HFS News & Information

The HHA, 1728-94 was updated to Transmittal 17 by CMS, on October 7, 2016. Transmittal 17 is effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2015. HFS was approved for Transmittal 17 on January 30, 2017 and anticipates the release of updated software February 10, 2017. HFS will be hosting a WebEx on the 1728-94 Changes, System release and other updates on March 1, 2017.

Transmittal 17 was primarily to implement the statutory requirement for hospice payment reform in §3132 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to incorporate data previously reported on the Provider Cost Report Reimbursement Questionnaire, Form CMS-339.

Changes include:

• Addition of Worksheet S-2-1, to include questions previously required in Form CMS-339
• Removed obsolete Worksheets S-6 and J-1 through J-4.
• Removed obsolete Worksheets RH-1 through RH-2.
• Removed obsolete Worksheets FQ-1 through FQ-2.
• Addition of Worksheets S-5 Parts III & IV and Worksheets O through O-8 for any HHA based hospice with a cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 2015 AND ENDING on or after September 30, 2016.
• Effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2014, HHA-based FQHCs will be required to complete a separate Form CMS-224-14.

This release updates the HFS 1728-94 to the HFS .mcrx file format and updated platform.  This is backwards compatible.  Users will receive notification when opening their existing .mcr files that the files will be converted to the new platform.  No data will be lost and the user functionality will be the same.  Of course, if you have any problems please contact us right away.

The transmittal is available at the CMS website:

https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2016-Transmittals-Items/R17p232.html?DLPage=2&DLEntries=10&DLFilter=R17&DLSort=1&DLSortDir=ascending