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Change could lead to more accurate profit margin figures.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Payment reform and rate increases may be grabbing most of the spotlight in the 2019 Home Health Prospective Payment System proposed rule, but there are plenty of other changes afoot as well.<\/p>\n Take a look at some additional provisions in the rule published in the July 12\u00a0Federal Register<\/em>:<\/p>\n CMS allows that \u201cremote patient monitoring could be beneficial in augmenting the home health services outlined in the patient\u2019s plan of care, without replicating or replacing home health visits.\u201d And \u201cthe expenses of remote patient monitoring, if used by the HHA to augment the care planning process, must be reported on the cost report as allowable administrative costs (that is, operating expenses) that are factored into the costs per visit,\u201d CMS adds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe propose to amend the regulations at 42 CFR 409.46 to include the costs of remote patient monitoring as an allowable administrative cost (that is, operating expense), if remote patient monitoring is used by the HHA to augment the care planning process. This would allow HHAs to report the costs of remote patient monitoring on the HHA cost report as part of their operating expenses,\u201d according to the rule. \u201cThese costs would then be factored into the costs per visit. Factoring the costs associated with remote patient monitoring into the costs per visit has important implications for assessing home health costs relevant to payment, including HHA Medicare margin calculations.\u201d<\/p>\n Good news:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cSeeing a proposed allowance for remote patient monitoring costs is very positive, as this has been a sore point for the industry for many years,\u201d notes\u00a0M. Aaron Little\u00a0<\/strong>with\u00a0BKD\u00a0<\/strong>in Springfield, Missouri.<\/p>\n Reminder:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>The 21st Century Cures Act creates a new separate Medicare benefit category for coverage of home infusion therapy services including associated professional services for administering certain drugs and biologicals through a durable medical infusion pump, training and education, and remote monitoring and monitoring services effective Jan. 1, 2021, CMS notes.<\/p>\n The rule solicits comments on elements of the home infusion therapy benefit; proposes health and safety standards for home infusion therapy; and proposes an accreditation process for home infusion therapy suppliers and an approval and oversight process for the organizations that accredit them.<\/p>\n\n
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