Home Health Agencies: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19

Home Health Agencies (HHAs) can provide more services to beneficiaries using telehealth within the 30 day episode of care, so long as it’s part of the patient’s plan of care and does not replace needed in-person visits as ordered on the plan of care. We acknowledge that the use of such technology may result in changes to the frequency or types of in-persons visits outlined on existing or new plans of care.

Homebound Definition: A beneficiary is considered homebound when their physician advises them not to leave the home because of a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 diagnosis or if the patient has a condition that makes them more susceptible to contract COVID-19. As a result, if a beneficiary is homebound due to COVID-19 and needs skilled services, an HHA can provide those services under the Medicare Home Health benefit. Plans of Care and Certifying/Recertifying Patient Eligibility: HHS is utilizing enforcement discretion with regards to the requirements at §§ 409.43 and 424.22 in order to allow a patient to be under the care of a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist (as such terms are defined in section 1861(aa) (5)) who is working in accordance with State law, or a physician assistant (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)) who is working in accordance with State law, and for such physician/practitioner: (1) order home health services; (2) establish and periodically review a plan of care for home health services (e.g., sign the plan of care), (3) certify and re-certify that the patient is eligible for Medicare home health services. This will provide the flexibility needed for more timely initiation of services for home health patients, while allowing providers and patients to practice social distancing. HHS will not conduct audits to ensure that only physicians provided orders, signed and dated the plans of care, and certified/recertified patient eligibility for claims submitted during this public health emergency.

CMS is providing relief to HHAs on the timeframes related to OASIS Transmission. This waiver includes extending of the 5-day completion requirement for the comprehensive assessment and waiving the 30-day OASIS submission requirement. HHAs are expected to complete the comprehensive assessment within 30 days and delayed submission is permitted. We continue to require that patients still have an assessment to determine and be able to appropriate meet their care needs.

By waiving 42 CFR § 484.55(a), home health agencies can perform initial assessments and determine patients’ homebound status remotely or by record review. This will allow patients to be cared for in the best environment for them while supporting infection control and reducing impact on acute care and long-term care facilities. This will allow for maximizing coverage if there are limited physician and advanced practice clinicians, and will allow those clinicians to focus on caring for patients with the greatest acuity.

MACs can extend the auto-cancellation date of RAPs during emergencies. RAPs are a pre-payment for home health services.

CMS is offering home health agencies in the Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services the option of pausing their participation for the duration of the Public Health Emergency. Home Health agencies do not have to do anything for the pause to go into effect.

CMS is allowing Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and Qualified Independent Contractor (QICs) in the FFS program 42 CFR 405.942 and 42 CFR 405.962 and MA and Part D plans, as well as the Part C and Part D Independent Review Entity (IREs), 42 CFR 562, 42 CFR 423.562, 42 CFR 422.582
and 42 CFR 423.582 to allow extensions to file an appeal READ MORE

If a patient is already receiving Medicare home health services, the home health nurse, during an otherwise covered visit, could obtain the sample to send to the laboratory for COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Ordering Medicaid Home Health Services and Equipment: Medicaid home health regulations now allow non-physician practitioners to order medical equipment, supplies and appliances, home health nursing and aide services, and physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech pathology and audiology services, in accordance with state scope of practice laws.
Waived onsite visits for both HHA Aide Supervision: CMS is waiving the requirements at 484.80(h), which require a nurse to conduct an onsite visit every two weeks. This would include waiving the requirements for a nurse or other professional to conduct an onsite visit every two weeks to evaluate if aides are providing care consistent with the care plan, as this may not be physically possible for a period of time. This waiver is also temporarily suspending 2-week aide supervision requirement at 42 CFR §484.80(h)(1) by a registered nurse for home health agencies, but virtual supervision is encouraged during the period of the waiver.

The Interim Final Rule and waivers can be found at: https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/emergencypreparedness-response-operations/current-emergencies/coronavirus-waivers.
CMS has released guidance to describe standards of practice for infection control and prevention of COVID-19 in home health agencies at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-18-hha.pdf.
CMS has released guidance to providers related to relaxed reporting requirements for quality
reporting programs at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-reliefclinicians-providers-hospitals-and-facilities-participating-quality-reporting.