Letter to CMS From American Hospital Association Regarding Face-to-Face Rule for Home Health Authorization

March 23, 2011 The American Hospital Association urged Medicare to delay implementation of a new rule requiring that home health services be authorized by a physician or non-physician practitioner in a face-to-face encounter no later than 30 days after the start of home health services. The organization is concerned that the new requirement will limit patient access to home health services and delay transitions from general acute hospitals to home care due to home health provider organizations' concerns about potential payment denials. Download the Report . . .