The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the White House announced a new round of regulatory flexibilities aimed at improving care for seniors during the coronavirus Thursday. Home health agencies, however, were largely left out of the picture — again. In its announcement, CMS outlined steps it is taking to increase access […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced plans to suspend its advance payment program and reevaluate its accelerated payment program. It’s a decision that some home health industry insiders feel is too premature. CMS typically offers expedited Medicare payments to help providers during times of natural disasters. The agency initially expanded […]
Citing recently created coronavirus relief sources for home health agencies and other Medicare providers, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Sunday that it is suspending its advance payment program. The agency is also “reevaluating” its accelerated payment program. By pressing pause on the recently expanded loan programs, CMS effectively eliminates two […]
Some health systems will soon be able to begin performing elective procedures again, thanks to a new set of guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Sunday. A return of elective procedures could be a boost for home health providers, who have experienced a decrease in revenue during the COVID-19 public […]
Home health providers are currently waiting in the calm before the storm, bracing themselves for the COVID-19 surge that has already affected hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and other settings. Unfortunately, industry experts say, they’re readying their operations without necessary support from policymakers, who have seemingly been slow to fully embrace in-home care as a […]
During and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, U.S. home health providers will likely have to navigate sudden changes to both their patient volumes and admission sources. When it comes to the latter, any drastic shifts in referrals and admissions could throw a huge wrench into the planning that went into Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) […]
Advanced payments from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can help home health agencies navigate cash flow challenges associated with the COVID-19 virus. But providers will need to approach accelerated payments with caution, armed with accurate, objective assessments of their internal financial situations. During times of natural disasters, CMS normally offers expedited […]
If home health and hospice providers discover an unexpected Medicare payment from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) later this week, they shouldn’t be too alarmed — it’s not a billing error. The surprise deposit isn’t a mistake, but rather a no-strings-attached bump to help maintain operational stability amid coronavirus disruption. CMS Administrator […]
Home health providers are positioning themselves as the answer to lessening the burden on U.S. hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the federal government will need to continue cutting through the red tape for providers to be effective. The past four weeks have elicited concerns about hospital over-capacity issues, as the number of confirmed coronavirus […]
Home health providers are receiving more temporary policy support in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced another round of COVID-19 regulatory waivers and new rules aimed at reinforcing the operations of Medicare-reimbursed providers. Among changes for home health agencies, in particular, CMS stated […]