WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 6, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued another revision to change request 11855—Penalty for Delayed Request for Anticipated Payment (RAP) Submission—Implementation. The Change Request (CR) revision added remittance advice message information related to the No Pay RAP penalty.

Home health agencies (HHAs) should note that Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 3, 2020)--The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has finalized policies that allow certain new equipment and supplies used for dialysis treatment of patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in the home to qualify for an additional Medicare payment. The final rule encourages the development of home dialysis machines that will give Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD more dialysis treatment options in the home.


WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 27, 2020)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the single payment amounts (SPAs) for the Off-The-Shelf (OTS) Back Braces and OTS Knee Braces product categories included in Round 2021 of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) and began awarding contracts in certain competitive bidding areas (CBAs).

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 27, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to develop standard measures to use across the home and community-based services (HCBS) system for voluntary use by states, managed long-term services and supports (LTSS) plans, providers and other entities to address the gaps and recommendations identified in the report.


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 19, 2020)—The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world for homecare—but also elevated the profession in the eyes of the public and lawmakers, William A. Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, said Monday as he opened the group’s annual conference.

“What has emerged is energy and enthusiasm about our future,” Dombi said.

WASHINTON, D.C. (October 13, 2020)—Since implementation of the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey in 2015, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and other hospice stakeholders have submitted recommendations for improvements to the survey, including suggestions that the survey be shortened and that certain questions be modified to eliminate the potential for confusion.


WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the availability of up to $165 million in supplemental funding to states currently operating Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration programs. This funding will help state Medicaid programs jump-start efforts to transition individuals with disabilities and older adults from institutions and nursing facilities to home and community-based settings of their choosing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2020)—Home medical equipment (HME) suppliers have received a notice from the CBIC indicating that that Competitive Bidding Round 2021 “contract offers and disqualification information would soon be provided” in Connexion and encouraging suppliers to make sure their CMS Enterprise Portal information was up to date.