Home Health & Hospice Week

PPS rule chock full of changes for HHAs. The U.S. Senate and the Securities and Exchange Commission aren't the only ones taking a close look at home health therapy. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposes a whole new raft of documentation requirements for furnishing home health therapy, according to the prospective payment system proposed rule for 2011, published in the July 23 Federal Register. "CMS proposes to clarify policies regarding the coverage of therapy services in the home health setting," the agency notes in a release about the rule. Changes to slow therapy-driven case mix growth include "new functional assessment and reassessment requirements, therapy goal criteria, and clinical documentation requirements," notes the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. "In addition, timelines are offered for visits by a 'qualified therapist' (rather than therapy assistant) on the 13th and 19th visit and every 30 days." Other provisions in the [...]