On November 1, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update final rule for CY 2024 (the Final Rule) at an aggregate increase to Medicare home health payments of 0.8% or $140 million. These estimations were shared by law advice platform Robinson+Cole Health Law Diagnosis on JDSupra.com.
The 0.8 percent increase results from the combined effects of three forecasted rate changes. The key elements to consider in this aggregate increase include:
- An increase of 3.0 percent to home health payments
- A decrease of 2.6 percent based on undisclosed criteria
This set of changes aligns with the ongoing effort of CMS to ensure optimal healthcare service for elderly and recovery patient cohorts. It also potentially underscores the consistent demand for home health treatments and the value Medicare & Medicaid services place on it.
The release of the final rule might prompt US healthcare providers to review their patient management processes and find ways to optimally utilize this projected increase in payment. More in-depth details about the rule are yet to be released and should be closely followed by stakeholders in the health sector.