The Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice stands with Ohio’s home health providers and the National Alliance for Care at Home in opposition of cuts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the CY 2026 Home Health Proposed Rule.
The Situation
Home and community-based care is a proven solution to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. The new CMS proposed rule includes policies that would reduce payments to home health agencies nationally by over $1 billion dollars in 2026. This is not a sensible solution to advancing America’s health care system into a sustainable and caring future. This will take us backwards, not forwards.
This Proposed Rule Will…
- Cut Medicare reimbursement by 6.4%, over $1.1 billion in CY 2026
- Exacerbate an existing access to care crisis
- Not address fraud, waste and abuse in any meaningful way
- Further destabilize an already fragile home health delivery system and negatively impact the entire U.S. Healthcare System
We are asking all Ohioans to make your voice heard by CMS and your elected officials during the critical comment period ending August 29. Here are links to help you reach out.
📢 CMS comment page: https://www.regulations.gov/document/CMS-2025-0242-0002
This is the most essential and direct portal to provide your feedback. Comments must be received no later than 11:59 pm EDT on August 29. Previous publications noted September 2 but this has been changed to 8/29!
📢 Find your legislator: https://findmydistrict.ohiosos.gov/
Encourage your legislators to engage with CMS about these proposed changes. Send them an email or call their office to comment.
Resources
📚 CMS press release about the proposed 2026 Rule
📚 Alliance statement on the proposed 2026 Rule
We sincerely hope that you take a moment to make your voice heard. Please let us know if you need assistance or more information.
Thank you for your time and support.
Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice
