Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Calendar Year 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update, etc.
Summary
This regulation sets new payment rates that Medicare will pay home health agencies starting in 2026. These changes affect how much money home health providers receive for caring for seniors and disabled people at home, which could influence service availability and quality for patients.
Key Points
- 1CMS (the agency that runs Medicare) is updating the amount it pays home health agencies for patient care visits in 2026
- 2These new payment rates will replace the current rates and determine how much Medicare reimburses agencies for services like nursing visits, physical therapy, and wound care provided in patients' homes
- 3The changes may affect which services are available, how many visits patients can receive, and whether home health agencies can afford to serve Medicare patients
- 4Home health agencies must follow these new rates when billing Medicare starting January 1, 2026
- 5Seniors and disabled individuals who receive home health care through Medicare could see changes in service quality or availability depending on how agencies adjust to the new payment levels
Impact Assessment
If you are a home health agency, this means your Medicare reimbursement rates will change in 2026, which could affect your staffing, service capacity, and profitability. If you are a senior or disabled person using home health services, this means the availability and quality of care you receive at home may be affected by how much providers are paid.
National
Moderate
Key Dates
December 2, 2025
Regulatory Connections
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.