NAHC Analysis of the CY 2021 Home Health Proposed Rule

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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 […]

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ALERT: Quality Reporting Resumes July 1, 2020

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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 […]

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NAHC Comments on CMS’ Interim Final Rule in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

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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 […]

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CMS Updates COVID-19 Waivers

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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 […]

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CMS Issues New COVID-19 Waivers, Interim Final Rule for Home Health

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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 […]

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CMS Nursing Home FAQs on Policies Related to Admission of Hospice Staff

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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 […]

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New Guidance and Waivers for Home Health, Rural Health and More

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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 […]

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CMS Issues More Home Health & Hospice Waivers During COVID-19 Pandemic

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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 […]

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CMS Answers Key Home Health & Hospice Concerns Related to COVID-19

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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 […]

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What Has Changed for Home Health During the Public Health Emergency? NAHC has the Answers

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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 […]

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Quality Reporting Relief Only Through 2Q 2020

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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 […]

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CMS Issues Regulatory Waivers in Response to COVID-19

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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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