CMS has issued its calendar year 2026 proposed rule for the home health prospective payment system. This rule would reduce HH payments by an estimated 6.4%, or $1.13 billion, in CY 2026. This update includes a 3.2% market basket update, reduced by a 0.8 percentage point cut for productivity. The rule also includes several reductions that CMS proposes as necessary to achieve budget neutral implementation of the Patient-driven Groupings Model. These are a 4.1% permanent reduction to the standard payment rate to prevent future overpayments, as well as a temporary but indefinite 5.0% reduction to recoup past overpayments. CMS also proposes a 0.5% reduction related to high-cost outlier payments. These negative payment updates come on top of numerous other reductions in recent years.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
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