In a much-anticipated move, the U.S. Senate late Thursday passed legislation extending the suspension of Medicare sequestration.
Home health leaders praised the move. The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare said sequestration relief will help stabilize the nation’s healthcare system.
“As Medicare home health providers continue to navigate the challenges of pandemic care delivery — while absorbing the impacts of the 4.3% Patient Driven Grouping Model (PDGM) payment cut that took effect in 2020 and again in 2021 — the sequestration relief has been of enormous relief, has been of enormous value to the Medicare home health provider community and our vulnerable homebound population,” said Joanne Cunningham, executive director of the Partnership.
Last year, Congress temporarily suspended the 2% Medicare sequester cuts in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The suspension is scheduled to expire on March 31. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill to extend the suspension of sequestration last week.
