On Sept. 10, 2021, CMS provided updated guidance on certain claims as agencies transition from the monthly RAP to a one-time Notice of Admission (NOA) in 2022.
As previously noted by CMS, for beneficiaries receiving home health services in 2021 whose services will continue in 2022, the agency will need to submit a one-time, artificial “admission” date corresponding to the “From” date of the first period of continuing care in 2022. For example, if a period ends on Jan. 10, 2022, the agency will submit an NOA with an admission date of Jan. 11, 2022.
In the new guidance, CMS notes the agency should submit the new artificial admission date on all subsequent claims until the beneficiary is discharged. “This is to ensure the claim is matched to the correct NOA and the correct receipt date is used for payment,” according to CMS.
In cases where an agency provides care in a 30-day period of care and then discharges the beneficiary in the next 30-day period of care, but does not provide any billable visits in the next 30-day period, special handling of the patient status code may be needed, CMS says.
To close the home health admission period in these cases, the agency should report patient status 01 on the claim for the last 30-day period in which visits occurred. This will trigger Medicare systems to close the home health admission period. If the claim has been submitted with patient status 30 before the discharge occurred, the HHA should adjust the claim to change the patient status to 01.