Don’t forget to register for Polsinelli's Home Care Industry Update tomorrow, March 14, at 12:00 p.m. ET. HCAOA CEO Jason Lee will participate in a panel discussion with representatives from Polsinelli and The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) for a comprehensive overview of the latest legislative and legal developments.
1 Comment
Last week, HCAOA met with OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) after requesting an E.O. 12866 meeting with them in regard to their proposed Medicaid Access Rule.
HCAOA members are invited to register for Polsinelli's Home Care Industry Update on March 14 at 12:00 p.m. ET. HCAOA CEO Jason Lee will participate in a panel discussion with representatives from Polsinelli and The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) for a comprehensive overview of the latest legislative and legal developments.
Yesterday, HCAOA met with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the White House’s Office of Management and Budget to discuss CMS’ proposed Medicaid Access Rule, also referred to as the 80/20 Rule. This rule, among many other things, would mandate that 80% of Medicaid reimbursement dollars pass through to caregiver wages, leaving only 20% of the reimbursement for all other costs incurred in providing services.
Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Caroline) and Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) and Congressman Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-California-28) introduced the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2024 (S.3766). The bill would help inform Medicare beneficiaries and individuals applying for benefits under Medicare Part A or enrolling under Medicare Part B about the option to fill out a form to give Medicare permission to share their personal health information with a family caregiver through 1-800-MEDICARE. This authorization form helps family caregivers when they call 1-800-MEDICARE to assist their loved one or advocate on their behalf, saving family caregivers time and making it easier for them to interact with Medicare to support and assist their loved one.
Last week, CMS sent the proposed Medicaid Access Rule, which would require that at least 80% of Medicaid payments for personal care, homemaker, and home health aide services be spent on compensation for the direct care workforce, to the Office of Management and Budget. This marks the next step in the lengthy rulemaking process and signals that a final rule could be released this Spring.
CMS released state spending plan summaries for section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) on January 4. The spending plan summaries illustrate how states expect to spend $36.8 billion on activities to enhance, expand, or strengthen home and community-based services (HCBS) under Medicaid. Last week, the White House announced the American Rescue Plan Act has invested $37 billion in home- and community-based services (HCBS), significantly more than the $12 billion in federal funds due to matching investments by all 50 states and DC. CMS also released new guidance to states to leverage worker registries which can help beneficiaries find qualified HCBS providers.
West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) Commissioner, Cindy Beane, presented to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability (LOCHHRA) regarding the Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) rate study, which included four programs: Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW), Personal Care (PC), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Waiver (IDDW). Click here for a PDF of that report. Good news for home care agencies in New Mexico! An additional $409 million will be allocated to reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers. The increased rates, effective from July 1, 2023, aim to elevate reimbursements to as high as 120% of Medicare rates. This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure broader access to essential healthcare services for all participants in the Medicaid program, including home- and community-based services (HCBS) providers. The rate increase is expected to support hiring efforts while maintaining normal profit margins. With the termination of pandemic-driven Medicaid funding by the federal government, states are now confronted with the responsibility of covering the expenses for Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS), which includes home- and community-based services (HCBS). The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), supplemented federal Medicaid funding to states, is scheduled to phase out next month under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. A report by KFF anticipates that to compensate for this reduction in funds, state Medicaid spending is estimated to surge by more than 17% in the coming year.
HCAOA encourages all providers considering the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model to thoroughly assess its financial feasibility. It is crucial for home care providers to carefully evaluate the associated expenses tied to participating in the GUIDE Model. This includes the costs of providing in-home respite care and conducting in-person face-to-face live assessments, both mandated components of the GUIDE Model. Furthermore, assessing the financial implications helps home care providers determine whether the GUIDE Model allows for profitability under the payment rates set by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This evaluation is critical in determining if implementing the GUIDE Model allows your business to meet its financial goals and is sustainable for your home care agency. |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
Upcoming Events |
Phone: 202-519-2960 | 444 N. Capitol Street NW, Suite 428 | Washington, DC 20001
info@hcaoa.org | sitemap © 2024 Home Care Association of America. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy |
|