Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2022”.
Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2022
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure stability in payments to home health agencies under the Medicare program.
Sec. 2 Ensuring stability in payments to home health agencies
Limitation on permanent and temporary adjustments— Section 1895(b)(3)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395fff(b)(3)(D)) is amended—
in each of clauses (ii) and (iii), by striking “The Secretary shall” and inserting “Subject to clause (iv), the Secretary shall”; and
by adding at the end the following new clause:
“(iv) Special rules for decreases in payments
“(I) Postponement—No permanent decrease to the standard prospective payment amount (or amounts) for a year under clause (ii) and no temporary decrease to the payment amount for a unit of home health services for a year under clause (iii) shall be made prior to 2026.
“(II) Sunset—Subject to subclause (I), the Secretary shall ensure that all necessary permanent or temporary decreases described in subclause (I) are made prior to 2032.”
Implementation— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may implement the provisions of, and the amendments made by, this section by program instruction or otherwise.