New Home Health Regulations on Face-to-Face Encounters and Reimbursement
A reduction in the Medicare reimbursement rate for home health care and clarification on physician documentation were included in the final rule published by CMS this October.
The face-to-face patient encounter for initial certification must be performed by the certifying physician himself or herself, by a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist who is working in collaboration with the physician in accordance with State law, a certified nurse midwife as authorized by State law, or a physician assistant under the supervision of the physician.
The new regulations will become effective on January 1, 2012.
