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| January 30, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 This Week at CT Healthcare At Home
Federal Legislative UpdateSource: CT News Junkie
Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate announced Tuesday morning that they would push for the first rate adjustment for Medicaid reimbursements in nearly 20 years, even as a memo from President Trump halting all federal grants and loans cast a shadow of uncertainty across the country.
Under the plan proposed by Democrats, Medicaid reimbursement rates would be indexed to current 2025 prices, which have not been adjusted since 2007. Afterward, reimbursement rates would be re-evaluated every 2-3 years to avoid a situation where decades pass without increasing reimbursement.
News UpdateSource: Home Health News, January 24, 2025
The Trump administration has instructed federal health agencies to pause all external communications, including health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites and social media posts, according to reports by CNN and the Washington Post.
These orders were conveyed on Jan. 21 to staff at agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), such as the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health. This directive was issued just one day after the new administration took office.
Source: McKnight's Home Care, January 22, 2025
Home care providers voiced concern this week regarding areas of the Medicaid program that federal lawmakers may target for cuts and the impact of such reductions on providers.
“While it is important to note that these are preliminary discussions around the options and the provisions may not ultimately be included, it is important for Alliance members to be aware of what is being discussed and the potential implications to home care if they are enacted,” a post published Tuesday on the National Alliance for Care at Home said.
Source: Healio; by Jennifer Byrne; 1/28/25
Black individuals in the U.S. with serious illnesses receive disproportionately poor pain management and health care communication, compared with white individuals, a focus group led by the Center to Advance Palliative Care showed. Black individuals with these illnesses — such as cancer, heart failure or dementia — also experience higher family caregiver burden, findings showed. To address these inequities, the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) issued a comprehensive guide titled, “Advancing Equity for Black Patients with Serious Illness.”
Source: Alliance Daily, January 27, 2025
Hospice providers are required to self-calculate and submit their Aggregate Cap Report for the 2024 Cap year no later than February 28, 2025. Failure to file the self-determined cap report with your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) timely may result in payment suspension. If you have a Cap-related liability, you are required to submit payment at the time you submit your report.
In order to calculate the Cap, you must be able to access your hospice’s PS&R data, so if you do not have access to CMS’ Identity Management System (IDM), through which the PS&R data is available, it is advisable that you take action immediately to ensure timely access so that you can meet the reporting deadline. At PS&R data link above, there is a link to begin registration at the bottom of the page. This will be titled “EIDM Registration and Log In”. EIDM is the former name of the IDM and the registration instructions will connect you to the proper IDM pages. The hospice aggregate cap value for 2024 is $33,494.01. Source: Alliance Daily, January 27, 2025
The Participation Exemption for Size Form for the calendar year (CY) 2025 CAHPS Hospice Survey data collection and reporting requirements is available to completion and submission. Hospices that served fewer than 50 survey-eligible decedents/caregivers in CY 2024 (January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 [or from assignment of CCN]) can apply for an exemption from participation in the CAHPS Hospice Survey for CY 2025. The exemption form will be available until December 31, 2025.
Please note, exemptions on the basis of size are active for one year only. If a hospice continues to meet the eligibility requirements for this exemption in subsequent years, the organization will need to again request the exemption.
Source: Alliance for Care at Home, January 21, 2025
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is excited to announce Scott Levy as its inaugural Chief Government Affairs Officer starting on January 27. With over 20 years of distinguished experience in government relations, public policy, advocacy, and law, Scott is poised to lead the Alliance’s efforts to drive impactful legislative and regulatory changes that expand access to quality care at home for America’s growing population of elderly and seriously ill.
“Scott Levy is an extraordinary addition to our leadership team. He brings a deep understanding of healthcare policy, politics, and a great sensitivity to the intersection of public policy and healthcare operations and how policy impacts patients and families.” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. “His track record of success, combined with his dedication to improving care at home, makes him an invaluable addition to our team.” Membership News Join us for an important, interactive IN-PERSON workshop with the Department of Public Health (DPH) Home Health and Hospice Survey Team.
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