The two top priority bills that passed during the 2024 Legislative Session (Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 5001) included major changes impacting the safety and welfare of both the communities we serve and our home care staff.  Join us for this informational webinar which will cover the highlights of the home care portions of these bills as well as legal interpretive guidance for compliance. 

 

Speakers:        

Register here!

By Andrew Donlan | June 26, 2024

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its FY 2025 home health proposed payment rule Wednesday. With it, the agency signaled that more significant cuts could be on the way for providers.

To rebalance the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and make it budget neutral, at least according to its internal methodology, CMS is proposing a permanent prospective adjustment to the CY 2025 home health payment rate of -4.067%.

For CY 2023 and CY 2024, CMS previously applied a 3.925% reduction and a 2.890% reduction, respectively.

“This adjustment accounts for differences between assumed behavior changes and actual behavior changes on estimated aggregate expenditures due to the CY 2020 implementation of the PDGM and the change to a 30-day unit of payment,” CMS wrote in a fact sheet on the proposed rule.
The CMS proposed rule includes a CY 2025 home health payment update of 2.5%, which is offset by an estimated 3.6% decrease related to the PDGM rebalancing and an estimated 0.6% decrease that reflects a proposed fixed dollar loss.

Overall, CMS estimates that Medicare payments to home health agencies in CY 2025 would decrease in the aggregate by 1.7%, or by about $280 million, compared to 2024 levels.

Has your organization cared for at least one pediatric patient in the last four years? If so, complete the 2024 Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care Needs Assessment. The Needs Assessment is a product of the Pediatric Advisory Council with the goal of gaining a better understanding of the organizations and providers caring for pediatric patients who have serious illnesses throughout the United States, helping create resources and support advocacy. Please complete the survey for each location of your organization. Any questions can be directed to pediatrics@nhpco.org.

Source: DecisionHealth, June 13, 2024

 

Source: NAHC, June 21, 2024

 

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, introduced by a bipartisan and bicameral group of congressional legislators this month, would reform the prior authorization system in Medicare by implementing electronic systems and standardized requirements across payers. Through this transition the bill aims to expedite approvals, reduce administrative burdens and enhance communication between providers and payers.

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Source: Pennant Group, June 18, 2024

 

MIDDLETOWN, CT - Change Inc., a leading homecare provider, is proud to announce its 15 year anniversary. The celebration will be held on Wednesday, July 3 with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and an open house at the location: 1251 South Main Street, Middletown, 06457.

Since its founding in 2009 by former firefighter Derrick Gibbs, and with a passion to help, Change Inc. has been dedicated to helping more than 1,000 members of the community remain independent in their homes. Change Inc. has become a staple in the community for its commitment to providing high-quality care and support to its clients. Through unwavering dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Change Inc. has expanded its services to cover the entire state of Connecticut as well as provide various services under all the state waiver programs. Change Inc. was named Hartford Business Journal’s Mental Healthcare Provider of the Year and ShopBlackCT’s “Best Professional Services” in 2023.