The Alliance submitted comments to CMS on its proposed policy update “CY 2017 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model; and Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements.” Alliance comments focused on the proposed rule’s implementation of the newly created statutory benefit to pay home health agencies separately for disposable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). The Alliance requested that the Agency clarify the section regarding payment for the time that the home health agency provides the disposable NPWT. The Alliance recommended that in addition to paying for the disposable NPWT devices, CMS also pay the home health agency the nursing time and travel for initial and subsequent visits to those patients requiring home health services who can benefit from the use of disposable NPWT.

Read More