Month: November 2012

NAHC’s Preliminary Summary of PPS Rule

The following was prepared and shared by Bill Dombi of the National Association for Home Care:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) issued the final rule regarding 2013 payment rates late Friday. The proposal includes the 2013 Market Basket Index (MBI) update of 2.3%, the required 1 point reduction under the Affordable Care Act, and the previously set 1.32 percent case mix creep adjustment. CMS retained the 1.32% creep adjustment rather than increasing it to the potential 2.18% level to account for the full coding weight change through 2010. The main change from the July 5 proposed rule is a reduction of the MBI from 2.5 to 2.3%. The change was due to the use of updated, more recent data.

The rule also includes a most of the proposed policy clarifications regarding the face-to-face rule, Hospice quality data indicators, surveys scheduling, and the imposition of intermediate sanctions for CoP noncompliance. CMS estimates that the net impact on HHAs is a $10 million overall reduction in payments in 2013. This is a smaller negative impact than the proposed rule. While the base rates would increase, the impact of the wage index changes lowers total expenditures. Continue reading “NAHC’s Preliminary Summary of PPS Rule”

Medicare Home Health Final Rule Issued

The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) issued the Home Health Final Rule on Friday, November 2nd.  The Rule updates the HH PPS rates, including the national standardized 60-day episode rates, the national per-visit rates, the low-utilization payment amount (LUPA), the non-routine medical supplies conversion factor, and outlier payments. These rates will be effective January 1, 2013. This Rule also establishes requirements for the Home Health and Hospice quality reporting programs, important policy changes on CoP Non-compliance Sanctions, and improvements on Face to Face Encounter and Therapy Assessment Rules.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

How Home Care Helps During Disasters

ABC News has some tremendous footage of home care agencies, the National Guard, and other first responders doing what they do best: caring for their clients, no matter the circumstances.

Our thoughts and prayers go to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

November is National Home Care Month – Help Us Celebrate!

Join the Home Care Alliance in celebrating National Home Care Month throughout November by visiting our new webpage www.thinkhomecare.org/homecaremonth.

On that site, the Alliance has posted materials to help home care agencies and advocates celebrate and raise awareness. There are templates for a press release, op-ed’s, and letters to the editor that can be sent to local media as well as downloadable posters that can be posted in your office and community.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter where the Alliance will be posting a “Home Care Fact of the Day” each day in November, along with other important news and updates. We have 142 “Likes” and are aiming to get to 150 and beyond!

HCA has plenty of educational and training events in November so please be sure to check our busy calendar of events this month.

Finally, our radio campaign in partnership with WGBH is still ongoing so stay tuned to 89.7 FM or Classical New England (99.5 FM) to hear great sponsorships from HCA members.

For more info on how to celebrate and raise awareness, or if you would like assistance with the press materials, please contact James Fuccione at the Alliance.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.