April 2010 Monthly Review Reiterates HHA Accreditation and Change of Ownership Updates

In February, we blogged on the recent changes in home health agency (HHA) accreditation. In April 2010, NGS issued its Medicare Monthly Review, and reiterated the same HHA accreditation and change of ownership provisions. Particularly, the article discusses the requirements a deactivated HHA must meet in order to reactivate its billing privileges. It also discusses that an HHA may not undergo a change of ownership or transfer of ownership if the effective date of the change or transfer occurs within 36 months of: (1) the effective date of the provider’s enrollment in Medicare, or (2) the effective date of the last ownership change or transfer for the HHA. The provider must instead enroll as a new HHA, undergo a state survey or obtain accreditation from a CMS-approved accrediting organization, and sign a new provider agreement.

For more information, please contact Abby Pendleton, Esq. or Adrienne Dresevic, Esq. at (248) 996-8510 or visit the HLP website.