Home Health: HHA RATES INCREASE, BUT THE MATH IS COMPLICATED

Why This Topic Matters

Annual Medicare rate and wage index updates can change reimbursement calculations for both home health and hospice providers. Understanding the scope of the update helps billing and reimbursement teams recognize when claims may be affected by fiscal-year timing or corrected geographic indices.

Article Sections

1. Home Health payment updates

   Covers the annual Medicare update for home health agencies and general factors that influence whether providers see an increase in payment. It also discusses the interaction between fiscal-year timing and home health episode payment processing.

2. Claim timing across fiscal years

   Explains how home health episodes and claim dates can span two fiscal years. The section focuses on the general timing relationship between episode end dates, anticipated payment, and final claims.

3. Hospice rate changes and claim splitting

   Summarizes the annual hospice payment update and discusses how hospice stays that cross the fiscal-year boundary are addressed in billing. It also notes the broader role of CMS wage indices in hospice reimbursement.

4. CMS wage index notices and corrections

   Reviews CMS wage index notices affecting both hospices and home health agencies, including separate corrections published for selected geographic areas. It highlights that the article includes references to official Federal Register updates and CMS source materials.