The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is making three recommendations following a survey of home health agencies on their response to COVID-19.
 
The report released Oct. 18 is titled “Home Health Agencies Used Multiple Strategies to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Although Some Challenges Persist.”
 
It notes that OIG surveyed 400 home health agencies, including 396 Medicare-certified agencies, in the fall of 2021. The authors also interviewed 12 agencies about notable challenges and strategies identified in their surveys.
 
The OIG noted its findings should help agencies continue to manage the response to COVID-19 and prepare for future emergencies.
 
Recommendations included evaluating how agencies are using telehealth. Specifically, OIG suggested looking at the types of services provided via telehealth and the characteristics of patients who benefit from these services.
 
In the 2023 proposed home health payment rule, CMS noted it would add at least three codes on claims signifying telehealth use. According to the proposed home health payment rule, the new claim codes are expected to be voluntary submitted beginning in January and mandatory beginning July 23, 2023.
 
OIG also called on CMS to evaluate how the regulatory flexibilities it offered during the pandemic affected the quality of home health care.
And it encouraged CMS to work with federal partners to update and/or develop emergency preparedness training and materials specifically for home health providers when responding to infection disease outbreaks.