Key Points for the Final Rule
Posted on November 02, 2011 in Coding Education Press Releases
The Final Rule has been released! As we are busy reading and interpreting the final changes for CY 2012, here is a list of a few key points:
1. Home health agencies will see a base episode rate for 2012 which is a bit higher than expected. The proposed rate was expected to be $2112.37 but is now $2138.52 because CMS approved NAHC's recommendation to phase in the 3.79% case-mix creep adjustment for 2012 and reserve 1.32% for 2013.
2. The Face-To-Face rule now allows the inpatient or the post-acute facility physician to do the face-to-face encounter and "report off" to the community physician who will complete the F2F documentation and the POC.
3. CMS finalized significant changes in coding weights by eliminating hypertension as a factor in the calculation, reducing the weights on therapy episodes (5% reduction on 14+ visit episodes and 10% reduction on 20+ visit episodes), and increasing weights on non-therapy episodes.
4. CMS has maintained their position that failure to report HH-CAHPS® information will be linked to HH PPS rate update for CY 2012.
Click link for the complete final rule: http://www.ppsplus.com/images/static/handouts/2012_cms_final_rule.pdf
Final Rule Webinar Scheduled for Dec. 5
Check our events page to register today. Jennifer Warfield will explain, in detail, the changes being made and what your agency needs to do to be in compliance.
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The web site for the complete final rule above:http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-28416_PI.pdf- dose not pull up ou get this error: 404- file or directory not found. Can you help me with this issue
By Shari Roberts on Dec 01, 2011 at 02:46 pm
Hi Shari, sorry about the broken link. CMS frequently changes/moves their links around. The link above is now updated.
By Jennifer Warfield on Dec 02, 2011 at 01:30 pm
Jennifer, did I understand you to say in your recent webinar on the 2012 rule that it is NOT ok for NPs to complete the face-to-face documentation and have the physician co-sign?
By Jill Becker on Jan 05, 2012 at 02:43 pm
The 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule with comment period was released by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on November 1, 2011. This special edition newsletter presents the finalized provisions that may affect your medical practice.
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By Johns on May 17, 2012 at 06:53 am