CMS announced today that it could delay releasing the CY 2014 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1450-F) for nearly a month. The rule now will be released on or before Nov. 27.
This supersedes the originally announced publication date of Nov.1, which CMS says it will not meet, because it is still assessing the effect the partial federal government shutdown is having on completion of 2014 Medicare fee-for-service payment regulations including the home health PPS rule and the physician fee schedule. The CMS announcement is at
http://www.cms.gov/Center/Provider-Type/Home-Health-Agency-HHA-Center.html.
A spokeswoman with the Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) says the delay gives the organization extra time to educate members of Congress and the administration about concerns regarding the impact of rebasing on home health – particularly about the impact on nonprofits. House and Senate briefings are taking place, the spokeswoman says.
In the meantime, agencies await final details on proposed changes including elimination of 170 diagnoses from the list of case-mix codes and a 1.5% reduction in Medicare payments in 2014 (HHL 7/8/13).
One other deadline that appears to be affected by the government shutdown is the update to CMS’ Home Health Compare website. Agencies will have to wait until Dec. 12, 2013, for the next update,
HHL has learned. CMS announced Oct. 22 that Home Health Compare on the
www.medicare.gov website was not updated during the scheduled date in October. Instead, October data will be posted on or about Dec. 12, 2013.
For continued coverage of the PPS final rule and its impact on home health agencies, check out future issues of
Home Health Line at:
www.homehealthline.com.