Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update for Calendar Year 2013, Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements, and Survey and Enforcement Requirements for Home Health Agencies

CMS's summary

“This proposed rule would update the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates, including the national standardized 60- day episode rates, the national per-visit rates, the low-utilization payment amount (LUPA), and outlier payments under the Medicare prospective payment system for home health agencies effective January 1, 2013. This rule also proposes requirements for the Hospice quality data reporting program. This proposed rule would also establish requirements for unannounced, standard and extended surveys of home health agencies (HHAs) and provide a number of alternative (or intermediate) sanctions that could be imposed if HHAs were out of compliance with Federal requirements. This proposed rule would set forth alternative sanctions that could be imposed instead of or in addition to termination of the HHA's participation in the Medicare program, which could remain in effect up to a maximum of 6 months, until the HHA achieved compliance with the HHA Conditions of Participation (CoPs), or until the HHA's provider agreement was terminated.”

Dates

“To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on September 4, 2012.”