Home health, hospice and hospital news
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CY 2027 home health final rule
Medicare home health payments rise 2.4% in total, about $415 million.
The 3% temporary cut to the base rate stays in place.
After certain majority ownership changes, agencies and hospices must reenroll as new providers and go through a survey or accreditation.
Worth checking: If you're buying, selling or merging, build reenrollment into your timeline and your contracts.
FY 2027 hospice final rule
The hospice payment rate rises 2.3%, about $755 million.
The aggregate cap goes to $36,174.75.
Hospices that don't submit required quality data lose 4 points, which works out to a 1.7% cut.
Worth checking: Any vendor or facility rates you've tied to Medicare rates, before they adjust.
HIPAA Security Rule update pushed back
The update is still a proposal, and the current rule still applies.
The federal schedule now shows a final rule around July 2027, though that date isn't binding.
The proposal includes shorter timelines for business associates and verifying their safeguards.
Worth checking: That you know which vendors touch PHI and that each one has a current BAA.