Volume 25.02
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has released the 2026 Home Health Proposed Rule. The Proposed Rule is available in its entirety here.
The Proposed rule includes:
- A reduction in Medicare home health payments of 6.4%. This consists of a 2.4% increase in payments, a 3.7% reduction in payments due to the proposed budget neutrality permanent adjustments, a 4.6% reduction in payments due to a proposed budget neutrality temporary adjustment, and a .5% decrease in payments related to a proposed update to the fixed-dollar loss ratio.
- Changes in who may conduct a face-to-face encounter.
- Updates to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program.
- Implementation of a new Home Health Consumer Assessment survey beginning April 2026.
- Updates to the Home Health Value Based Purchasing Program.
- Certain Medicare provider enrollment changes.
- Requests for information on certain initiatives.
The impact of the payment revisions would be a reduction from the current national standardized 30-day payment of $2,057.35 to $1,933.61.
The payment reduction is of significant concern to home health providers. Regardless of the underlying estimates and assumptions, costs of providing care and compliance with Medicare program requirements are ever-increasing and any reduction in payments threatens both quality and access to care.
NASBA MEMBERSHIP RENEWED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026
The National Registry of CPE Sponsors (“NASBA”) has approved The Health Group, LLC as a sponsor of continuing professional education (“CPE”) through June 30, 2026. As a sponsor, The Health Group, LLC confirms continuous compliance with the “Statement of Standards for Continuing Education (CPE) Programs” and the program requirements of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.
VISIT WITH US AT THE FINANCIAL SUMMIT
The Health Group, LLC and affiliate, Gray Griffith & Mays – Morgantown, PLLC will be exhibiting at the upcoming Alliance Financial Summit in Chicago on July 27-29, 2025. We hope that, if you are attending, you will stop by and visit us at Booth 617. We are pleased to discuss your cost reporting, Medicare enrollment, financial reporting, merger/acquisition, or tax compliance needs. Contact us if you want to schedule a specific time to talk.