CMS Releases 2026 Home Health Final Rule & Quality Update

An update on the 2026 Home Health Final Rule has finally been released. The Final Rule, which was released on Friday, November 28, includes encouraging news about home health reimbursement rates.

PAYMENT RATE CHANGES FOR 2026

In the proposed rule, the net payment reduction was set at 6.4%. In the final rule, that reduction has been reduced to 1.3%. While any reduction is still concerning, a 1.3% decrease is certainly better than the originally proposed 6.4% net reduction.

HHCAHPS

They also moved forward with nearly all other elements of the proposed rule as it was proposed. The HHCAHPS updates will go into effect with the new survey launching in April 2026.

OASIS

A new version of OASIS will roll out in April 2026, removing the COVID-19 vaccine question and incorporating a few additional updates that we’ll outline in the coming weeks.

HOME HEALTH VALUE-BASED PURCHASING MODEL

The Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model will see more updates in 2026 due to the revisions to the HHCAHPS survey. Along with those changes, three 1800 items will be added back into the model. We’ll provide more detail on these updates in the coming weeks.

FACE-TO-FACE ENCOUNTERS

Another important update is that the proposed face-to-face encounter changes have been finalized. This will allow much more flexibility in who can provide the Face-to-Face Encounter documentation beginning January 1. We’ll share more details on this soon.

It’s encouraging to finally have this rule in hand. There’s still work ahead, so be sure to stay connected with your state and national home care associations to remain informed and engaged in the advocacy efforts that will be needed in the months ahead. Should you need assistance further understanding the Home Health Final Rule, please reach out to us.

HPS has their HPS Alliance Exclusive webinar “2026 Home Health Final Payment Rule” scheduled for December 2, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. to review the final rule. The National Alliance for Care at Home will also host a session on December 4th. Be sure to review the details carefully so you can implement all required changes correctly moving forward.

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