CMS urged to address concerns with proposed HH payment reform

The AHA today urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services not to finalize in the calendar year 2018 final rule its proposal to redesign the home health payment system in 2019. “We support the broad goals for the alternative system, known as the Home Health Groupings Model, and appreciate that it would improve payment accuracy for hospital-based HH agencies,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels, commenting on the proposed rule for the HH prospective payment system for CY 2018. “However, we urge CMS to address key issues with the model prior to finalizing any policy. When this has occurred, the agency should share its mature proposal and comprehensive implementation plan with stakeholders through a future, separate notice of proposed rulemaking, rather than finalizing the current, incomplete proposal.” In addition to substantial concerns with the proposal’s readiness, AHA said “any effort by CMS to propose a future, mature iteration of the HHGM must be pursued in a budget-neutral manner.” AHA also expressed concerns with the proposed rule’s quality reporting changes.