[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":1980,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday announced a proposed rule to allow home health agencies to be reimbursed\u2014for the first time under Medicare\u2014for remote patient monitoring.

CMS made the rule proposal<\/a> as part of a broader package of changes to the Home Health Prospective Payment System meant to empower patients, increase competition and foster innovation.

\u201cWe are proposing to modernize Medicare to promote innovation and improve home health by increasing access to remote patient monitoring,\u201d said CMS Administrator Seema Verma during a call Monday announcing the rule. \u201cThis will allow patients to share more live-time data with their providers and caregivers, which will lead to more tailored care and increased positive health outcomes.\u201d

Verma pointed out that last year, CMS made changes to enable physicians to bill for services related to remote patient monitoring to leverage technology to help track patents\u2019 clinical data such as weight, blood pressure and heart rate. However, home health agencies could not bill for these services, she added.

Now, CMS is proposing to define remote patient monitoring in regulation for the Medicare home health benefit and to include the cost of remote patient monitoring as an allowable expense documented on the home health agency cost report for reimbursement.

\u201cIn today\u2019s proposal, we address that disparity to make sure home health agencies can leverage innovation to provide state-of-the-art care,\u201d according to Verma. \u201cSpecifically, we are proposing to include the cost of remote patient monitoring as an allowable administrative cost. This will allow home health agency payment to reflect their use of innovative technology.\u201d

Also See<\/b>: CMS releases star ratings for home health agencies<\/a>

In addition, she said CMS is reducing burdens by eliminating duplicative and unnecessary recertification requirements, while focusing quality measures on those that actually track positive health outcomes.

\u201cThis rule continues our Meaningful Measures Initiative by removing seven measures from the Home Health Quality Reporting Program that were either unnecessary or were topped out,\u201d Verma said. \u201cNone of the measures we are eliminating will reduce transparency or patient safety.\u201d

The burden reduction as a result of the Home Health Quality Reporting Program and other proposed changes are estimated to result in a net annualized cost savings of $60 million for home health agencies, noted Verma.

\u201cPhysicians who order home health services for their patients would also see administrative burden reduced, as we are eliminating the requirement that certifying physicians estimate how much longer skilled services are needed when they recertify the patient\u2019s need for continuing home healthcare,\u201d she said. \u201cThis information is already gathered on a patient\u2019s plan of care, so the existing requirement is redundant.\u201d

Further, Verma said CMS is releasing a request for information to get feedback on the Medicare and Medicaid programs and interoperability. The agency is interested in gathering stakeholder feedback on revising its patient health and safety standards required for providers and suppliers participating in the programs in order to further advance electronic exchange of information.

\u201cWe are fully committed to achieving interoperability, and we\u2019re asking stakeholders to give us their ideas on how we can achieve it,\u201d she concluded. \u201cWe are doubling down on our efforts here because there is no reason why in the year 2018 patients shouldn\u2019t have access to their medical records and the ability to share those records with whatever provider they choose.\u201d

CMS is accepting comments on the proposed home health rule until August 31. A fact sheet<\/a> on the proposed rule is available here.","saveContent":"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday announced a proposed rule to allow home health agencies to be reimbursed\u2014for the first time under Medicare\u2014for remote patient monitoring.

CMS made the rule proposal<\/a> as part of a broader package of changes to the Home Health Prospective Payment System meant to empower patients, increase competition and foster innovation.

\u201cWe are proposing to modernize Medicare to promote innovation and improve home health by increasing access to remote patient monitoring,\u201d said CMS Administrator Seema Verma during a call Monday announcing the rule. \u201cThis will allow patients to share more live-time data with their providers and caregivers, which will lead to more tailored care and increased positive health outcomes.\u201d

Verma pointed out that last year, CMS made changes to enable physicians to bill for services related to remote patient monitoring to leverage technology to help track patents\u2019 clinical data such as weight, blood pressure and heart rate. However, home health agencies could not bill for these services, she added.

Now, CMS is proposing to define remote patient monitoring in regulation for the Medicare home health benefit and to include the cost of remote patient monitoring as an allowable expense documented on the home health agency cost report for reimbursement.

\u201cIn today\u2019s proposal, we address that disparity to make sure home health agencies can leverage innovation to provide state-of-the-art care,\u201d according to Verma. \u201cSpecifically, we are proposing to include the cost of remote patient monitoring as an allowable administrative cost. This will allow home health agency payment to reflect their use of innovative technology.\u201d

Also See<\/b>: CMS releases star ratings for home health agencies<\/a>

In addition, she said CMS is reducing burdens by eliminating duplicative and unnecessary recertification requirements, while focusing quality measures on those that actually track positive health outcomes.

\u201cThis rule continues our Meaningful Measures Initiative by removing seven measures from the Home Health Quality Reporting Program that were either unnecessary or were topped out,\u201d Verma said. \u201cNone of the measures we are eliminating will reduce transparency or patient safety.\u201d

The burden reduction as a result of the Home Health Quality Reporting Program and other proposed changes are estimated to result in a net annualized cost savings of $60 million for home health agencies, noted Verma.

\u201cPhysicians who order home health services for their patients would also see administrative burden reduced, as we are eliminating the requirement that certifying physicians estimate how much longer skilled services are needed when they recertify the patient\u2019s need for continuing home healthcare,\u201d she said. \u201cThis information is already gathered on a patient\u2019s plan of care, so the existing requirement is redundant.\u201d

Further, Verma said CMS is releasing a request for information to get feedback on the Medicare and Medicaid programs and interoperability. The agency is interested in gathering stakeholder feedback on revising its patient health and safety standards required for providers and suppliers participating in the programs in order to further advance electronic exchange of information.

\u201cWe are fully committed to achieving interoperability, and we\u2019re asking stakeholders to give us their ideas on how we can achieve it,\u201d she concluded. \u201cWe are doubling down on our efforts here because there is no reason why in the year 2018 patients shouldn\u2019t have access to their medical records and the ability to share those records with whatever provider they choose.\u201d

CMS is accepting comments on the proposed home health rule until August 31. A fact sheet<\/a> on the proposed rule is available here.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

CMS proposes reimbursing home health agencies for remote patient monitoring

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