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CMS is proposing 6.4% decrease in home health payments for 2026, representing a $50M headwind, says financial analyst.
Half of U.S. counties lost HHAs from 2020 to 2024, says National Alliance for Care at Home.
Medicare expects to pay $6.9 billion to about 7,600 end-stage renal disease facilities, the agency says.
The Securing Access to Care for Seniors in Critical Condition Act was introduced in March and is awaiting further action.
CMS proposes to remove four SDOH standardized patient assessment data elements to reduce burden.
CMS also proposes to update the outlier threshold so that estimated outlier payments remain at 2% of total payments.
The American Hospital Association voiced concern over that rate and a 2.6% increase for long-term care hospitals.
Adjustments are estimated to total $196.5 million in 2026, CMS says.
Higher-than-expected utilization and low reimbursement have challenged the program in 2024.
Providers have gotten a nearly 9% permanent cut to home health payment since 2023, says LeadingAge.
