Federal Updates for Home Health and Hospice

(Feb. 18, 2025) Please note the following home health and hospice updates from LeadingAge National:

CMS Ends Implementation of Hospice Special Focus Program. Among many other recent pauses in regulation, guidance, and programs at the federal level, according to a statement released on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website, effective Feb. 14, 2025, implementation of the Hospice Special Focus Program for Calendar Year (CY) 2025 has ceased so that CMS may further evaluate the program. LeadingAge National has continued to advocate for the revision of this program, and it looks forward to working with the Trump administration on this effort. Read LeadingAge National’s press release here.

CMS Announces New HCPCS Codes for Home Health. CMS issued Change Request (CR) 13732, which makes revisions to Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes used for home health consolidated billing in CY 2025. This annual update of HCPCS codes was delayed due to the communications freeze from the Trump administration. These changes formally went into effect Jan. 1, 2025. CMS updated the non-routine supply code list to:

add five new codes for disposable collection and storage bags for breast milk, enema tub, exsufflation belt, adhesive clip for skin, and pessary.
update three code descriptions related to gradient compression stockings and wrap.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871