CMS’ acceptance-to-service policy requirement will be added to the Joint Commission’s deemed status requirements effective July 1, 2026. CMS has had the policy in effect since Jan. 1, 2025.
Finalized in the 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule, agencies are expected to develop, implement and maintain, through an annual review, a patient acceptance-to-service policy that is applied consistently to each prospective patient referred for home health care.
The policy should address criteria related to the agency’s capacity to provide patient care, including, but not limited to:
- Anticipated needs of the referred prospective patient
- Case load and case mix of the agency
- Staffing levels of the agency
- Skills and competencies of the HHA staff.
The agency is also expected to make available to the public accurate information regarding the services offered by the agency and any limitations related to types of specialty services, service duration and service frequency. This should be updated as services change, but no less often than annually.