[Updated] CMS Announces New, More Provider-Friendly Rules for Advanced and Accelerated Loan Repayment

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced amended terms Thursday for accelerated and advanced payments granted to Medicare-certified health care providers — including home health agencies — during the public health emergency. Under the new “Continuing Appropriations Act” of 2021 and “Other Extensions Act,” repayment for providers will now begin one year […]

HHS Adds $20B to Provider Relief Fund for Home Health Agencies, Others

The federal government announced Thursday that the Provider Relief Fund will be replenished with a tranche of $20 billion. Unlike some of the previous rounds of relief, home health providers and others will have to apply for funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will begin accepting applications from providers on Oct. […]

Congressman Vern Buchanan Urges CMS to Scrap PDGM’s 4.36% Behavioral Adjustment

In August, the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare (PQHH) unveiled a first-of-its kind, comprehensive analysis of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Among its findings, the analysis — conducted by health economics and policy consulting firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates — highlighted how government spending on home health care is 21.6% lower than what the U.S. […]

‘Technology Is Here to Stay’: Why Today’s Investments Will Pay Off Tomorrow

Between the Patient-Driven Groupings Model and the COVID-19 virus, home health providers are arguably facing the most volatile environment in their industry’s history. At the same time, millions of people are now looking for safer and simpler ways to receive care, which only boosts demand for in-home care services. Looking back, rapidly evolving technology, legislation […]

‘Real Accommodations for Providers’: House Bill Takes Aim at Advance and Accelerated Loan Repayment

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a funding bill Tuesday that should catch the attention of home health operators. The bill included a provision aimed at lessening the burden associated with paying back advance and accelerated payments, which the Trump administration made available to financially support Medicare providers amid spring COVID-19 spikes. Specifically, the provision […]

DOL Revises FFCRA Regulations, Potentially Sparing Home-Based Care Providers

Originally, home-based care providers were largely exempt from the mandates tied to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), including significant paid sick and family leave for workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Yet in early August, a court ruling by the Southern District of New York found that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) had […]

NAHC’s Dombi: COVID-19 Tests Have Limitations, Shouldn’t Be Viewed as ‘Panacea’

Home health operators shouldn’t get overly excited about federal testing support just yet. William A. Dombi — president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group — is cautioning providers to take a measured view of the conversation regarding potential COVID-19 tests being sent to the home health […]

HCAOA’s Vicki Hoak: Home Care Must Take Advantage of Its Moment in the Spotlight

Home-based care agencies and their workers are getting some rare time in the national spotlight during this year’s political cycle. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and VP pick Kamala Harris, for example, have gone out of their way to recognize the work that home-based care workers do on a regular basis. They’ve particularly heralded their […]

Senior Care Stakeholders: Latest COVID-19 Relief Proposal Is ‘Shameful,’ ‘Anemic’

Senate Republicans are close to unveiling their latest version of another coronavirus relief bill, with reports suggesting party leaders may do so Wednesday or soon thereafter. The proposal — first obtained by Washington, D.C.-based newsroom Roll Call — is viewed as a “skinny” version of the previously released HEALS Act from July. Among its provisions, […]

Dozens of Home-Based Care Businesses Have Received PPP Loans of $5M+

Since funds became available, in-home care businesses across the U.S. have received more than $666.36 million in loans of under $150,000 via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a July Home Health Care News review of federal data found. They have received hundreds of millions of dollars in large PPP loans at or above $150,000 as […]