Agencies would have until Jan. 13, 2018, to prepare for most of the revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoPs) if CMS finalizes a proposed rule released this morning.
 
And agencies would have until July 13, 2018 to begin conducting performance improvement projects related to Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI).
 
CMS states that several concerns home health agencies expressed about the CoPs “have merit.” Following publication of the final CoPs in January 2017, many agencies asked CMS to delay the effective date. The inquiries, according to CMS, asserted that agencies weren’t able to effectively implement the CoPs until CMS revised its interpretive guidelines.
 
In addition, CMS says, “one of the inquiries stated that agencies were unable to effectively implement the new CoPs until CMS issued further sub-regulatory guidance related to converting subunits to branches or independent home health agencies, which would impact 216 agencies nationwide. One of the inquiries cited the estimated $300 million cost to implement the new requirements as a reason for delaying the effective date.”
 
Agencies have 60 days to comment on the proposed rule after it is published in the Federal Register.
 
Comment electronically at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the “Submit a comment” instructions.