Home health agencies would dodge a requirement to collect a copay from Medicare patients under a draft budget agreement negotiated by the White House and Republican congressional leaders.
 
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) repeatedly has recommended a home health copay and President Obama has called for one in several of his proposed budgets, including the one for 2016. But lawmakers, including those involved in the current negotiations, have chosen to ignore the idea in favor of other Medicare savings.
 
What the draft agreement would leave in place, though, is the 2% sequester reduction in Medicare payments for all providers. Under the agreement it would continue through fiscal 2025.