HHPPS: Improve Outcomes or Put Your Reimbursement at Risk

Why This Topic Matters

Home health organizations need to understand how emerging Medicare payment models may tie reimbursement to quality performance. The article helps readers gauge the operational and documentation areas that could become important under future CMS value-based purchasing approaches.

Article Sections

1. Background

   Introduces the CMS proposed rule and the broader payment reform context for home health agencies. It frames the policy changes being considered and the timeline discussed in the article.

2. Prepare for Outcome Changes

   Reviews general preparation areas for home health organizations, including tracking outcomes, comparing performance data, and focusing on improvement planning. It discusses the operational importance of monitoring quality measures and related assessment processes.

3. Assess current outcomes

   Focuses on reviewing current performance data and comparing results across providers and benchmarks. It emphasizes broad categories of outcomes that may be relevant to future payment models.

4. Don’t miss

   Highlights additional outcome areas that may deserve attention when considering possible future CMS priorities. The discussion remains at a high level and does not provide code-level guidance.

5. Target underperforming outcomes

   Describes the need to identify weaker performance areas and concentrate improvement efforts over time. It presents general monitoring and intervention themes for quality improvement.

6. Work with clinicians

   Addresses clinician involvement in assessment and improvement efforts, including training and feedback on assessment data collection. It discusses ongoing education as part of quality performance improvement.