Home Health Prospective Payment System: CMS Reduces Home Health Spending by $60 Million

Why This Topic Matters

The article explains a Medicare payment update that affects home health agency reimbursement and operational planning. It is relevant to organizations monitoring annual CMS rulemaking, prospective payment system changes, and the financial impact of rebasing and case mix revisions.

Article Sections

1. 2015 PPS Final Rule Overview

   A summary of the final rule for home health prospective payment system rates and the overall payment impact for 2015. The section introduces the main Medicare policy changes discussed in the article.

2. Rate Update and Rebasing Adjustments

   Discussion of the payment update, rebasing phase-in, and other adjustments affecting national home health payment components. The section focuses on the broad financial factors included in CMS’s final rule.

3. Case Mix and Agency Impact

   Coverage of changes to case mix weights and the concerns raised by consulting and trade sources about how the rule may affect individual agencies. The section also reflects stakeholder reaction to the reimbursement changes.

4. CMS Response to Rebasing Comments

   CMS’s explanation of its position on rebasing-related comments and its reference to prior rulemaking. The section presents the agency’s stance on the final adjustments.