CMS grants temporary relief for home health, hospice agencies affected by hurricane

CMS grants temporary relief for home health, hospice agencies affected by hurricane 
McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/15/24 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued several temporary flexibilities intended to help hospices and home health agencies affected by Hurricane Helene continue to provide care amid the emergency. During the emergency period, home health providers may take advantage of extended deadlines for quality reporting and patient assessment requirements, according to CMS. The agency communicated last week that it would permit delayed Outcome and Assessment Information Set submissions, and it also extended the five-day completion requirement for patients’ comprehensive assessments to 30 days. These patients assessments may also be conducted remotely or by record view — a departure from the typical in-person requirement — during the temporary emergency period. CMS said that this change will allow patients to be cared for in the environment of their choice, reduce impacts on acute care and long-term care facilities, and maximize clinicians’ ability to care for patients with the greatest acuity.