home health
NAHC Analysis of the CY 2021 Home Health Proposed Rule
CY 2021 Home Health Proposed Rule Addresses Payment Rates, Telehealth, Quality Program and Home Infusion Therapy Late this afternoon the preview of the CY 2021 home health proposed rule, Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements; and Home Infusion Therapy Services Requirements, was […]
Read MoreALERT: Quality Reporting Resumes July 1, 2020
Both hospice and home health providers will resume quality data reporting July 1, 2020. For three calendar quarters – October 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 – the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided an exception for hospice and home health providers from submitting quality data due to the current Public Health Emergency […]
Read MoreNAHC Comments on CMS’ Interim Final Rule in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
The National Association or Home Care & Hospice submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Interim Final Rule with Comments (IFC) issued March 30, 2020 in response to the COVID -19 pandemic. Below is a summary issues and recommendations related to home health agencies (HHA) and hospice. HOME HEALTH Homebound Status Under […]
Read MoreCMS Updates COVID-19 Waivers
Late on Friday, May 8, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers document with welcome changes for home health agencies and hospices. CMS expanded the types of therapists able to perform the initial and comprehensive assessment for all home health patients to […]
Read MoreCMS Issues New COVID-19 Waivers, Interim Final Rule for Home Health
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a second round of regulatory waivers in an Interim final rule with comment (IFC), with several notable flexibilities for home health agencies. NPPs and Home Health Services The IFC implements section 3708 of the CARES Act to permit nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse […]
Read MoreCMS Nursing Home FAQs on Policies Related to Admission of Hospice Staff
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided a recap of previous guidance related to nursing home visitors (see Q&A 4) and access to facility patients by health care workers, including hospice workers (Q&A 6). Most recently, as part of a memorandum to state survey agency directors (QSO-20-28-NH: Quality Nursing Home Five Star […]
Read MoreNew Guidance and Waivers for Home Health, Rural Health and More
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance for home heath care providers and waivers for Rural Health Clinics ( RHC)s and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) that have a direct impact on home health care providers.. On April 14, CMS issued several waivers for RHCs and FQHCs. One of the […]
Read MoreCMS Issues More Home Health & Hospice Waivers During COVID-19 Pandemic
On April 10, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced additional waivers for health care providers in response to the COVID-10 pandemic. One waiver has been issued for home health permitting occupational therapists (OT) to conduct the initial and comprehensive assessment for all patients receiving therapy as part of the plan of care. Therapists […]
Read MoreCMS Answers Key Home Health & Hospice Concerns Related to COVID-19
QUICK REMINDER — All Medicare Home Health Providers: Take This Survey Now! Congress is already working on a fourth COVID-19 stimulus package and CMS is considering relief options. NAHC is focused on making sure home health and hospice are not forgotten. To support this advocacy effort, we need information and we need it NOW. Please complete this survey […]
Read MoreWhat Has Changed for Home Health During the Public Health Emergency? NAHC has the Answers
On March 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule with comment (IFC) that provides relief from regulations governing health care provider operations in response to the COVID -19 pandemic. The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) conducted a national webcast presenting the regulatory waivers that had […]
Read MoreQuality Reporting Relief Only Through 2Q 2020
Last week NAHC reported on the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HHQRP) and Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) relieve. There was a question about whether the relief extended through 3Q 2020 or only through 2Q 2020. NAHC received confirmation from CMS late yesterday that the relief extends only through 2Q 2020. Below are the dates […]
Read MoreCMS Issues Regulatory Waivers in Response to COVID-19
On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On January 31, 2020, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar declared a national public heath emergency. These two declaration permit the Secretary of HHS to invoke the 1135 waiver authority for certain federal regulations in order […]
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