Home Health & Hospice Week

Like many healthcare providers, home health and hospice agencies see many patients with diabetes — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants to help. The CDC started the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in 2010, addressing the “increasing burden” of diabetes in the U.S. Under the program, the CDC has a plethora of provider tools and tips, infographics, patient resources, staff training, and more. Check out the latest DPP news and guidance at www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/ index.html.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also wants to assist providers serving diabetic patients by extending the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Expanded Model’s public health emergency flexibilities for another four years. The expansion is set to expire on Dec. 31, but CMS recently outlined extending it through Dec. 30, 2027 in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule — as long as providers and suppliers who offer MDPP services utilize a CDC organization code.

“The proposed flexibilities include the virtual delivery of MDPP services through distance learning. CMS also proposes simplifying MDPP’s current performance-based payment structure by allowing fee-for-service payments for attendance by people with Medicare,” the agency notes in a fact sheet on the proposals.