MedPAC Finalizes Recommendation to CMS

Advocacy

by | Jan 30, 2026 | Advocacy, CMS, Home Health, Hospice, Medicare, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

MedPAC Recommends 7% Cut

Vote Finalized

In December, MedPAC published a proposed recommendation for calendar year 2027 that included a 7% cut to home health reimbursement rates and no increase for hospice. Last week, MedPAC voted to finalize that recommendation and send it to CMS. 

Industry Objection

Both the proposal and final recommendation met with strong industry backlash.

“MedPAC’s dangerous and misguided recommendations to reduce the Medicare home health base payment rate by 7% for CY 2027 and eliminate the update to the 2026 Medicare base payment rate for hospice do not reflect both home health and hospice agencies’ operating realities as well as the cumulative impact of recent policy changes. For home health agencies, any cut – let alone one of such great magnitude – will threaten the ability to meet individuals’ healthcare needs. Yet again, the Commission is failing to understand the operating reality providers face and the potential patient harm that any further payment cuts pose.”

Dr. Steve Landers

CEO, National Alliance for Care at Home

Consistently Wrong

The MedPAC recommendation may not be built on solid data, use accurate calculations, consider Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates along with Traditional Medicare FFS, consider the number of agencies that will go out of business, have any recommendations for maintaining nurse and caregiver hourly rates, or fairly distribute Medicare funds across disciplines, but, wait…where was I going with this? Oh, right! At least they’re consistent. MedPAC recommended a 7% decrease in Medicare payments for 2027, 2026, 2025, 2024, and 2023. They may be completely wrong, but they are dedicated to maintaining their wrongness.

Final Thoughts

Despite the years of 7% cut recommendations from MedPAC, the final numbers from CMS are rarely in line with those recommendations. We will, of course, know more when CMS publishes their proposal later this year. LeadingAge, National Association for Care at Home, individual and corporate HHAs and Hospices, and anyone else with a stake in the care at home industry, should contact their congressional representatives and CMS directly to voice concerns over these cuts.

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Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report
Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report

Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

UnitedHealth Group Publicity Stunt

CMS

by | Jan 30, 2026 | CMS, Editorial, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

UnitedHealth Group Publicity Stunt

How to Distract the Public: 101

When customers and regulatory bodies start to complain about company practices, reputation management usually gets involved. An internal or external public relations, crisis communication, and/or reputation management specialist advises the company on how to overcome negative press.

Transparency & Action

When Dominos Pizza employees recorded a disturbing “hoax” video, the CEO went to the same medium (YouTube) to address the video, apologize, and reassure customers. This issue was handled so well that it is used as a teaching tool in PR classes.

In 1982, when a couple tampered with bottles of Tylenol in Chicago and seven people died, parent company Johnson & Johnson stopped advertising, recalled 31 million bottles across the country, switched to tamper-proof packaging, and personally communicated with 450,000 retailers.

Subterfuge, Smoke & Mirrors

Last week, when UnitedHealth Group, already under investigation for bribing nurses, wrongful death, and Medicare Advantage billing fraud, was called to testify before House committees about their record-high premiums, rising claims denials, and unneccessary waiting over prior approvals, UHG CEO prepared a written statement to read to the Energy & Commmerce Committee that included blaming hospital costs, pricing differences, frequency of testing, drug prices, and pharmaceutical advertising for higher premium rates; extolling the virtues of Medicare Advantage over Traditional Medicare, using incorrect and misleading information; and casually mentioning that they will “voluntarily eliminate and rebate our profits” for their ACA customers.

Gesture too Small to be Meaningful

The months long Congressional stand-off on healthcare premium subsidies continues. Affordable Care Act participants saw healthcare premiums jump over night when the subsidies expired. (Mine went up 400%).

In 2025, UnitedHealth recorded $12.1 billion in profit. But, that profit is spread out over nearly 3,000 wholly owned subsidiaries who take almost 30% of what UHG pays out in care costs. The company has increased its Medical Loss Ratio to 87% by hiring their own subsidiaries to engage in “quality improvement,” virtually eliminating ACA profit.

Of its 50 million subscribers, only about 1 million are ACA customers. Even if the company returns the ACA profits, it will return 1/50th of its profits and keep the rest. In their third quarter earnings call, UHG said it expected 2026 enrollment to be 1/3 of that in 2025. The 2026 outlook estimates an overall increase in profit to more than $14 billion, most of which will never find its way back to ACA participants.

The Truth Behind the Curtain

On January 27, 2026, just one week after the profit-sharing announcement, UnitedHealth Goup addressed shareholders in its Q4 and 2025 Earnings Call. During that call, newly appointed UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel said:

 “Nearly all of our employer Group and fully insured pricing align with continued increases in care activity for 2026. In the Individual ACA market, we repriced nearly all states in response to higher medical trends and the elevated needs of ACA beneficiaries in 2025…. These actions should expand operating earnings margins for UnitedHealthcare by 40 basis points, and are expected to result in membership contraction of 2.3 to 2.8 million.”

Tim Noel

CEO, UnitedHealthcare

Other statements during the call reinforced the company’s drive toward profit.

They are focusing attention in markets where they have “complimentary wrap-around services” already in place. Which means they have owned subsidiaries to shift money to instead of lowering premium rates. Additionally, they have “narrowed [their] affiliated network…with the goal of having a more optimal alignment of physicians….”

New Speak

Throughout the earnings call, company spokespeople used terms like repositioned, streamlined, aligned, membership contraction, and repriced. They carefully avoided saying that they dropped physician services outside those they owned, removed plans that paid out too much, consolidated businesses to increase profits, lost millions of members due to price increases and other plan problems, and raised prices across the board, even on plans that were already profitable.

Final Thoughts

UHG CEO Hemsley made a few statements to Congress I agree with. Drug prices are too high. Hospital and Ambulance prices are too high. Pharmaceutical companies advertise too much and use the cost to offset tax liability.

There were also some statements Hemsley almost got right.

  • He said small businesses should be allowed to join AHPs with fewer restrictions. There should be no restrictions on industry or geography.
  • He said HSA thresholds should be lowered for HDHPs. HSAs should be available to everyone, regardless of plan, deductible, payer, or whether they are on a group, individual, or ACA plan.
  • Hemsley thinks broker compensation should be standardized in the ACA market. If payers want broker compensation, standardized or not, ACA or Medicare Advantage, the compensation should come from the payer and not be included in premiums.
  • He wants consumers to have expanded access to catastrophic plans and to allow the use of premium tax credits. All plans and payers should be available to everyone, everywhere. Increasing competition in plans and players will drive down costs.

I applaud Congress for bringing the large payers in to discuss exhorbitant premium rates, but I’m still waiting on them to take action based on the information they received. 

# # #

Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report
Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report

Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

VA Updates Community Cares Contracts

Admin

by | Jan 23, 2026 | Admin, CMS, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

VA Issues RFP

Updates to Community Care Contracts

Some Veterans receive care from VA providers. Non-VA providers can still provide care for Veterans through a Community Care contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In late 2025, the VA released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for new CC contracts. The new contracts are designed to substantively change non-VA provider care to Veterans.

According to the VA, the new contracts are intended to:

  • Increase choice through an IDIQ model that allows multiple health plans to compete to serve Veterans
  • Raise quality of care by requiring plans to follow broad standards of care adopted by major health systems
  • Improve oversight and quality of care using better data, technology, and real-time management
  • Add flexibility so the VA can issue competitive task orders and remove underperforming contractors

How Does This Impact Care at Home?

The primary contractor, and therefore the ones responsible for bidding and ensuring quality of care are the health plans. So, how does this change impact home care and home health providers? Here’s how:

  • Fast changes in network participation along with sudden shifts will inevitably come as a result of plans competing and task orders changing
  • Plans will need to align with VA targets, so expect waves of onboarding, recurring pushes for credentialing, and increased local networking
  • Because the plans will be held to quality standards, you can expect that those standards will flow through provider documentation, timeliness, claims accuracy, and EVV and FWA compliance
  • IDIQ is specifically designed to allow changes in the middle of care, which means the VA and health plans can add or change rules or portal, and make revisions to edit sets during the contract

Get Ahead of the Changes

Plan to make some changes before these new Community Care contracts come to your local health plans. In order to comply with the contract requirements, your credentialing packets need to be updated to include up-to-date CAQH, insurance, licenses, and compliance. This will help minimize the lag-time before getting paid.

Anticipate Expectations

The health plans will be competing for contracts, so they will expect you to compete as well. Awarded contracts will likely be fulfilled by agencies who have a high clean claim rate and quick response to edits and denials. Whatever you are using for coding, documentation, and rules need to be validated before the new care contracts start. Complete documentation will comply with the VAs focus on better data and real-time management. Make sure your team is executing precise reports; centralize your records, documentation, and audits to prove performance records and decrease issue resolution time.

Get Ahead of the changes

Final Thoughts

Non-VA providers who want to be considered to provide care to Veterans need to show alignment with the VA’s goals to expand choice, raise quality, and increase oversight. Planning ahead by meeting those standards early will make the transition process smoother one the new contracts roll out. We will continue to provide resources and information on these Community Care contracts as they are available.

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Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report
Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report

Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

LeadingAge and Alliance Join Dr. Oz

CMS

by | Jan 15, 2026 | CMS, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

LeadingAge and Alliance Join Dr. Oz

CMS hosts listening session in LA

On January 9, 2026, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a listening session in Los Angeles to discuss fraud, waste, and abuse in home health and hospice. Dr. Oz was joined by CMS Director of the Center for Program Integrity Kim Brandt and Director of the Center for Medicare Chris Klomp.

Statement to Dr. Oz

Representatives from both LeadingAge and the National Alliance for Care at Home attended the session. As part of their ongoing collaboration and participation in combatting fraud, waste, and abuse, the two organizations sent a joint letter to Dr. Oz regarding recommendations to strengthen program integrity.

“We strongly support CMS’s ongoing efforts to strengthen program integrity and believe that fraud, waste, and abuse can be effectively prevented and addressed while reducing burden on legitimate providers furnishing critical services in the home. As CMS continues to refine its oversight strategies, we encourage the agency to adopt measures that are analytically rigorous, operationally feasible, and take a targeted risk-based approach, consistent with CMS’s statutory authorities.” 

LeadingAge and the Alliance

CMS Fraud Prevention

CMS has identified areas of waste fraud and abuse they are actively working to combat. In 2025, CMS imposed nearly 500 payment suspension, stopping nearly $5 billion in payments. CMS identified $2.3 billion in overpayments and implemented automated edits to guard against improper payment. They also revoked Medicare billing from 4,780 providers and denied almost 112,000 claims for unnecessary services.

The Alliance

Members of National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance) attended the listening session with Dr. OZ, stating that program integrity is a key priority for the organization. The alliance continues to work closely with lawmakers and regulators to ensure providers are putting patients’ needs first without unnecessary or fraudulent claims.

“The Alliance appreciates the opportunity to continue our dialogue with CMS about ensuring program integrity across these essential home-based services. We share the administration’s goal of eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in home health and hospice care, and will continue to partner with the agency as it pursues solutions that reduce the burden on legitimate providers and protect patient access to care at home.” 

Dr. Steve Landers

President, The Alliance

LeadingAge

Members from LeadingAge also attended the listening session stating that fraud in any care setting is concerning and preventable. The organization continues to work with CMS to address fraud and strengthen regulatory safeguards.

“We thank CMS for initiating this productive meeting, and for the input from Administrator Oz, Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Kim Brandt, and Deputy Administrator and Director of Medicare Chris Klomp. We look forward to continuing collaboration on this important issue.”

Katie Smith Sloan

President and CEO, LeadingAge

Interview with LeadingAge

The Rowan Report reached out to LeadingAge for a comment on the listening session with CMS. We are scheduled to speak with Mollie Gurian, VP of Policy and Government Affairs, this afternoon. We will update this article with that information immediately following the interview.

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Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report
Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report

Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

UnitedHealth Causes Heightened Alarm

Breaking News

by | Jan 9, 2026 | Breaking News, CMS, Legal, Medicare Advantage, Outcomes, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

UnitedHealth Causes Heightened Alarm

Guardian Investigation Launches Probe

In July of 2025, The Guardian reported that UnitedHealth had secretly paid nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers. The investigation revealed that UnitedHealth was placing its own medical teams inside nursing homes and pushing them to cut care expenses, delay transfers, and deny care.

Senators Push for Answers

In the weeks following The Guardian report, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) launched their own investigation of the insurance giant’s cost cutting measures in nursing homes. Wyden and Warren sent a letter to then UnitedHealth Group leaders requesting documents and information about the nursing home incentive program.

New Allegations

A new letter from Senators Wyden and Warren states that UHG has refused to comply with the initial request. In the months since the demand for information, UHG has provided only “brief and unsubstantial answers” to their questions.

“Because you have failed to respond adequately to our inquiry – and in light of additional recent reporting – we are renewing our inquiry with heightened alarm.”

Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren

United States Senators

Additional Reports

The Senators’s letter alludes to recent additional reports. They were referring to a December story, also from The Guardian, reporting allegations of wrongful deaths inside the nursing home care program. In a statement, UnitedHealth denied any allegations their practices “endanger patient safety or violate ethical standards.”

No Response is a Response

When asked about the second letter, UnitedHealth Group did not respond to reporters at The Guardian. UHG leadership said in statement that they would “continue to engage” with the senators. The company’s leadership also maintains that its nursing home program “improves outcomes” and “reduces unnecessary hospitalizations.”

Unanswered Questions

UnitedHealth attended a briefing with the senators’ offices last July. During that meeting, UnitedHealth made several claims the Senators are now questioning.

  • UHG maintained their nurses are not required to contact company representatives prior to taking a nursing home patient to the hospital, but a document provided by a whistleblower alleges the opposite 
  • UHG failed to adequately explain why hospital admission rates are part of the metrics for determining bonuses
  • UHG chose not to respond to questions about pending wrongful death lawsuits for Mary Grant,  Cindy Deal, and an unnamed nursing home resident in New York

Deadline to Comply

Senators Wyden and Warren allege that UnitedHealth Group has withheld internal documents that directly relate to their initial request for information. The senators gave a deadline of January 28, 2026 to respond with the following information:

  • Hospitalization policies, including clinical protocols for determining when transfers are warranted, definitions of avoidable versus unavoidable hospitalizations, and whether staff must consult Optum supervisors before hospital transfers.
  • Bonus program metrics and thresholds, including how UnitedHealth determines APK limits, whether facilities are penalized for exceeding thresholds, and five years of documentation on bonus payments to nursing homes.
  • Advance directive policies, including training materials for end-of-life conversations, the mortality risk assessment tool used, and who participates in those discussions with residents.
  • Marketing and enrollment practices for I-SNP plans at contracted nursing homes.
  • Federal oversight and compliance, including any CMS sanctions or enforcement actions in the past five years.
Wyden Warren UnitedHealth Group Heightened Alarm

Failure to Respond

Without adding details, the letter states that should UnitedHealth Group fail to respond it full, they will seek answers to their questions using “all tools at the Committee’s disposal.”

This is an ongoing inquiry/investigation and story. The Rowan Report will continue to provide updates as they become available.

# # #

Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report
Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report

Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

LEAD Replaces REACH

CMS

by | Jan 9, 2026 | CMS, Hospice

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

LEAD Replaces REACH

CMS Launches 10-Year Model Test

LEAD replaces REACH in new 10-year CMS model. The Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) model is scheduled to launched at the end of 2026, following the end of ACO Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health  (REACH). LEAD is a voluntary model that will run January 1, 2027 thorugh December 31, 2036, the longest CMS has ever run a test.

Key Takeaways

CMS provides the following information:

  • Problem: Many health care providers have not historically participated in or dropped out of ACOs because of financial and administrative obstacles to success.
  • Solution: LEAD is designed to address such barriers to support both established and newly created ACOs by providing them enhanced, flexible cash flow payments; and greater freedom and tools to support spending time with and meeting patient needs, including those with specialized care needs.
  • Outcomes: Through ACOs, health care providers will be empowered to deliver coordinated, accountable care and preventive services — keeping patients healthier and helping to reduce health care costs and unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
  • Strategy: LEAD advances the Innovation Center’s commitment to 1) building opportunities for independent health care providers and practices to be rewarded for delivering better care, 2) promoting and empowering patient choice in both coverage and sites of care, and 3) making it easier for health care providers and patients to engage in preventive care that supports healthier living.

LEAD Goals

According to CMS, the LEAD Model will improve care coordination among a broad range of healthcare providers, including hospices. The model will also appeal to providers with specialized patients and those who are newer to ACOs like small, independent, or rural-based practices. The LEAD model intends to incentivize providers downstream such as home health agencies, palliative care, and hospices, to engage with the providers upstream. It is particularly aimed at complex patients with high needs.

CMS has outlined a 3-part framework for its goals:

  • Increase the scope of ACOs to include rural, small, and independent providers and health centers
  • Enhance evidence-based prevention and care coordination for more patients
  • Empower patient choice and encourage patient participation in care

Planning Phase

The LEAD Model will begin its planning stage in March of 2026 and run through December of 2027. During that time, CMS will identify two states to partner with for developing the framework for Medicaid partnerships. The framework will include how ACOs and Medicaid organizations can share data and coordinate care.

CARA

Among the more prominent changes in the LEAD Model is the CMS Administered Risk Arrangements (CARA). CMS will assist LEAD ACOs in designing episode-based risk payment arrangments with other health care providers. According to CMS, CARA will facilitate stronger preferred provider relationships. Building these strong care networks and partnerships between ACOs and hospice and palliative care providers will improve care for high-needs patients. 

Hospice and palliative care organizations will need to demonstrate partnership value to ACO organizations by supporting smooth care transitions, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, and ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time, according to a statement from The Alliance.

Final Thoughts

This new model may provide some opportunities for hospice agencies. It may also pave the way for a reimbursement model for palliative care. Although the statements from CMS focus on hospice and palliative care, there may be opportunities for home health agencies as well. These opportunities may become more apparent once the model demonstration begins in 2027. If they are not immediately apparent, we have 10 years to figure them out.

Applications for participation will open in March. To stay connected and receive updates from CMS, join the LEAD Model List or contact the LEAD Model team.

# # #

Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report
Kristin Rowan Editor The Rowan Report

Kristin Rowan is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She is also a sought-after speaker on Artificial Intelligence, Technology Adoption and Lone Worker Safety. She is available to speak at state and national conferences as well as software user-group meetings.

Kristin also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. She works with care at home software providers to create dynamic content that increases conversions for direct e-mail, social media, and websites.  Connect with Kristin directly at kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2026 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

Subsidies Undecided

Medicaid

by | Dec 12, 2025 | Medicaid, Medicare, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Subsidies Undecided

Senate cannot agree

The record-breaking government shutdown centered around one issue: extending the COVID-era Affordable Care Act supplemental subsidies. The subsidies were an additional discount for Americans within a certain income bracket. They helped make healthcare insurance through the ACA marketplace more affordable during and after COVID. The subsidies have been extended multiple times and expire at the end of the year. Senate Republicans are not willing to extend them again. Senate Democrats won’t vote in favor of any health care proposal that doesn’t include them.

Time is Running Out

Not only do the subsidies expire at the end of the year, but anyone enrolling in a marketplace plan has to apply by December 15th, leaving precious few days to find a way forward. Senate Democrats proposed a straight three-year extension of the subsidies, which failed. Senate Republicans proposed using the subsidy money to contribute to HSAs for bronze or “catastrophic” plans. That proposal also failed.

A hybrid compromise is in the works. Details have not been released but it will likely include income caps and eligibility restrictions on the subsidies as well as some HSA flexibility. Without an extension on the subsidies, premiums are expected to increase an average of 26% in 2026, although some analyses suggest premiums could go up by 73-90%.

Another Shutdown?

The 43-day shutdown that ended in November did not finalize the 2026 budget. It merely passed enough appropriations to temporarily fund some departments through January 30, 2026 and a few essential departments for longer. If the Senate and House cannot agree on the subsidy issue, we face another shutdown in February. Every shutdown impacts Medicare & Medicaid payments, approvals, and renewals.  

Experts indicate nearly 50% of people buying marketplace plans are ages 50-64. Most, if not all of them, are looking at lower cost (and lower benefit) plans or dropping insurance altogether in 2026. If insurance costs remain high, this group of 

Subsidies undecided

people will enter Medicare with poorer health, which will cost the Medicare program and tax payers more in the long run. It will cause a vicious circle of higher Medicare costs, leading to higher taxes, lower subsidies, higher premiums, fewer people being covered, and finally higher Medicare costs again.

This is an ongoing story and The Rowan Report will continue to bring you the latest news on the subsidies and the impending expiration of the temporary government funding as we head into 2026.

# # #

Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

CMS Proposed Changes

Advocacy

by | Dec 12, 2025 | Advocacy, CMS, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

CMS is Making Changes

Good or Bad?

CMS is making changes across Medicare and Medicare Advantage. From Star Ratings to Prescription Drug Prices to the Hospice benefit, CMS is embracing Make America Healthy Again. Will these initiatives benefit Medicare and Medicare Advantage recipients or the insurance companies who provide the plans?

Drug Payment Model

In early November, CMS announced a plan to lower prescription drug costs for Medicaid recipients. State Medicaid programs can opt in to the GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid Model (GENEROUS). The pilot program is using the most-favored-nation pricing that was recently negotiated and announced by President Trump. Most-favored-nation pricing requires prescription drug manufacturers to charge the same low rate paid in other countries.

Limited Pilot

Beginning in 2026, CMS will negotiate with manufacturers of select drugs for lower pricing. Participating states will start using uniform, transparent coverage criteria. This is not criteria for inital coverage in Medicaid, but for standardizing access to high-cost medications.

Manufacturers are not required to participate in the GENEROUS Model, but can voluntarily apply. Participating manufacturers agree NOT to seek additional supplemental rebates or discounts outside the model price.

New Medicare Advantage Policies

CMS has proposed updates to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs. The new plan would begin in CY 2027 and includes major changes to the Star Ratings system. CMS is also seeking feedback on new ways to modernize MA. 

Star Rating Changes

The proposed changes are supposed to incentivize plans to improve care. CMS suggests removing 12 unique measures that look at administrative processes and those that don’t highlight differences between plans. Star Rating measurements of care, outcomes, and patient experience will remain. 

Request for Feedback

CMS is seeking feedback on Medicare Advantage changes, including improving competition, refining risk adjustment, and aligning quality incentives to deliver greater value. CMS is open to either a limited model test or program-wide changes. Interested parties can submit feedback through January 26, 2026. Read the Proposed Rule here. Submit your comments.

Expanding Technology-Enabled Care

CMS may finally be recognizing what we’ve been promoting for 25 years: Care improves with technology support. 

CMS Proposed Changes<br /> Technology-based Care

The ACCESS model tests a new payment approach in original Medicare to expand access to technology-supported care options. CMS aims to increase technology-supported care options to improve health and prevent and manage chronic diseases. More than two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries are dealing with high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and depression.

An interest form is now available for the 10-year Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model test. The model test begins July 1, 2026. The application to participate must be received by April 1, 2026.

Impact

As these programs roll out between now and 2029, the impact on insurance plans, payors, beneficiaries, and taxpayers will unfold. Will lower cost prescriptions and technology-based care lower insurance rates? Payor reform may be necessary to change out-of-pocket costs. Regulations may have to further incentivize payors to increase care when costs go down, particularly with value-based care models. 

Please take a few minutes to read the details on each of these proposals, add your comments, and sign up to participate. The industry needs reform and our aging family members deserve better.

# # #

Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

Feedback Adjusts Final Rule

CMS

by | Dec 4, 2025 | CMS, Medicare, Regulatory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2025

Contact:                                                        Hannah Kristan
communications@allianceforcareathome.org
202-355-1647

National Alliance for Care at Home: CMS Modifies Final Payment Rule Based on Stakeholder Feedback, but 1.3% Cut Still Undermines Access

Despite positive changes in final rule, home health leaders remain deeply concerned payment cuts will continue to impact patient access to care at home 

ALEXANDRIA, VA and WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) today acknowledged that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made significant adjustments in the Home Health Perspective Payment System (HH PPS) Final Rule for CY 2026 in response to community concerns regarding patient access and data integrity. 

However, the Alliance remains concerned that any payment cut for home health providers will continue to compromise access for the millions of Medicare beneficiaries who rely on these services to age and recover from illness or injury safely at home.

Since 2019, Medicare home health providers have experienced severe cuts that have already led to a cascade of home health agency closures and reduced patient access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. The cuts finalized by CMS today – 1.023% permanent and 3% temporary – will likely continue to exacerbate these trends.

Medicare Advantage Home Health Use

“While the Alliance acknowledges that CMS took into account some of the home health community’s recommended changes in its final rule, resulting in a lower payment cut for next year, a 1.3% overall reduction in payments compared to 2025 will likely result in continued reductions in patient access, the closure of more home health agencies, and more patients waiting in costly hospital settings instead of recovering safely at home.”

– Dr. Steve Landers, CEO for the Alliance

The Alliance commends CMS for revisiting aspects of its flawed payment approach, including the conclusion of permanent payment adjustments with CY 2026 (using data from CY 2020 through 2022) based on issues that CMS acknowledged with isolating PDGM behavior changes from non-PDGM behavior changes in CYs 2023 and beyond. In total, CMS’s changes from proposed to final rule amount to approximately $915 million more in payments to home health agencies for 2026. However, any cut will be detrimental in the face of years of compounding decreases, and more action is needed to help preserve integrity, stability, and predictability in Medicare’s home health benefit. While CMS reduced the amount of overpayments that inform the temporary payment adjustments down to 4.7 billion for CYs 2020 through 2024, home health agencies will continue to face several more years of temporary adjustments without additional action. 

“Home health care is among the most trusted, cost-effective, and patient-centered services in the Medicare program. The Alliance thanks its members, the broader home health community, and allied organizations and leaders for their advocacy to help achieve this substantial improvement for home health providers and patients nationwide. Congress must take further action to enact lasting reforms to the system that protect patient access to these services and ensure the sustainability of the Medicare home health benefit.” 

Steve Landers

CEO, National Alliance for Care at Home

Expanding access to home health care is essential to improving health outcomes, enhancing patient independence, and reducing healthcare costs. Research shows that when patients are unable to access clinically appropriate home health services, hospital readmissions are 35% higher, mortality rates are 43% greater, emergency department utilization grows by 16%, and total spending is 5.4% more than if patients were able to access the services they need. Protecting this vital benefit is also popular as 70% of U.S. voters are opposed to Medicare home health cuts. 

# # #

About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org. 

© 2025 by National Alliance for Care at Home. This press release originally appeared on the Alliance website and is reprinted here with permission. For more information or to request reprint permission, please see press contact information above.

Appeals Court Filing

Advocacy

by | Dec 4, 2025 | Advocacy, Clinical, CMS, Hospice, Legal

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Appeals Court Filing

Hospice ALJ

A hospice claim may fall under review either before or after the claim has been paid. A hospice agency with a denied claim must file appeals until the claim is approved or the appeals are exhausted. First, they file a written request to reconsider. Then, they file an appeal to a Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC) who employs medical professionals to assess the case. Next, they file an appeal to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

The ALJ is meant to review the documentation to determine whether it satisfies Medicare requirements. That’s all. There are two sets of criteria: the Medicare requirements and the patient record. If they match, the claim is paid. However, a recent ALJ decision and subsequent challenge suggests that the ALJ ignored expert testimony and decided independently that the patient did not qualify for hospice care.

Request to File

The hospice agency in this case filed suit against the ALJ, arguing that physician expertise should be shown deference in these cases. The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), joined by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), represented by William A. Dombi of Arnall Golden Gregory (AGG), has requested the right to file an amicus brief. An amicus brief provides extra information in a court case from an individual or group that is not part of the lawsuit, but has a vested interest in the outcome.

The Dispute

The Alliance puts at the heart of the case several issues, including:

  • Predicting death is inherently difficult
  • Physicians are the experts and their opinion should carry more weight
  • Oversight from non-qualified third parties add confusion, increase costs, and limit care

The Argument

The wording in multiple parts of the hospice benefit recognizes the expertise and importance of the physician. It is the physician who determines terminal illness. Physicians must have a face-to-face for continued eligibility. And it is the physician’s clinical judgment makes these determinations based on a patient’s individual circumstances, not an arbitrary set of standards.

If an ALJ, or any non-medical person, can overrule the treating physician’s assessment of a patient, they are effectively usurping the role of the doctor in providing a treatment plan. Medical care is subjective, which is why CMS has repeatedly considered and rejected defined criteria that would overrule a physician.

Broader Implications

The brief argues that medical professionals are better able to make care determinations. Further, the brief includes the complexity of health care prognosis, particularly in terminal illnesses. Previous court decisions have noted that “clinical judgments must be tethered to a patient’s valid medical records….” which already eliminates the need for this oversight. The Alliance stated a high probability that the decision in this case will carry substantial weight and influence both in the Sixth Circuit and in courts nationwide.

In fact, the implications may be farther reaching than that. Payors in and out of hospice deny claims deemed “unnecessary” regularly. Claims denials range from about 19% in the ACA Marketplace to as much as 49% from private payers. Even though about 80% of appeals are later accepted, only about 1% of denied claims are appealed.

Not only could this case help more patients get the hospice care they need, it could also lay the groundwork to require insurance companies to rely more heavily on the treating physician’s recommendation. We could see lower denials from prior authorization requests, unconventional treatment plans, VA benefits, and more. 

Final Thoughts

The Rowan Report supports the Alliance’s efforts in this case and wholeheartedly agrees that a physician knows better the care his patient needs than a judge ever could. We are hopeful that Bill Dombi and his team at AGG will be successful in this case and that hospice providers can get back to the  business of patient care. Read the statement from the Alliance here.

# # #

Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

BREAKING NEWS: Home Health Final Rule

Breaking News

by | Nov 29, 2025 | Breaking News, CMS, Home Health, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

BREAKING NEWS

Home Health Final Rule

While most of us were still recovering from our Thanksgiving feast overload, CMS quietly released the CY 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule (HH Final Rule). In past years, CMS published the HH Final Rule on or about November 1. The HH Final Rule was delayed this year due to the government shutdown.

Payment & Policy Updates

The payment rate for 2026 will change based on multiple factors:

  • HH payment update of +2.4%
  • The final permanent rate adjustment of -0.9%
  • The final temporary adjustment of -2.7%
  • Fixed-dollar loss ratio for outlier payments update of -0.1%

The aggregated payment update for 2026 is a net decrease of 1.3%

Read the CMS Fact Sheet

Face-to-Face

The CARES Act allows Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Specialists, and Physicians Assistants to order and certify eligibility for Medicare HH and establish a plan of care. CMS has updated face-to-face encounters to now allow NPs, CNSs, PAs and physicians to perform face-to-face encounters whether or not they were the certifying practitioner or one who cared for the patient prior to home health care.

Home Health VBPM

Effective in April 2026, the HHCAHPS survey will undergo changes. CMS is removing these three survey-based measures:

  • Care of Patients
  • Communications between Providers and Patients
  • Specific Care Issues

CMS is adding four measures to them measure set. These include three measures related to bathing and dressing and the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary setting measure. These changes also prompted alterations to the weights of each measure and measure category. 

The expanded model has built-in criteria for the removal of any quality measure. CMS is adding an additional criteria to the list of factors. Factor 9 reads that CMS may remove a quality measure if it is not feasible to implement the measure specificiations.

Medicare Provider Enrollment Revocation

Currently, any provider must enroll and be approved to become a Medicare provider. CMS has the authority to both approve and revoke provider Medicare enrollment. When CMS revokes a provider’s Medicare enrollment, the revocation is effective 30 days after CMS mails notification to the provider. In certain circumstances, CMS can revoke enrollment retroactively to the first date of non-compliance and consequently collect any money paid to that provider back to the retroactive date. CMS is adding to the allowable grounds for retroactive revocation.

  • If an enrolled physician or practitioner has not ordered or certified services for 12 consective months
  • If a beneficiary attests that a provider did not actually perform the services they billed

Additional Changes

CMS is recalibrating case-mix weights under PDGM and LUPA thresholds.

DMEPOS accreditation regulations will now require suppliers to be resurveyed and reaccredited annually. Additionally, CMS is increasing the amount and frequency of data accrediting organizations (AOs) submit, expanding their ability to monitor AOs, and strengthening their ability to address poorly performing AOs.

The DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program will change, but we are still waiting for the finalized improvements. CMS will begin paying for all continuous glucose monitors and insulin infusion pumps.

Read the Final Rule and additional Documents

Final Thoughts

A decrease in pay of any amount is unfortunate. However, we applaud CMS for listening to the feedback. CMS stated, “…commenters raised concers that behavior change after CY 2022 might [attribute] to factors unrelated to…PDGM.” Changes since 2020 include the introduction of OASIS-E, the expansion of value-based purchasing, and the large increase in the percentage of Medicare Advantage enrollees.

Whatever the reason, The Rowan Report joins the National Alliance for Care at Home in commending CMS for adjusting its payment calculations. The permanent pay adjustment for 2026 is listed as the final adjustment, a positive for HH moving forward. The proposed rule issued mid-year had a net -6.4% decrease in payments for a net decrease of more than $1 billion dollars. The final rule payment adjustment has a net decrease of $220 million. Still a decrease, but much more palatable.

CMS will continue to assess the need for temporary payment adjustments for several more years. Additional adjustments (read decreases) to the payment rate will impact patient access to care. The Alliance will continue to advocate and educate members of Congress and HHS to lower or eliminate they reductions. Your advocacy and support is needed to ensure the future of Care at Home. The Rowan Report will continue to support the Alliance and other advocacy groups and share with you opportunities for advovacy.

# # #

Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

Hospice Carve-In is Out

Advocacy

by | Nov 25, 2025 | Advocacy, Hospice, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Partner News, Regulatory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:                                                                   Hannah Kristan
communications@allianceforcareathome.org
202-355-1647

Sen. Marshall and Sen. Whitehouse Issue Letter to Senate Leadership Expressing Bipartisan Support for Policies that Preserve Medicare’s Hospice Benefit Under Original Medicare

Alexandria, VA and Washington, D.C., November 24, 2025. On November 20, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to Senate leadership expressing strong bipartisan support for policies that preserve the Medicare Hospice Benefit under Original Medicare, including for Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries, which has protected their access to high-quality, timely end-of-life care for nearly three decades. 

Repeal Special Rule

As Congress considers potential reforms to the MA program, the letter urges Senate leadership to maintain this critical safeguard and oppose any proposals that would include hospice in the Medicare Advantage program, including repeal or alteration of the Special Rule for Hospice (the Special Rule), also known as hospice carve-in.  

Hopice in MA

Despite years of attempts from Congress, the Alliance strongly opposes efforts to integrate hospice into Medicare Advantage (MA). Past attempts have revealed challenges such as administrative burdens, difficulty creating networks, and delayed payments for claims. Bringing hospice under Medicare Advantage would undermine patient choice, adversely impact timely access to care, and fragment the hospice experience for patients and families at a highly vulnerable time.

View the full letter here. 

Leave Hospice Carve-In Out

Excerpt

“MA enrollees who elect hospice currently retain the freedom to choose any Medicare-certified hospice provider, free from network limitations or prior authorization requirements. More than half of hospice beneficiaries pass away within 14 days of election, making delays in care both harmful and unacceptable. Integrating the hospice benefit into MA plan design would jeopardize this access by layering additional managed care terms (or policies) on top of an already managed and coordinated benefit.” 

Marshall and Whitehouse

U.S. Senators

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“The Alliance thanks Sen. Marshall and Sen. Whitehouse for listening to the concerns of the care at home community and taking action to protect our nation’s most vulnerable patient population by defending the Hospice Benefit under original Medicare,” said Scott Levy, Chief Government Affairs Officer at the Alliance. “The Alliance will continue to lead on this important public policy priority for hospice providers nationwide by advocating to preserve this sacred promise established by Congress and kept on behalf of the American people for over four decades.” 

# # #

About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.  

© 2026. This press release originally appeared on the National Alliance for Care at Home Website and is published with permission. For additional information or for permission to print, please see press contact above.

Medicare Advantage Reform

CMS

by | Nov 25, 2025 | CMS, Editorial, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Medicare Advantage Reform

Background

Traditional Medicare is available to any U.S. citizen over the age of 65 or with a qualifying disability. Part A covers hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some medically necessary home health care while Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Medicare is billed through and paid by the federal government.

Medicare Advantage (originally Medicare+Choice) is Medicare coverage offered by private insurance companies who are then reimbursed by the government. The goal was to create competition and lower costs. It has done neither. Medicare Advantage plans are supposed to provide all of the coverage from Parts A, B, & D except hospice care. That is still handled by traditional Medicare.

Hospice Carve-in Plan

Despite the epic failure of the recent hospice carve-in experiment, House representative Schweikert (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 3467 to reform the Medicare Advantage program and included a requirement for hospice care. The goal, according to Schweikert, is to eliminate waste and fraud and stop MA insurance companies from making billions in profits by upcoding. The solutions, outlined in H.R.3467, include requiring MA recipients to stay on the same plan for at least three years and permanently including the hospice benefit in MA plans.

Eight New Bills

On November 19, 2025, Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI), with the support of 12 other members of the House, introduced eight separate bills aimed at Medicare Advantage reform and strengthening traditional Medicare. The eight bills include:

1. Disincentives for delaying and denying lifesaving care due to prior authorization requirements
2. Automatic appeals for any denial of care
3. Visually and audibly disclosing delay and denial rates in advertising
4. Banning participation in MA for any company convicted of defrauding the government
5. Lowering MA reimbursement rates to at or below traditional Medicare rates
6. Limiting the number of MA plans a company can offer to 3 per year
7. Prohibiting MA from being the default option
8. Creating a website listing all doctors by plan

Commentary

In addition to the package cosponsors and six endorsing organizations, Rep Pocan received industry expert support for his bill package.

“Big Insurance has long pitched Medicare Advantage as a key tool to lowering health care costs and delivering better care, but like so much of their rhetoric, this is nothing but bold-faced lies. The truth is, Medicare Advantage is neither Medicare nor an advantage. And it certainly doesn’t exist to lower costs. It exists to help Big Insurance make sky-high profits and enrich shareholders. It is long past time Congress stepped in and protected patients. The legislative package Congressman Pocan is introducing is the most comprehensive plan ever introduced to rein in Medicare Advantage and protect patients. Congress should pass these bills without delay.”

– Wendell Potter, President, The Center for Health and Democracy

“Medicare Advantage insurers profit from withholding medically necessary care, and can withhold care with near impunity. So, people enrolling in corporate MA plans are forced to gamble with their health and with their lives. They can’t avoid the bad actors. It’s time Congress protected older Americans and people with disabilities from bad actor Medicare Advantage insurers, as Congressman Pocan’s MA Bill package would do.”

– Diane Archer, President and Founder, Just Care

Rep. Pocan’s bills do not include the hospice carve-in and would leave hospice care under traditional Medicare. 

Faulty Logic?

Medicare Advantage plan payors have been accused of upcoding, fraud, overbilling, delays in care, and denials that circumvent the rule that MA must cover everything traditional Medicare does. It may be naive to assume that passing these bills will force unscrupulous companies to suddenly have integrity.

MA enrollees pay the standard Part B premium and might pay an additional MA premium depending on their income, geographic locations, and/or additional plan benefits. Rep. Pocan’s bill lowers what MA charges the government (aka tax payers) but does not address what the plans charge enrollees. If MA plans are required to lower reimbursement rates by 10%, for example, won’t they just increase premiums, deductibles, and copays or remove additional benefits? Sure, the government spends less, but out-of-pocket costs increase and quality of care drops.

The “Seniors Choice” bill limiting the number of plans to three is unclear in its direction. A 2019 rule removed the meaningful difference requirement for MA plans. This bill seeks to reinstate that requirement, but changes the term to “significantly different” in premiums, benefits, and cost-sharing. There are too many variables in health insurance to limit the choices to three. Three choices per company lessens the competitive need to keep prices low. 

Not so Hidden Agenda

Medicare Advantage reform is sorely needed. MA is largely fraudulent, misleading, and costly both in spending and health. Chipping away at some of these pieces is for the good of the enrollees on their surfaces. But dig just a little deeper and the goal is clear. 

Overwhelmingly, the organizations in support of this bill package are proponents of a single payer system. The prior authorizations disincentive is termination of the entire contract for the year. The disallowing participation bill includes all companies and individuals convicted of any crime, misdemeanor or greater, in any way connected to healthcare, all financial misconduct in or out of healthcare, and all acts of fraud, kickbacks, and misrepresentation of material fact. Any plan charging more than its traditional Medicare counterpart will be eliminated. Given these restrictions, it will not take long for every Medicare Advantage plan to be eliminated entirely.

 The recent government shutdown centered around the ACA subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year. The elimination of those subsidies could push healthcare insurance premiums to a level that few can afford, furthering the need for a single payer plan.

Final Thoughts

The White House has promised a health care proposal with much speculation but no facts. The proposal has yet to be released. Congress is still negotiating the extension of Covid-era subsidy increases with only a few weeks remaining before they adjourn for the holidays. ACA participants are having to renew their health insurance without knowing what the final cost will be and many believe the number of participants will drop significantly, leaving millions uninsured. 

None of the proposed solutions will fix all the problems with healthcare. But, a temporary stay is better than losing access to healthcare altogether. This is an ongoing issue and The Rowan Report will continue to bring you the latest information as it becomes available.

# # #

Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

Dr. Steve Landers: an Interview

Advocacy

by | Nov 13, 2025 | Advocacy, CMS, Home Health, Hospice, Medicare, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Dr. Steve Landers

An Interview from the Alliance Annual Meeting

On the heels of the inaugural National Alliance for Care at Home Annual Meeting & Expo, I sat down with Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers to talk about his feelings on the event, the current state of the industry, and the future of the Alliance.

In His Own Words

The Rowan Report:

We’re just about at the end of the first annual meeting since the merger of NHPCO and NAHC. What are your thoughts on how the event was received?

Dr. Steve Landers:

Yeah, it’s been great. You know, we have, we’ve had great attendance, and the energy has been good, and we’ve got diverse participation from people all throughout the care at home community from all over the country, and I think people learned a lot and got to spend time with friends and colleagues and do business. I’m feeling good about it.

RR: I assume you’ve learned alot and we’ll see some changes next year. Where will we be in 2026?

Steve: We’ll be in Washington, D.C. next fall. Also, our summer financial summit is still on the agenda. So, we’ll be in Boston and we’re hoping to see as many people out as possible.

Alliance Annual Meeting Review Steve Landers

Alliance Outlook 2026

RR: And your new board members, who start in January, were announced earlier. Sounds like you have some great people incoming next year. What is the focus for the organization in 2026?

Steve:

We are continuing to position ourselves as strong advocates in Washington for the issues that our members are facing. The whole board and team will be very much dug in and committed to putting the best possible effort forward on the big things that our members are facing from an advocacy standpoint. Of course, we want to continue to strengthen the member programming and the educational offerings. We are going to try to build on our partnership with the research institute for home care to try and add more research activities to the to the programming.

There are some things that we’re still not sure about how next year is going to look, because on the public policy front, we still have some kind of pending issues that we’re hoping get ironed out in a positive way. Depending on how the year wraps up, we could be very much still in a bit of a firefight, whether that’s the Medicare Home Health payment system, face to face certification access for hospice and home health services, or depending on if any type of Medicare Advantage legislation comes up. So there’s still a lot unknown about how the early year looks from an advocacy standpoint, but definitely, you know, with the existing board members and new board members and our team will be leading the way on those fronts.

Medicare Home Health Proposal

RR:

There are a lot of unknowns right now with the shutdown, the hospice carve out, and other issues we’re not really seeing any movement on. Is there any one unknown that is more challenging than others?

Steve: I think the most front and center issue is the Medicare Home Health payment proposal, because it was a terrible, misguided proposal that’s going to hurt lots of people, probably cost lives, cost the system more money, and so that’s definitely so visible and acute because it’s right with us.

If we see any more movement on this issue of hospice and Medicare Advantage that will certainly become more of an acute issue. We’re already taking it very seriously and are very actively and aggressively trying to push back that bad idea. 

And, of course, the longer this government shutdown, the more harm there is with things like access to telehealth, so that’s high on our mind. There are a lot of other issues we’re concerned about with the future of Medicaid HCBS and the business environment for private duty home care as well. So, the list is long.

Advocacy

RR: Very long, indeed. During the opening keynote you mentioned a call for advocacy from everyone in attendance. Specifically, you mentioned presenting “one voice.” Are there current issues that has the industry divided?

Steve: I think we’re doing a good job of keeping people together. I think there’s always a risk when people get passionate and are wanting to solve problems. If we accidentally are publicly going in different directions, that’s not productive. I wouldn’t highlit any specifics, but I think, in general, the more we can come togehter on various issues because our goals are the same. None of us want to see care at home get cut back and over regulated. Everyone involved in these issues care about the same things. But, in Washington, when attention spans are very short, you only have so much political capital so we make sure we’re pushing for the same things in those advocacy efforts.

RR: Have you gotten any indication of where CMS is landing on the final payment rule? Last I heard, they had thousands of comments and feedback on the major cut.

Final Rule

CMS home health final rule

Steve: They have received an incredible amount of comments. here have been meetings at all levels of the administration on these issues. We have outlined all of the aspects of this, from the access challenges to how cutting back home health is only going to lead to lead to higher overall expenses. We’ve given them a clear outline of the methodological flaws that they made in doing their calculations and their budget neutrality calculations. We’ve been very clear as well on where they have likely baked in data from pockets of fraud that are creating disadvantages for legitimate care providers in the way that the rate system comes out, So they have everything that they should need to reset these payments to where they should be based on the law. But, it’s a scary moment because they made this proposal in the first place, and at some point, somebody thought it was a good idea.

Keep Fighting

RR: What is the next step if the cuts happen?

Steve: If we don’t get what we’re hoping for, which is a real reset of these methodologies, then, the amount of teamwork and intense advocacy that’s going to have to happen to try to get Congress to fix this mistake is going to be enormous. And every one of us is going to have to put in whatever we can. Because, letting ourselves fall off of this type of cliff, letting patients and families fall off this kind of cliff, is just… it’s not… we’re gonna have to fight it every every step of the way. It’s just not right.

Commentary

The interview paused here. It was barely perceptible and nearly impossible to describe on paper. The depth of emotion conveyed in Dr. Landers’ words was palpable, sincere, and honest. In these few seconds, I was given the gift of insight on how completely Dr. Landers commits to this cause and how strong are his convictions. It was a powerful moment that I hope you all have the opportunity to witness.

Home Health Stabilization Act

RR: Both you and your predecessor, Bill Dombi, have talked about how devastating these cuts will be. Estimates of 50% of home health agencies closing, reduced access to care, loss of jobs for caregivers, and especially devastating to the patients. What if this doesn’t change? Obviously, it’s going to take everybody working together. But what’s the first step? Is there a plan?

Steve: Oh, yeah, we’ve already been working with champions in Congress to introduce H.R. 5142 the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025. If passed into law, would halt these cuts for 2026 and 2027 and allow time to work with Congress and the administration on more comprehensive, long term fix to this total mess that’s been developed by these flawed methods and give time to really work on comprehensive solutions to some of the fraud and abuse issues and potentially other reforms that could help. Now, anytime you’re trying to get an act of Congress passed, especially with a Congress that’s not open right now, with only so many days left in the legislative calendar, that’s no guarantee either, but that is the contingency that we’ve been developing.

Dr Steve Landers Interview

If they don’t fix their proposal, they’re going to march forward on January 1 with another set of cuts that are going to lead to more delays in care and more people getting referred and not getting care and more rural and high poverty communities not haveing access to care and more people going back to the hospital and costing the system more. There are life and death issues. Not just an inconvenience or a cost. People can die. It’s a big deal.

RR: I think the industry as a whole feels like CMS is only looking at the financial numbers and not the consequences of what theyre doing. There are real people who are being damaged by these decisions.

Steve: Yeah, the proposed rule did not seem to take these things into account and it was not a patient- or family-centered proposal. It’s not a final rule yet. Their final action is pending and they need to address those issues. They have a responsibility, I believe, as public servants. I believe there’s a moral obligation here to revisit what was done and get it right.

RR: And, we do have some advocates at the congressional level, correct?

Steve: Yeah, we’ve been working with members of Congress to get them to weigh in with the administration, to tell them “get your final rule right.” We have been working on a contigency that if the rule is not done correctly that Congress would force them through legislation to stop the cuts. We’re not there yet, but we could be any day now. We’ve done that work with Congress to make that progress. That amount of advocacy will require teamwork. This is one of the reasons I was trying to emphaze the importance of unity if we end up with a very short calendar and a really hard problem to solve. It’s going to be pretty intense.

RR: And we’ll be right there with you if that happens, saying “how can we help?” I know this is the most pressing issue right now, but is there anything else industry-wise that you’re looking forward to and excited about?

Future Outlook

Steve: You know, I think it’s been fun and exciting and in some ways inspiring to see this alliance community grow and build. Whether it’s all these new and innovative AI solutions that our members are getting excited about, how they can improve workflows and efficiences, or whether it’s the attention for the storytelling around the issues that our members care about on social media and earned media. There are a lot of reasons to be excited and enthusiastic about the future.

I think the AI advancements have been really exciting and interesting for the industry, because there’s so much that can be done. And certainly, regardless of how big the cuts are, any cuts are going to be difficult for home health, and especially on top of what we’ve already had, yeah, but, you know, you being able to use these AI solutions to kind of cut some of the costs and things and offset that is, is at least a silver lining in some of it, and improve the worker experience, maybe in ways that make it a little less burdensome, and you can maybe keep more people in the
workforce.

RR: Well, I want to congratulate you. You’ve made it through your firstfull year in thisposition. I think there was a sense of this event being the test, the “How did the two organizations really come together and produce this huge thing,” and, it seems likethe blending of the home health with the hospice has worked really. Attendance is high and the vibe seems to be very positive.

Steve: You know, there’s a test every day. We have to keep trying to serve our community, and it’s a journey. We’ve got a great board, and a great team. They’re focused on the mission. The team came together nicely after the merger. Now that it’s settling down, we’re just going to keep working towards a bright future. Just keep at it.

RR: I think you’ve handled it all really well and the success of this event is a testament to that, as well as the other education and advocacy you’ve accomplished in the last year. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me today. Keep fighting the good fight. 

Steve: Absolutely. Thank you.

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Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

 

Second Longest Shutdown Since 1980

Medicaid

by | Oct 30, 2025 | Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Second Longest Shutdown Since 1980

–As of October 30, 2025–

Shutdown day 30

Subsidy Standoff

Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke with MSNBC about the shutdown and the subsidy expiration. “Shouldn’t people who are signing up during open enrollment know what they’re signing up for?,” MSNBC asked. Thune said the first step has to be opening the government before that conversation happens, not in the context of the budget talks. According to Thune, the Republican party objects to the current operation of the subsidy program and the incentive structure needs reform.

Subsidy Standoff Not to Blame

Current estimates show insurance premiums rising by 18% – 22% in 2026. Leader Thune suggests that only a “tiny percentage” of that increase is due to the expiration of the enhanced subsidies and the rest is coming from the insurance companies. He says premiums should not being going up by this much and the extreme rate increase is because of waste, fraud, and abuse, and the lack of incentives for insurance companies to lower costs.

No Reform, No Subsidy

Throughout the interview, Leader Thune would not commit to 

Government Shutdown Senate Majority Leader John Thune

negotiating with Democrats, would not guarantee subsidies would be saved, and would not commit to voting for any extension without at least lowering income caps back to pre-COVID levels.

After the Senate session today, Thune spoke to reporters, indicating there was a “higher level of communication” happening. He went on to repeat his earlier statement to MSNBC.

“…there are a lot of rank-and-file members that continue, I think, to want to pursue solutions and to be able to address the issues they care about, including health care, which … we’re willing to do, but it obviously is contingent upon them opening up the government.”

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader

(Un)lucky Number 13

October 28th marked the 13th vote put to the Senate to reopen the government in 28 days. The Senate reconvened yesterday and plan to vote again today, October 30th. Senators have mixed opinions about the likelihood of an agreement now that deadlines for military pay, SNAP benefits, and other programs close in.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) said negotiations were “occasional” and that Republicans haven’t offered anything different from the original House-passed budget.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R) said resolving the differences on health care would come after the government reopens. “I’m hoping next week, hopefully after the election, that we can get the government back open, talking about our differences on health care.”

Senator Thom Tillis (R) states there is no evidence that formal negotiations are happening, just discussions. 

When Will it End?

The Senate is expected to vote today, October 30th. The measure needs 60 affirmative votes to pass. The vote to automatically continue without discussion failed 37-61. The subsequent votes to temporarily fund the government through November 21st failed 55-45 on October 1 and 54-45 on October 28. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) voted yes in the first vote, but did not vote yesterday.

If I Were a Gambler...

The rumors and accusations fly on both sides about who is to blame for the shutdown. There are betting sites placing odds on the date the standoff will end. I’m no political expert, but I think there’s something else going on. I believe both sides are playing risky games and that neither side knows the rules to the other’s game. I think both sides know the exact date they will each agree to end this standoff. And I’m sure there are underlying motives that have nothing to do with what they’re telling us.

We will continue to report on this ongoing story as more information becomes available.

# # #

Kristin Rowan, Editor
Kristin Rowan, Editor

Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing.  Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com