Medicare To Update Home Health Value-Based Payment Model In 2020

Medicare will launch updates to the value-based payment model for home health services, effective January 1, 2020. The changes include the new mandatory case-mix adjustment methodology payment system called the Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Additionally starting January 1, 2020, the length of home health episodes of care will be reduced to 30 days, down from the current 60 days. The PGDM eliminates the use of “therapy thresholds” in determining payment for the 30-day episode. The goal is to place home health periods of care into meaningful payment categories more consistent with how home health clinical professionals . . .