The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its proposed payment rule for certified home health agencies (CHHAs) earlier this summer, which includes a 2.2 percent cut for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 – on top of last year’s almost 4 percent cut – based on current behavior-based payment adjustments required by CMS. The proposed rule would cut rates at a time when costs for home health care have significantly increased. Movement in this direction continues to threaten the sustainability of home health providers and limits the ability of CHHAs to care for individuals in their homes and communities.

LeadingAge NY and LeadingAge National are urging members to take action and communicate their support for the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 (H.R. 5128/S. 2137), which would ensure that no further cuts are implemented while a new payment methodology is explored – while also ensuring that access to home health care is not limited or lost for those in need.

Use this link to tell your members of Congress to support access to home health by preventing payment cuts based on behavioral assumptions.

Please note additional home health updates from LeadingAge National:

CMS Releases CY 2022 Q4 PEPPER Reports for Home Health Agencies

Fourth quarter Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) are available for home health agencies. These reports summarize provider-specific data for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper payments. Home health agencies (along with hospices and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)) can see the distribution schedule to find out how they can get their reports. Visit the PEPPER Resources webpage to review recorded training sessions, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and examples of how other providers are using the report.

Reminder: Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model: Revised July Interim Performance Reports Available

CMS reissued July Preliminary Interim Performance Reports for the Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model in the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) to correct display issues. Instructions on accessing reports are available here. CMS has extended the deadline to submit a recalculation request to Aug. 16^th.

CMS Contractor Data Breach Means New Medicare Identification Numbers Being Issued for Some Beneficiaries

CMS has sent letters to people with Medicare who may have been affected by a recent data breach. They are mailing approximately 47,000 new Medicare cards with a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) to those affected. Learn what to do if your resident or patient’s MBI changes. Ask your resident/patient for their new Medicare card if you get “invalid member ID” when checking Medicare eligibility. Access your Medicare Administrative Contractor’s (MAC) secure internet portal to use the MBI look-up tool if your resident/patient has not yet received a new Medicare card.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871