Given the substantial changes CMS made to the Medicare Home Health

Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) methodology for calendar year (CY)

2008, CMS is making few changes for CY 2009. In a Notice published in the

Federal Register on November 3, 2008, CMS estimates that Medicare

payments to home health agencies (HHAs) will increase by an estimated

additional $30 million next year. Carel Hedlund of Ober|Kaler discusses some of the highlights of this CY 2009 Notice.

effective January 1, 2009, include the following: