Today, CMS published a notice regarding the CY 2014 Home Health PPS Final Rule (CMS-1450-F). Typically, CMS is required to give a 60 day notice prior to implementing changes that include the dollar amount impact as part of the final rule. As there was a partial government shutdown in recent weeks, it appears that there will be a delay in the final rule being published or a delay in the effective date of the final rule:
Although we are still assessing the impact of the partial government shutdown on completion of the calendar year 2014 Medicare fee for service payment regulations, we intend to issue the final rules on or before November 27, 2013, generally to be effective on January 1, 2014.
The impacted regulations include:
This supersedes the originally announced publication date of Nov. 2, which CMS says it will not meet, because it is still assessing the effect the partial federal government shutdown is having on completion of 2014 Medicare fee-for-service payment regulations including the home health PPS rule and the physician fee schedule.
One other deadline that appears to be affected by the government shutdown is the update to CMS’ Home Health Compare website. Agencies will have to wait until Dec. 12, 2013 for the update.