WASHINGTON—The proposed rule for 2026 home health payments that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released earlier this month includes a wide range of changes that will impact home medical providers, including updates to competitive bidding, accreditation requirements and prior authorization policies. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) analyzed the rule and highlights several significant changes to be aware of; some highlights are below. Public comments will be accepted on the rule through August 29.

The proposed rule lays out several items related to the competitive bid program, including: 

The proposed rule also would make regulatory changes to Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation policies and requirements for accrediting organizations (AO), including:

• The rule would update who signs documents, who is legally responsible for accuracy and gives CMS the right to request additional documents.

Under the proposed rule, DMEPOS suppliers would be exempt from prior authorization if they meet at least 90% provisional affirmation during initial or periodic assessments and are consistently in compliance with Medicare requirements.