IPS proposal nears completion

WASHINGTON The five national home care associations the National Association for Home Care (NAHC; Washington), the American Federation of Home Health Agencies (Silver Spring, MD), Home Care Association of America (Jacksonville, FL), Home Health Staffing and Services Association (Washington), and Visiting Nurses Association of America (Boston) announced last week that a unified industry proposal for additional reforms in the interim payment system for home health is expected to be completed within two weeks.

Last week, NAHC announced these five provisions will be the centerpiece of the joint proposal: 1) Restore access to home healthcare for patients with medically complex conditions; 2) Ensure that a PPS is implemented on Oct. 1, 2000, that includes incentives for home health agencies to provide medically necessary services efficiently to all eligible individuals; 3) Eliminate the mandatory 15% cut scheduled for Oct. 1, 2000; 4) Increase the per-visit cost limits; and, 5) Ensure beneficiary choice of home health providers by modifying the proration provision.