September 15 & 16, 2025

We are delighted to gather an incredible lineup of subject matter experts and leaders in the home and community-based care field to present at the OCHCH Annual Conference & Trade Show. Our goal is to not only educate and inform, but to make you feel energized, excited, and rewarded at the conclusion of the conference.

Jump to Day One:  Keynote, Breakouts 1, Breakouts 2, Breakouts 3

Jump to Day Two:  Keynote Day Two, Award Luncheon, Breakouts 4, Breakouts 5

Participating in eligible conference Breakout Sessions will provide 1.5 Nursing Contact Hours to attendees. Keynote Sessions provide 1 Nursing Contact Hour. Continuing Education credits for other professional disciplines, such as PT/OT, are pending. To be eligible for Contact Hours, attendees must not miss more than 10 minutes of a session. Breakout Session rooms do have capacity limits and certain topics may fill up before others.

Day One

7:30 – 9:00 am

Registration, Breakfast, Trade Show Networking

9:00 – 10:00 am

Admiral Ballroom

Lessons from the National Patient and Family Satisfaction Quality Improvement Project

Over the course of two years, the National Patient and Family Satisfaction Quality Improvement Project tracked the efforts of more than 80 home health and hospice organizations as they implemented evidence-based strategies to improve patient and caregiver satisfaction, as measured by CAHPS surveys. This keynote presentation will delve into the research foundation of the initiative, highlight key findings from the longitudinal data, and explore the real-world challenges agencies faced in adopting best practices. Attendees will gain actionable insights into which strategies proved most effective, common barriers to success, and how organizations can better align internal resources to drive sustained improvement in CAHPS performance. This session is essential for leaders seeking data-driven approaches to elevating patient and family experiences in post-acute care.

★  Lindsay Doak, MBA
Director of Research and Education
BerryDunn

Session 1

Room:  Admiral A

Metrics, Margins and Market: Data Trends in Home Health & Hospice

This presentation explores evolving trends in homecare, focusing on the shift from Medicare to Medicare Advantage and its impact on patient care. It addresses adapting to tighter utilization management and ensuring access to care amidst market changes. Emphasizing clinician satisfaction and administrative efficiency, it advocates for policy changes to support Medicare Advantage and hospice care. The role of technology in improving operations and patient outcomes is highlighted, along with strategic planning strategies for financial viability in this evolving landscape.

★ Matt McCarthy
VP, Sales
Homecare Homebase

★ Rob Simione
Vice President
SimiTree

Session 2

Room:  Admiral B

Electronic Visit Verification Impact to Providers

Ohio’s EVV denials are here, and they’re hitting providers where it hurts: their revenue. This isn’t a drill – it’s the new reality. So, how’s it going? We’ll share what we’re seeing on the ground with the current denial phases, the common hang-ups, what’s working, and what’s not. More importantly, we’ll look ahead. What’s next for Ohio’s EVV program? Knowing what’s coming is half the battle. This session is all about practical strategies to minimize the financial impact of denials. We’ll cover concrete steps you can take right now to streamline your process, be proactive on compliance, and learn denial mitigation strategies.

★ Kristy Pyles
Founder and CEO
In Your Corner Consulting

Session 3

Room:  Admiral C/D

Navigating Hospice Federal Audits

Navigating hospice audits can be complex, with increasing scrutiny from Medicare and other payers. This session provides a comprehensive overview of hospice audit priorities, common denial trends, and strategies for improving documentation to reduce risks. Learn how to effectively respond to record requests, analyze audit findings, and prepare strong appeal materials. We will cover clinical and technical denial reasons, best practices for compliance, and key strategies for success in Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings. Attendees will gain actionable insights to strengthen documentation, mitigate audit risks, and improve success rates in appeals. Whether you’re facing an audit or looking to enhance compliance, this session offers practical guidance to protect your organization and ensure quality patient care.

★ Kristie Meers
Chief Clinical Officer
Careficient

Session 4

Room:  Starboard

2025 Employment Law Update for Healthcare Providers and Risk Mitigation

Join us for an insightful session timely tailored for healthcare employers on the evolving landscape of employment and HR law. This presentation will provide an overview of recent regulatory changes impacting the healthcare industry and delve into anticipated shifts under the Trump administration. Topics will include updates to wage and hour regulations, non-compete agreements, independent contractor classifications, and workplace leave policies. Attendees will gain valuable insights to help their organizations remain compliant and prepare for potential challenges in a dynamic legal environment.

★ Daphne Kackloudis
Member
Brennan, Manna & Diamond

★ Mercedes Sieg
Attorney
Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Session 5

Room:  Helm

“It’s Just Part of the Job”: The Leadership Trap We Need to Leave Behind

In home-based care, we focus heavily on patient safety, documentation, and compliance. But too often, caregiver safety risks like uncomfortable encounters, unsafe environments, and threats that go unreported are dismissed as “just part of the job.” Years ago, I missed a moment to act on a safety concern from one of my nurses. It stuck with me and it changed how I lead. This session is about the things we overlook when staff stay silent, and how to take real action through a workplace violence safety committee that actually works. We’ll cover how to build or strengthen a committee that’s multidisciplinary, trusted by staff, supported by leadership, and aligned with new Joint Commission and OSHA requirements. You’ll also hear real-world examples from agencies that have implemented these strategies. Whether you’re starting from scratch or reassessing your current approach, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap to elevate safety from a compliance obligation to a culture-defining priority. Because “that’s just part of the job” was never good enough, and it’s time we lead like it.

★ Jonas Fortenberry
VP, Business Development
POM Safe

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11:45 am – 1:00 pm

Admiral Ballroom

Networking Lunch

Lunch sponsored by

Session 7

Room:  Admiral A

Harnessing Technology and AI for Operational Excellence in Home Health

Step into the future of home health with our engaging presentation, “Harnessing Technology and AI for Operational Excellence in Home Health.” Focusing on HealthRev’s 7 elements of their operational approach, learn how smart tools like AI-driven revenue cycle management, voice-to-text documentation, and automated task systems are making work easier, reducing errors, and ensuring steady financial success. This session will show you how these innovations help clinicians focus on what they love—caring for patients—while easing burnout and keeping data safe and secure. Discover practical ways to streamline operations and embrace a future with personalized care and cutting-edge robotics. Join us to see how technology can transform your home health agency and elevate patient care!

★ Hannah Vale
Chief Growth Officer
HealthRev Partners

★ Michael Greenlee, MBA
CEO
HealthRev Partners

Session 8

Room:  Admiral B

From the Top Line to the Bottom Line Protecting Your Agency’s Profitability in the Current World

In today’s reimbursement and cost environment, providers must consistently follow practices to protect their bottom line. We will discuss the most important of these practices, including relevant metrics and KPI’s, and benefits provided by a robust agency management system. Areas of review will include: gross margin contributors such as revenue, revenue mix optimization opportunities, Revenue Cycle Management best practices, revenue maximization – auth utilization / capacity management, direct costs, overtime minimization, optimizing staff utilization, overhead costs, support staff – productivity goals, metrics, KPI’s, etc., time collection – EVV benefits, attaining 100% EVV goal, recruitment, onboarding, and retention – goals, timeline to put people to work.

★ Phil Feldman, CPA
National Director of Revenue Cycle Management
HHAeXchange

Session 9

Room:  Admiral C/D

The Impact of HOPE on Workforce and the Bottom Line

This session examines how the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool influences both healthcare staff and organizational financial performance. This insightful session explores the ways in which HOPE metrics can enhance patient care, improve staff satisfaction, and optimize operational efficiency. By integrating practical recommendations, this session will provide healthcare leaders with the tools to leverage HOPE data for better workforce management and financial outcomes.

★ Christina Andrews
Senior Director of Professional Services
Axxess

Session 10

Room:  Starboard

Ohio Nurse Practice Act Update 2025

Join us as we discuss the latest changes to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act.

★ Jeana Singleton, JD
Member and General Counsel
Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Session 11

Room:  Helm

Waiver Types To Help You Grow Your Agency

Medicaid waivers present a valuable opportunity for home care providers to expand their services and reach individuals who need support to remain in their homes and communities. Attendees will gain a clear, comprehensive overview of Ohio’s Medicaid waiver programs: what they are, the types of services they cover, and how providers can become enrolled. Designed with home care professionals in mind, this session will explain waiver types, provide enrollment information, and help agencies identify whether becoming a waiver provider is the right fit for their business. The presentation will conclude with a question and answer session for attendees.

★ Jenna Parks
Marketing Associate
GEOH

Session 12

Room:  Anchor

EVV Office Hours

With EVV claims denials on everyone’s mind, OCHCH is adding “office hours” with our very own EVV Expert Panel member, Kristy Pyles, to the Conference agenda. Different from a standard breakout session, this 90-minute block is meant to be a troubleshooting opportunity for all that attend it. Bring EVV issues you’re experiencing so Kristy can help you navigate next steps or provide known solutions. You’ll work as a group, moving through everyone’s questions and learn together. Because of the group setting, all attendees must ensure no personal health information or otherwise confidential details are included in any materials, screenshots, or other documents you bring to illustrate your questions. Due to the unscripted nature of this workshop, contact hours and/or CEUs are not available for this session.

★ Kristy Pyles
Founder and CEO
In Your Corner Consulting

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Session 13

Room:  Admiral A

Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations (PPH) – Managing HH programming content for PPH Success

Home Health readmissions are the focus of the latest Impact Act reform in terms of Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations. PPH regulations seek to measure preventable hospitalizations as well as Potentially Preventable Observation Stays (PPOBS), and this replaces the traditional HH readmission stats. We analyze this new PPH quality measure so HH Providers can provide better patient care with improved outcomes under the expanded HHVBP model. Breaking down the goals of PPH, we demo an operational approach to assure success, including outlining the list of Potentially Preventable Conditions that are most likely to prompt a readmission or Observation stay. We propose an Operational approach to PPH, designed to produce VBP success through readmission reduction. This progressive, interactive presentation will assure you have the knowledge to move your agency forward with successful PPH programming.

★ Arnie Cisneros, PT
President
Home Health Strategic Management

★ Kimberly McCormick, RN, BSN
Executive Clinical Director
Home Health Strategic Management

Session 14

Room:  Admiral B

Best Billing Practices in a Changing Medicaid Environment

This workshop provides comprehensive training on effective billing strategies, led by Derek Vester, a billing expert at GEOH with a proven track record of success. We will cover pre-billing practices, technical billing tips, and post-billing processes to avoid denied claims. Participants learn the importance of best pre-billing practices (authorizations, Sandata, visits) and technical billing practices (where to submit claims, procedure codes and modifiers). The workshop concludes with a Q&A session to address specific participant concerns.

★ Derek Vester
Director of Billing
GEOH

Session 15

Room:  Admiral C/D

Deprescribing in Hospice

This presentation aims to address the issue of polypharmacy in the hospice population, explore strategies for deprescribing in line with the patient’s goals of care, and provide recommendations for effectively managing medications at the end of life. The presentation emphasizes the importance of a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to deprescribing in the hospice population. By identifying unnecessary medications and aligning treatment with the patient’s goals, healthcare providers can improve quality of life and reduce the burden of polypharmacy at the end of life.

★ Jaymie Wilson, APRN-CNP, ACHPN
Chief Operating Officer
PDC Rx

Session 16

Room:  Starboard

Upskilling the Workforce

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of home care services. This session will explore how home care providers can leverage emerging technologies—such as electronic health records, mobile learning, and learning delivery technology—to improve patient outcomes and support workforce development. Participants will gain insights into the essential digital literacy and technical skills required for a tech-enabled workforce. This includes understanding data management systems, utilizing communication tools, and adopting adaptive learning methods to ensure continuous professional growth. The presentation will highlight effective strategies for training and upskilling home care teams, best practices for implementing ongoing education programs (e-learning platforms, simulations, mentorship models), and the importance of leveraging support systems to sustain workforce development.

★ Tony Meluzio, BS, MA
Director of Professional Development
Axxess

Session 17

Room:  Helm

Overcoming Non-Compliance: It’s not what you think!

In this presentation, we will reimagine what’s possible in home health care by addressing one of its most significant challenges: patient non-compliance. Through the powerful lens of motivational interviewing, participants will learn how to spark hope, nurture trust, and guide patients’ past ambivalence toward meaningful change. We will explore how the Stages of Change and Fogg Behavior Model can be used to create compassionate, patient-centered interventions that honor each individual’s journey.

★ Jennifer Bierhup RN, WCC, CCM, iRNPA, FACCWS
Director, Clinical Education
Tissue Health Plus

4:15 – 5:00 pm

On Site

Networking with Exhibitors

Enjoy some time to meet our exhibitors and enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages courtesy of our sponsors.

5:00 – 7:00 pm

Location to be announced

Reception

Join us for a fun networking event to close Day 1 of the Conference.

Reception sponsored by

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Day Two

8:00 – 9:30 am

Registration, Breakfast, Trade Show Networking

9:30 – 10:30 am

Admiral Ballroom

Unlocking Gentelligence: Understanding & Leveraging Generational Diversity in the Workplace

It’s time for smarter intergenerational conversations in the workplace, and this is the way to start. Megan has delivered this dynamic talk across industries all over the world to kickstart a different way of thinking about generational differences. Learn why the Gentelligence® approach was named a Harvard Business Review Big Idea in 2022 and chosen as one of the 10 most definitive management ideas of the year in 2024!

★ Megan W. Gerhardt, Ph.D.
Professor of Management and Leadership, Miami University’s Farmer School of Business
Author, Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce
Owner, The Gerhardt Group

10:30 – 11:00 am

Networking with Exhibitors

Enjoy some time to meet our exhibitors before the Awards Luncheon.

11:00 am – 12:45 pm

Admiral Ballroom

Awards Luncheon

The Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice Caring Awards recognize individuals and volunteers for their exemplary service and care in the home care and hospice industry. Nominations are accepted throughout the year. To be considered for recognition at the Annual Conference & Trade Show awards ceremony, nominations must be received by Friday, August 1st.

Visit this page for descriptions of each award and a nomination form.

• Dorothy Royce Award
• Award of Excellence in Hospice / Home Health
• Caring Award in Hospice / Home Health
• Homemaker & Aide of the Year Award in Hospice / Home Health
• Hospice Volunteer of the Year Award
• Home Care and Hospice Hero Award

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Session 19

Room:  Admiral A

Improving HHCAHPS Scores

Patients are also customers, and their experience impacts the agency. The patient’s experience shapes what they tell their friends and family about their care as well as impacting agency star ratings and payment under HHVBP. While agencies focus efforts on quality programs, staffing, marketing and financial strategies with gains being realized and measured, they often struggle when it comes to approaches for improving patient experience ratings. This session will provide agencies with needed best practices for improving scores with patient experience.

★ Melinda Gaboury, COS-C
Chief Executive Officer
Healthcare Provider Solutions

Session 20

Room:  Admiral B

Medicaid as Your Payor Source for Your Home Care Agency

Join us as we discuss the most common pitfalls and best practices for managing Medicaid payments. Learn from our experiences working with home care agencies across different states and gain insights into how to optimize your processes. We will cover:  Common Medicaid Pitfalls for Home Care Agencies, Managing Regulatory Changes, State-by-State Variations, Effective Billing Strategies, Impact of Medicaid as a Payor Source, How relying on Medicaid as a primary payor affects agency operations, profitability, and cash flow, Technology and Tools to Streamline Medicaid Billing, The role of technology in improving billing accuracy, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring faster reimbursements, and Preparing for Audits and Compliance Reviews.

★ Julio Barea
VP of Sales
CareTime and Ally

Session 21

Room:  Admiral C/D

Leveraging Market Intelligence and Collaboration for Referral Growth

In today’s dynamic home health and hospice landscape, traditional sales tactics are no longer enough. Success requires a data-driven approach that aligns clinical excellence with business development and strategic collaboration. This session explores how agencies can use market intelligence—such as referral patterns, payer mix, and clinical benchmarks—to sharpen growth strategies, target high-value referral sources, and improve competitive positioning. Attendees will learn how community liaisons and sales teams can translate data into action by communicating their agency’s unique strengths. Most importantly, this session will challenge the “us vs. them” mentality, highlighting how collaboration even among competitors can drive better outcomes for patients and strengthen the post-acute care continuum. Join us to discover how clinical, executive, and outreach leaders can unite around shared data to deliver smarter growth and stronger care.

★ Natalie Deckbar
Director of Sales, Provider Markets
Trella Health

★ Ben Fuller
Account Executive
Trella Health

Session 22

Room:  Starboard

Wholehearted Nursing: Holistic Strategies to Reconnect with Meaning

In the fast-paced, task-driven healthcare environment, it’s easy for nurses and other healthcare professionals to lose sight of the deeper purpose behind their work, contributing to rising rates of burnout and compassion fatigue. Wholehearted Nursing: Holistic Strategies to Reconnect with Meaning offers an evidence-based exploration of holistic practices; such as mindfulness, active listening, values identification, healing touch, and nurse coaching, that re-center care around presence, connection, and purpose. Grounded in the principles of trauma-informed care, this session emphasizes emotional safety and self-regulation for both patients and providers. With a focus on nurses in the home setting but applicable across disciplines and environments, participants will gain practical tools to enhance therapeutic relationships, support their own well-being, and improve patient outcomes, all while rediscovering a renewed sense of meaning in their work.

★ Katie Gallenstein BSN, RN, HNB-BC
Owner
Mindful Works Wellness

Session 23

Room:  Helm

The Anticoagulant Conundrum: Facts, Fallacy, and Finding the Right Words

Decisions about continuing or deprescribing anticoagulant medications are challenging due to the inherent complexity of the potential outcomes. This program will focus on improving the hospice and home care team’s understanding of the current research and assessment tools available for anticoagulant use at end of life and strategies for shared decision making with patients and caregivers.

★ Caren McHenry Martin, PharmD, BCGP
Senior Clinical Manager
Enclara Pharmacia

Session 24

Room:  Anchor

EVV Office Hours

With EVV claims denials on everyone’s mind, OCHCH is adding “office hours” with our very own EVV Expert Panel member, Kristy Pyles, to the Conference agenda. Different from a standard breakout session, this 90-minute block is meant to be a troubleshooting opportunity for all that attend it. Bring EVV issues you’re experiencing so Kristy can help you navigate next steps or provide known solutions. You’ll work as a group, moving through everyone’s questions and learn together. Because of the group setting, all attendees must ensure no personal health information or otherwise confidential details are included in any materials, screenshots, or other documents you bring to illustrate your questions. Due to the unscripted nature of this workshop, contact hours and/or CEUs are not available for this session.

★ Kristy Pyles
Founder and CEO
In Your Corner Consulting

2:30 – 2:45 pm

Break

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Session 25

Room:  Admiral A

PDGM Metrics: Connecting Functional Status, Comorbidities, and Financial Outcomes

The CY2025 Final Rule brought significant updates to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), redefining how functional status, comorbidity levels, and coding impact agency reimbursement and financial outcomes. This session dives into these critical metrics, providing a clear understanding of how your OASIS answers and coding practices directly influence functional impairment levels, case-mix weights, and comorbidity adjustments. Attendees will gain the knowledge to adapt to changes in point values, comorbidity subgroups, and ICD-10 reassignments within the PDGM grouper. By mastering these updates, agencies can optimize financial performance and ensure compliance with evolving standards. This session equips home health professionals with actionable insights to navigate the evolving PDGM landscape, empowering them to align clinical documentation and coding with financial and regulatory success.

★ Lisa Selman-Holman JD, BSN, RN
VP, Clinical Services
McBee, part of Netsmart

Session 26

Room:  Admiral B

The Innovative Leader – Differentiating Practice and Outcomes

Demography fuels the growth of healthcare at home, and its constricting workforce. Added regulatory, payor and public scrutiny consume the time, focus and energy of leadership teams, all while advances in machine learning and its application to healthcare at home are shifting how leaders best manage day to day clinical operations. Across the continuum of care at home, managing through change is made more effective by resting on foundational functional leadership concepts. Innovative clinical models can yield leadership time and sharpened focus, perfect for leaning into functional leadership approach. Join us to discuss how integrating machine learned data into long-standing theory can yield advocacy across all stakeholders, supporting top outcomes, growth, mission, and culture.

★ Cindy Campbell MHA, BSN, RN, CCS-HH
Senior Director Advisory Services
WellSky

★ Katherine Morrison MSN, RN, CHPN, CCS-HH
Director Advisory Services
WellSky

Session 27

Room:  Admiral C/D

Strategies for Growth and Profitability

Uncover a powerful formula for growth that can be implemented immediately and at no additional cost. This session reveals how to leverage internal strengths, establish accountability, and define unique agency differentiators to achieve measurable success. Objectives include how to identify and leverage agency differentiators for competitive advantage, implement accountability structures that align teams with growth goals, and develop actionable, cost-effective strategies for enhanced profitability and sustainability.

★ Shane LuQuire
Senior Growth Consultant
CHAP

Session 28

Room:  Starboard

Navigating the Future of Managed Care

In this presentation, we will explore the evolving landscape of managed care, focusing on the key trends shaping the industry, the challenges it faces, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

★ Regina Wild LPN, CRCR
Director of Managed Care Consulting
Healthcare Provider Solutions

Session 29

Room:  Helm

Management of the Terminally Ill Cardiac Patient

Management of a terminally ill cardiac patient can pose complex and unique challenges for palliative care and hospice teams. This session discusses optimal symptom management based upon a cardiac patient’s changing needs, how goals of care for cardiac patients change with admission to hospice, reviews treatment strategies for symptom management in patients with advanced disease, and discusses the evidence- based rationale for deprescribing in end-stage cardiac patients.

★ Caren McHenry Martin, PharmD, BCGP
Senior Clinical Manager
Enclara Pharmacia

4:00 pm

Adjourn

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