Regulatory Updates

State: Maine

Date Effective : 02/11/2024

Program: Behavioral Health

Repeals three existing licensing rules and replacing those rules with one single rule, Behavioral Health Organizations Licensing Rule, to provide a comprehensive, one-stop licensing rule. It also governs the licensing requirements for mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs.

State: Ohio

Date Effective : 01/1/2024

Program: Home Care

Ohio recently implemented OAC 5160-44-32 Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver Program Provider and Direct Care Worker Relationships.  Ohio Department of Medicaid has training and resources available to assist applicable agencies implement this rule.  This rule became effective January 1, 2024.

State: All

Date Posted : 03/4/2024

Program: Hospice

On March 4, 2024, CMS announced the Hospice Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model, which allowed participating Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) to include the Medicare hospice benefit in their Medicare Advantage (MA) benefits package, is ending with the calendar year.

State: Florida

Date Effective : 03/5/2024

Program: Acute Care Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC), Assisted Living, Behavioral Health, Clinical Laboratory, Home Care, Home Health, Home Infusion Therapy, Hospice

Pursuant to Florida Rule 59A-35.060, effective March 5, 2024, all providers will be required to submit renewal applications through AHCA's online licensing system.

State: Texas

Program: Home Care, Home Health, Home Infusion Therapy, Hospice

Texas Health and Human Services Commission has updated the FAQs for Home and Community Support Services Agencies.  The most recent version is February 2024.

State: All

Program: Hospice

2023 was a busy year for hospice providers with regards to regulatory changes.  CMS last updated chapter 10 of the Medicare Program Integrity Manual December 7, 2023.  This update included the qualifications for Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors, as well as included the updated 36-month rule, now applicable to hospice providers as well as home health providers.  Check to ensure you have the most current version of the manual.