CMS Allows States To Extend PHE-Era Flexibilities For HCBS

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended a COVID-19 pandemic-era waiver that will allow home- and community-based service (HCBS) providers to take advantage of flexibilities in their state programs. The Appendix K waiver allowed HCBS providers more wiggle room during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS introduced the waiver to […]

The Unintended Consequences Of CMS’ Proposed HCBS Medicaid Rule

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recent proposed rule for Medicaid may cap business for certain providers, but industry experts believe the government agency is likely foreshadowing its intentions for the final rule. The new rule would force 80% of payment to go to workers in home- and community-based services (HCBS). There […]

[Updated] CMS Proposes New Rule Requiring At Least 80% of HCBS Medicaid Payments To Go Toward Worker Compensation

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday announced a new proposed rule that would, among its provisions, establish a strict requirement for the amount of Medicaid payment going toward home care worker compensation. Specifically, the proposed rule from CMS would require that at least 80% of Medicaid payments for personal care, […]

CMS To Publicly Release All Ownership Info Of Home Health, Hospice Agencies

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making ownership data for all Medicare-certified home health and hospice agencies publicly available. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the news early Thursday. Anyone can now review “detailed information on the ownership of more than 6,000 hospices and 11,000 home health agencies,” […]

HHS Committee Pushes For Further PACE Expansion

A new report from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services could be the first step in further expanding the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) model nationwide. Specifically, the committee believes that expanding PACE to more rural parts of the U.S. will help close gaps in long-term care. “[We] […]

Whether Decreased Home Health Utilization Is Helping Or Hurting The Health System

Following the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the total number of home health visits per 30-day period fell by nearly 17%. That’s according to CMS data. Some health care organizations, like AARP, are concerned that this trend may be the result of unintended consequences tied […]