The Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF) has officially submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule for the 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update. Our submission highlights significant concerns about the potential impact of the proposed payment reductions on home health care providers and the vulnerable populations we serve.

Summary of Our Concerns

• Payment Reductions: We strongly oppose the proposed 4.067% permanent reduction in payment rates, which exacerbates a troubling trend of financial erosion. This reduction could severely limit access to care, lead to agency closures, and worsen workforce shortages.
• Wage Index Revisions: The proposed adoption of new Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) delineations could drastically reduce reimbursement rates in crucial regions of Florida, placing additional strain on agencies in high-cost areas.
• Workforce Shortages: Continued payment cuts threaten our ability to recruit and retain qualified staff, a critical issue given Florida's rapidly growing elderly population.

Click here to read the full comments.

In addition to our comments, HCAF has joined other states in cosigning the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) official comments. Our advocacy efforts seek to ensure that these concerns are addressed in the final rule and that the quality and accessibility of home health care in Florida are preserved.

Call to Action

We urge you to take action by contacting your members of Congress to support the Preserving Access to Home Health Act (S.2137/H.R.5159). This important legislation would:

• Halt CMS from implementing the proposed payment reductions, which are based on flawed budget neutrality methodologies.
• Direct the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Medicare home health program, ensuring that payment policies are fair and transparent.

Your voice is crucial in this fight. By advocating for this legislation, you can help protect the home health services that millions of Floridians depend on. Click here to make your voice heard today!

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our shared mission. HCAF remains dedicated to advocating for the future of home health care in Florida.