New Rule Requires Homebound Medicare Patients to See Doctors
Medicare patients typically receive home care services because it is difficult or impossible for them to leave their homes. But the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) has now implemented a new Medicare requirement that doctors must meet face-to-face with their patients who are receiving home health care in order for the patient's home health visits to be reimbursed. Under the requirement, Medicare beneficiaries will have to see doctors 90 days before or 30 days after starting home health services. The move is aimed at reducing unnecessary Medicare home health care, which doubled to $19 billion from 2002 to…