The Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) final rule has arrived at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as of Oct. 24, 2025. It’s the last publicly facing step before a rule is released.
 
The rule is typically rolled out in the final days of October, but it’s reaching OMB more than three weeks later than usual due to the federal government shutdown. Reduced staffing has impacted every step in the rule-making process, making it difficult to know when the rule will be published.
 
In June, CMS released the HHPPS proposed rule, which included:
  • A national aggregate payment reduction of 6.4%.
  • Changes to the face-to-face encounter requirements for community referrals to allow more options for who can conduct the encounter.
  • Updated HHVBP measures, adding three new OASIS measures (bathing, upper body dressing and lower body dressing); adding the claims-based Medicare spending per beneficiary; and removing three HHCAHPS measures (professional care, communication and team discussion).
  • Updated HHCAHPS with fewer, easier-to-understand questions (effective April 1, 2026).
  • Updated OASIS to remove the COVID-19 vaccine question and cancel planned additions for questions on utilities, food security and housing.