In January 2015, CMS announced that it was considering developing voluntary clinical templates to help physicians adequately document their encounters with Medicare patients who receive home health services.^[1] CMS initially proposed a sample paper template progress note and suggested clinical template elements for an electronic progress note. CMS hosted three Special Open Door Forums to solicit feedback on the proposed templates from physicians, home health agencies, and other interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed templates.

On August 12, 2015, CMS announced that a suggested clinical template had been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.^[2] Although CMS had initially proposed the creation of separate paper and electronic templates, the proposed progress note template that was submitted to OMB combines the information into one template.

The proposed template is designed as a paper progress note that includes a list of clinical elements that will allow electronic health record vendors to create prompts to assist physicians when documenting eligibility and the face-to-face encounter. The template is intended to help physicians and allowed non-physician practitioners capture necessary information, to increase compliance with Medicare requirements, and to reduce the possibility that home health claims will be denied for failure to meet Medicare requirements. CMS estimates that it will take approximately 10 minutes to complete the electronic template and approximately 15 minutes to complete the paper template.

Use of the proposed template will be completely voluntary. Physicians and home health agencies must still ensure that the patient’s medical record supports certification of the home health benefit, as the Progress Note Guidance specifies that “completion of this Progress Note alone will not substantiate eligibility for the Medicare Home Health Benefit.” However, the elements included in the proposed template do provide an indication of what CMS may consider adequate documentation of the face-to-face encounter and of a patient’s eligibility for home health services.

Public comments on the proposed template are due by October 13, 2015 and may be submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov, or by mail.

_{[1] Home Health Medical Review and Home Health Electronic Clinical Template.}

_{[2] 80 Fed. Reg. 48,321 (Aug. 12, 2015).}