On Thursday, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) unveiled a draft recommendation calling for states to ramp up data reporting on hourly wages for home and community-based services (HCBS) workers – a proposal that drew criticism from the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance). MACPAC’s drafted recommendation would increase administrative […]
CMS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that completing the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data collection is not required for outpatient therapy services, and it will retract the previously published guidance, according to the National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance). CMS issued guidance in its Quarterly OASIS Q&A document […]
Indiana Medicaid now requires providers of attendant care and family caregiver services to directly pass a specific portion of Medicaid funds to frontline caregivers, similar to the 80/20 rule, and could inspire other states to do the same. This change, aligning with federal standards, took effect on July 1, and agencies must confirm compliance by […]
While the home health industry has been laser-focused on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CY 2026 home health proposed rule rate cuts of 6.4% or a $1.135 billion reduction in spending, several other pieces of the proposed rule deserve additional attention, and include a silver lining. Providers should keep in mind that […]
Everyone in the home-based care industry is trying to catch their breath after what appears to be a significant blow to the American health care system, including the release of the CY 2026 home health proposed payment rule by CMS on June 30 and the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) last Friday. […]
On Monday, I moderated a HHCN+ TALKS episode – our exclusive opportunity for HHCN+ members to hear from and engage directly with leading experts in real time. The topic was on the policy and regulatory landscape affecting the home-based care industry under the second Trump administration. Needless to say, this was a timely discussion, given […]
In 2024, home health care experienced an 8.5% average annual growth, marking a slowdown from the 10.8% increase in 2023. The slowdown is attributed to a decline in spending growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published in Health Affairs. Still, the report’s […]
Two Republican senators are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to “use full authority under law” to preserve the Medicare home health agency (HHA) benefit. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, expressing concerns about the future of the benefit, including payment […]
Last week, Best Buy Health announced during an earnings call that it was restructuring its health division due to the slow adoption of at-home care. CEO Corie Barry specifically pointed to its hospital at home (HaH) program as an issue because of “inconsistencies” in the duration the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, currently set […]
Home-based care providers face rising challenges to maintaining healthy margins in today’s reimbursement landscape. Nonetheless, precise cost reporting, disciplined payer relationships and operational efficiencies are proving to be among the strategies essential to surmounting these challenges. Leaders in the home-based care industry say these strategies are key to navigating the growing financial strain caused by […]
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