AHA comments on home health proposed rule for 2017

AHA today submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for the home health prospective payment system for calendar year 2017. Specifically, Ashley Thompson, AHA senior vice president for public policy analysis and development, asks CMS to postpone action on proposed changes to the HH outlier policy until the agency can address concerns related to unintended reductions in access to care and increases in administrative burden that would result under the rule. In addition, AHA encourages CMS to streamline the billing protocols proposed for the new coverage for negative pressure wound therapy, mandated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, to avoid confusion and minimize additional new paperwork. AHA also urges CMS to ensure the proposed new HH Quality Reporting Program measures are adequately tested prior to implementation, and to consider incorporating sociodemographic adjustment into several measures.