The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the calendar year (CY) 2021 Proposed Rule for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). This would include outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services provided in all settings (private practice (both therapist-owned and physician-owned, skilled nursing facilities doing Part B, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, rehabilitation agencies, home health agencies providing Part B therapy services in the home and hospital outpatient therapy departments). This proposed rule would not apply to outpatient therapy services provided by critical access hospitals (CAHs) since CAHs are not reimbursed under the MPFS. Highlights

On June 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released “Medicare and Medicaid Programs: CY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements; and Home Infusion Therapy Services Requirements“. Per the summary, “This proposed rule would update the home health prospective payment system(HH PPS) payment rates and wage index for calendar year (CY) 2021. This proposed rule alsoproposes to make permanent the changes to the home health regulations regarding the use oftechnology in providing services under the Medicare home health benefit as described in theMedicare and Medicaid Programs; Revisions in Response to