CY 2016 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update

CMS's summary

“This proposed rule would update Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates, including the national, standardized 60- day episode payment rates, the national per-visit rates, and the non- routine medical supply (NRS) conversion factor under the Medicare prospective payment system for home health agencies (HHAs), effective for episodes ending on or after January 1, 2016. As required by the Affordable Care Act, this proposed rule implements the third year of the four-year phase-in of the rebasing adjustments to the HH PPS payment rates. This proposed rule provides information on our efforts to monitor the potential impacts of the rebasing adjustments. This proposed rule also proposes: reductions to the national, standardized 60-day episode payment rate in CY 2016 and CY 2017 of 1.72 percent in each year to account for estimated case-mix growth unrelated to increases in patient acuity (nominal case-mix growth) between CY 2012 and CY 2014; a HH value-based purchasing (HHVBP) model to be implemented beginning January 1, 2016 in which all Medicare-certified HHAs in selected states will be required to participate; changes to the home health quality reporting program requirements; and minor technical regulations text changes. Finally, this proposed rule would update the HH PPS case-mix weights using the most current, complete data available at the time of rulemaking and provide an update on the Report to Congress regarding the home health (HH) study.”

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, 2015.”

CMS's summary

“This document corrects technical errors in the proposed rule that appeared in the July 10, 2015 Federal Register entitled "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2016 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model; and Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements."”

Dates

“Comments on the proposed rule published on July 10, 2015 (80 FR 39839), continue to be accepted until September 4, 2015.”

CMS's summary

“This document corrects technical errors in the proposed rule that appeared in the July 10, 2015 Federal Register entitled "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2016 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Value- Based Purchasing Model; and Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements."”

Dates

“The comment due date for the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on July 10, 2015 (80 FR 39839) remains September 4, 2015.”