Today CMS released its proposed rule to update Medicare home health prospective payment system (HH PPS) rates for CY 2015. CMS estimates that the rule would reduce Medicare payments to home health agencies by approximately $58 million (-0.3%) in 2015 compared to 2014 levels. Specifically, while CMS anticipates a 2.2% home health payment update percentage ($427 million increase), the increase would be more than offset by implementation of the second year of a four-year phase-in of the rebasing adjustments to the HH PPS rates, which would result in a -2.5% adjustment ($485 million decrease).

The proposed rule also includes a number of policy proposals, including: simplification of the face-to-face encounter documentation requirements and clarification of when such documentation is required; changes to the HH PPS case-mix weights; revisions to the home health quality reporting program; simplification of therapy reassessment timeframes; a revision to the Speech-Language Pathology personnel conditions of participation; and limitations on the reviewability of CMS's decision to impose a civil monetary penalty for noncompliance with federal participation requirements. Finally, the rule discusses insulin injections under the HH PPS and the delay in implementation of ICD-10-CM, and it solicits comments on the HHA value-based purchasing.

The official version of the rule is scheduled to be published on July 7, 2014. CMS will accept comments until September 2, 2014.

This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.