Base
Proposed RuleOpen for Comment2026-136022026-07-06

Calendar Year 2027 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update; Requirements for the HH Quality Reporting Program and the Expanded HH Value-Based Purchasing Model; Medicare Provider Enrollment, Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and DME, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Policies

Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Abstract

This proposed rule would set forth routine updates to the Medicare home health payment rates in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition, this proposed rule discusses the behavior adjustment and proposes a temporary behavior adjustment and proposes to recalibrate the case-mix weights and update the functional impairment levels; comorbidity subgroups; and low- utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) thresholds for CY 2027. Additionally, this proposed rule discusses the provision of home health palliative care services and includes a request for information (RFI) on a home health specific wage index. This rule would also propose changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and summarizes potential initiatives to improve alignment between the HH QRP and expanded Home Health Value Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model. Lastly, the rule would--clarify the application of the DMEPOS face-to- face encounter requirements for the replacement of DMEPOS items; make changes to the provider and supplier enrollment requirements; make changes regarding DME benefit expansion for infusion pumps and drugs; and discuss collection of information requirement changes regarding the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) country of origin.

Action & Dates

Action
Proposed rule.
Dates
To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided in the ADDRESSES section, no later than 5 p.m. EDT on August 31, 2026.

CFR References

Topics

Administrative practice and procedureBiologicsDiseasesDrugsEmergency medical servicesHealth facilitiesHealth maintenance organizations (HMO)Health professionsIncorporation by referenceLaboratoriesMedical devicesMedicarePenaltiesPrivacyReporting and recordkeeping requirementsRural areasX-rays

Public Comment

Comments Close
2026-08-31 — Open for comment

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 42 CFR Parts 405, 410, 414, 422, 423, 424, 484, and 498 [CMS-1844-P] RIN 0938-AV80 ( printed page 41216) AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: This proposed rule would set forth routine updates to the Medicare home health payment rates in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition, this proposed rule discusses the behavior adjustment and proposes a temporary behavior adjustment and proposes to recalibrate the case-mix weights and update the functional impairment levels; comorbidity subgroups; and low-utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) thresholds for CY 2027. Additionally, this proposed rule discusses the provision of home health palliative care services and includes a request for information (RFI) on a home health specific wage index. This rule would also propose changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and summarizes potential initiatives to improve alignment between the HH QRP and expanded Home Health Value Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model. Lastly, the rule would—clarify the application of the DMEPOS face-to-face encounter requirements for the replacement of DMEPOS items; make changes to the provider and supplier enrollment requirements; make changes regarding DME benefit expansion for infusion pumps and drugs; and discuss collecti

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Full Document

Citation: 91 FR 41216