WASHINGTON—The United States Senate passed a bipartisan funding bill that included a provision that will extend telehealth access for Americans enrolled in Medicare through the end of 2027.
LONG BEACH, California—Molina Healthcare announced a workforce development initiative in partnership with HealthStream’s MissionCare Collective to create 15,000 home health aide (HHA) positions across 26 states.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a 0.09% increase in Medicare Advantage (MA) payments for calendar year 2027.
If finalized, the proposed policies are projected to result in a net average year-over-year payment increase of 0.09%, or over $700 million in MA payments to plans in CY 2027.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new online complaint form for providers to submit grievances related to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
WASHINGTON—Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated several lists that cover durable medical equipment (DME) reimbursement authorization. The three lists updated were the required face-to-face and written order prior to delivery list (Required F2F/WOPD), the required prior authorization list and the master list.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it is expanding the provisional period of enhanced oversight (PPEO) for newly enrolled hospices in Ohio and Georgia. This expansion adds to the list of states that have implemented the PPEO including Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas.
OWINGS MILLS, Maryland—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reinstated the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) as an approved accrediting organization (AO) for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) until further notice.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held a series of listening sessions hosted by CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on home health and hospice fraud in Los Angeles. The sessions were attended by staff of LeadingAge national, LeadingAge California and The National Alliance for Care at Home.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has halted the ability of the Board of Certification/Accreditation International (BOC) to act as an approved accreditation organization for durable medical equipment (DME) providers. BOC said it was "dismayed" by CMS' actions and that it has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
DALLAS—Homecare Homebase (HCHB), a software provider for home-based care, announced key insights and compliance preparations following the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Calendar Year 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System final rule.
WASHINGTON—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released a draft report recommending that Congress reduce the Medicare base payment rate for home health care services for calendar year 2027 by 7%.
Along with the occasional aches and pains, growing older can bring surprise setbacks and serious diseases. Longtime relationships with doctors people trust often make even bad news more tolerable. Losing that support — especially during a health crisis — can be terrifying. That’s why little-known federal requirements are supposed to protect people with privately run Medicare Advantage coverage when contract disputes lead their health care providers and insurers to part ways.
WASHINGTON—Home health agencies will see a 1.3% cut to Medicare payments in 2026—a significant improvement to Washington’s initial proposal but still a blow for aging-in-place providers, advocates said.
CARY, North Carolina—The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has launched its brand campaign, “THE Accreditation CHOICE for Health Care.”
“Accreditation should empower, not encumber,” said José Domingos, president and CEO of ACHC. “While others market simplification as innovation, ACHC has always focused on meaningful quality improvement. We’ve never imposed the unnecessary burdens that others are now trying to undo.”
WASHINGTON—A recent report shows Medicare has continued to improperly pay millions for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) provided to enrollees during inpatient stays despite a major audit in 2018 and subsequent fix in 2020.
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) released a new white paper, “Trends in Home Enteral Nutrition—The Impacts of Competitive Bidding on Access and Quality,” which documents the declining payment structure for clinical services needed to support patients on home enteral nutrition.
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially approved five durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics supplies (DMEPOS)-related audit projects under the new Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC), Cotiviti GOV Services, LLC, marking the contractor’s first time overseeing Medicare DMEPOS RAC reviews.
The new projects include:
BURKBURNETT, Texas—HomeWell Care Services, a non-medical in-home care franchises, has announced a national strategic partnership with PocketRN, a virtual nursing provider, to expand its dementia care support for seniors and their families as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’s (CMS) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model.
WASHINGTON—A national poll by Fabrizio Ward, commissioned by the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), found that seven in 10 Americans oppose the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2026 Medicare home health proposed rule, which is expected to cut Medicare home health funding by an additional 9%, or $1.1 billion, next year.
