address how recently released 2026 Texas VA rate tables influence reimbursement expectations, authorized hours, and agency margins, and why understanding rate methodology is increasingly important for operational and financial planning.
Drawing on Paradigm’s direct experience supporting agencies nationwide with VA billing and revenue cycle operations, this presentation will combine policy context with operational insights and best practices providers can apply. Attendees will receive a valuable take-away with the Paradigm’s VA Rate Tool, which helps agencies quickly interpret VA rate tables, compare rates by service and geography, and proactively assess the financial impact of rate changes.
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Speaker: Carmen Perry, VP Provider Engagement, Paradigm
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Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates​​