Compliance:
OMB Pushes Back Current HHABN Expiration Date
Published on Tue Aug 04, 2009
Use these expert tips for a painless transition. Your home health advance beneficiary notice of noncoverage (HHABN) form expired on Sept. 1, but that doesn't mean you have a new one to use. Despite its best efforts, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' revised Form CMS-R-296 still isn't ready for agencies to use and is "currently undergoing the final stages of the Office of Management and Budget review," CMS reported on August 27. The current HHABN's expiration date has been pushed back to accommodate the delay. Reality: "It's not unusual to run up against delays when these documents are up for revision or reapproval," notes Chicago-based regulatory consultant Rebecca Friedman Zuber, though many agencies are tired of waiting for the revised form. Good news: You can prepare for the new form and ensure that your agency quickly and efficiently makes the switch to the new document when it's ready [...]