HOME HEALTH: HHAs May Ring In '05 With 2.5-Percent Pay Hike

Why This Topic Matters

Home health agencies and reimbursement teams need to understand proposed payment updates because they affect planning, budgeting, and expected Medicare revenue for the coming year. The article also highlights a system timing change that could alter when annual updates take effect.

Article Sections

1. Proposed Medicare payment update for home health in 2005

   Summarizes the expected reimbursement change for home health agencies and the policy context for the proposal. It frames the update as part of Medicare home health prospective payment system changes.

2. Calendar-year update cycle change

   Describes the shift from a fiscal-year update schedule to a calendar-year schedule and the related timing implications. It also notes the expected budget impact tied to the change.

3. Market basket-based rate update

   Covers the general method used to derive the annual payment adjustment and the related national episode rate figures. The section addresses the broader reimbursement calculation framework without going into coding specifics.

4. Rural home health payment provisions

   Explains that additional Medicare reform provisions affect payment updates for home health services furnished in rural areas. It identifies the applicable time frame for those adjustments.