Posted on Friday, December 7, 2018 1:08 AM
CMS has issued Change Request 10782, providing instructions to the Medicare Administrator Contractors (MACs) on the rural add-on for home health claims as required by the Bipartisan Budget Act (BiBA).
Starting in January, payment increases will be paid to home health agencies based on their county designation.
The rural add-on amounts were revised by the 2018 BiBA as follows:
Low Population Density HHAs (counties with 6 or fewer people per square mile)
- 4% add-on in 2019
- 3% add-on in 2020
- 2% add-on in 2021
- 1% add-on in 2021
High utilization counties (top quartile of utilization on average)
- 5% add-on in 2019
- .5% add-on in 2020
All other rural areas
- 3% add-on in 2019
- 2% add-on in 2020
- 1% add-on in 2021
When home health services are provided in rural (non-Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA)) areas for episodes and visits ending on or after January 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2023, a county-based rural add-on is applied to:
– The national, standardized episode rate;
– National per-visit payment rates;
– Low Utilization Payment Adjustment (LUPA) add-on payments; and
– The Non-Routine Supplies (NRS) conversion factor.
Source: NAHC Report
About Corridor
Corridor is the nation’s preferred partner and trusted business advisor to home health and hospice providers, providing quality services and impactful results for 30 years. Focusing on key operational, regulatory and financial challenges, Corridor delivering industry-unique solutions and deep expertise in coding, clinical documentation review, compliance, billing and collections , consulting and provider staff education . At Corridor, we make the business of caring for people Better! For the most important industry updates and news that impacts home health and hospice, please make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive the latest up-to-date industry information direct to your inbox!
For additional information, please contact Corridor at 1-866-263-3795.
