On July 7, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued proposed payment changes for home health in a regulation known as the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) rule for calendar year (CY) 2016.
Given the expanding need and importance of home health care as our population ages, most would expect the proposed rule to include policy changes that improve the value of Medicare home health services for patients and taxpayers. This regulation, unfortunately, proposes significant funding cuts that will directly harm home health agencies and the homebound Medicare beneficiaries receiving such critical services in all areas of New York.
This publication spells out four reasons why this proposed rule is concerning, and why we need Congress to act.