CMS has issued the proposed rule for Home Health CY 2022 and NAHC offers informational webinar.<\/p>\n
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS)<\/b><\/p>\n
Special Edition \u2013 Monday, June 28, 2021<\/p>\n
CMS to Improve Home Health Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities<\/p>\n
Proposed rule would accelerate shift from volume-based incentives to quality-based incentives<\/p>\n
CMS issued a proposed rule that accelerates the shift from paying for home health services based on volume, to a system that incentivizes value and quality. The rule also seeks feedback on ways to attain health equity for all patients through policy solutions, including enhancing reports on Medicare\/Medicaid dual eligible, disability status, people who are LGBTQ+; religious minorities; people who live in rural areas; and people otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.<\/p>\n
The CY 2022 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) proposed rule addresses challenges facing Americans with Medicare who receive health care at home. The proposed rule also outlines nationwide expansion of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model to incentivize quality of care improvements without denying or limiting coverage or provision of Medicare benefits for all Medicare consumers, and updates to payment rates and policies under the HH PPS.<\/p>\n
\u201cHomebound Medicare patients face a unique set of challenges and barriers to getting the care they need,\u201d said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a reaffirmation of our commitment to these older adults and people with disabilities who are counting on Medicare for the health care they need. This proposed rule would streamline service delivery and value quality over quantity \u2013 at a time when Americans need it most.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) developed the HHVBP Model, which began January 1, 2016, to determine whether payment incentives for providing better quality of care with greater efficiency would improve the quality and delivery of home health care services to people with Medicare. The HHVBP Model\u2019s current participants comprise all Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs), providing services across nine randomly selected states. The Third Annual Evaluation Report of the participants\u2019 performance from 2016-2018 showed an average 4.6% improvement in HHAs\u2019 quality scores and an average annual savings of $141 million to Medicare.<\/p>\n
CMS announced January 8, 2021 that the HHVBP model met the statutory requirements for expansion. CMS is proposing to expand the HHVBP Model nationwide effective January 1, 2022. By expanding the HHVBP Model, CMS seeks to improve the beneficiary experience by providing incentives for HHAs to provide better quality of care with greater efficiency.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the proposed rule would improve the Home Health Quality Reporting Program by removing or replacing certain quality measures to reduce burden and increase focus on patient outcomes.\u00a0 CMS would also begin collecting data on two measures promoting coordination of care in the Home Health Quality Reporting Program effective January 1, 2023 as well as measures under Long Term Care Hospital and Inpatient Rehabilitation Quality Reporting Programs effective October 1, 2022.\u00a0 This would position the agency with data to monitor outcomes across diverse populations and support the recent Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021, entitled \u201cAdvancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.\u201d<\/p>\n
NAHC offers Webinar on CY2022 Home Health Proposed Rule<\/b><\/p>\n
Calendar<\/a><\/p>\n Add to Calendar<\/p>\n WHEN:<\/b><\/p>\n June 30, 2021 @ 1:00 pm \u2013 2:00 pm<\/b><\/p>\n CY2022 Home Health Proposed Rule<\/b><\/p>\n Wednesday, June 30, 2021 ; 1:00-2:00pm Eastern<\/b><\/p>\n