CMS Plan to Resume Elective Procedures Could End Home Health Business Lull

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 […]

Accelerated Payments from CMS Can Help Medicare Providers Stay Afloat, But Come with Potential Dangers

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 […]

First Few Months of PDPM Triggered Higher SNF Payments. Will PDGM Do the Same?

The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) — another Medicare payment overhaul in the skilled nursing facility (SNF) arena — could serve as an indicator for what the coming months will look like under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Naturally, home health owners and operators have been paying attention. PDPM launched on Oct. 1, which has given […]

Home Health Agencies See PDGM as Major Growth Opportunity

A joint survey from Dallas-based Axxess — a home health technology company — and advisory firm BKD reiterated that the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and staffing are the dominant contemporary concerns among home health agencies. Released earlier this week, the 2020 Industry Trends Report collected responses from employees in many positions at both large and […]

Counterpoint: Elimination of RAPs Isn’t a ‘Sky-Is-Falling Issue’

Since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its proposal to phase out Requests for Anticipated Payments (RAPs) last month, home health providers have voiced their concerns about what the change will mean for them. Industry-wide, the consensus isn’t good. Many providers worry the removal of RAPs, in addition to the other regulatory […]

Game On: PDGM Encourages Home Health Agencies to ‘Game the System’

When the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), part of the goal was to fix problems that exist with the currently used Prospective Payment System (PPS). One such problem, government watchdogs say, is agencies prioritizing quantity of care over quality because it often leads to more money. Thus, […]