We unpack the 2026 CMS DME final rule with an eye on what changes first, what it costs, and how suppliers can adapt without disrupting patient care. Annual surveys, stricter accreditation oversight, and targeted incentives reshape strategy, budgets, and daily operations.

• Annual surveys begin at next initial or reaccreditation after 1 January 2026
• Elimination of temporary accreditation before surveying new service locations
• CHOW events may trigger initial surveys and start annual cadence
• Prior authorization exemption for suppliers maintaining 90% approval
• Added products and remote item delivery in competitive bidding
• Increased CMS validation, AO reapproval, and continued sampling
• Faster complaint reporting and more granular data submission
• Clear rationale required when accepting corrective action plans
• Address changes and warehouse functions require survey planning
• Practical steps for budgeting, staffing, and strategic footprint decisions

Read the final rule. Listen to industry webinars and review our resources to understand the key elements and direct impact on suppliers.

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We break down the 2026 home health final rule, from the 1.3 percent cut and sequestration impact to face-to-face, OASIS, HHCAHPS, and value-based purchasing changes. We share concrete steps to shore up documentation, data, and budgets before January 1, 2026.

• Why the final rule timing compresses preparation
• Payment impact of the 1.3 percent cut plus sequestration
• What changes in face-to-face encounter responsibility and proof
• Aligning COPs with the all-payer OASIS requirement
• How HHCAHPS and OASIS items are being revised
• What new and removed VBP measures mean operationally
• Anti-fraud signals in enrollment and oversight
• Practical actions to update policies, analytics, and training
• Resources to read and where to find deeper summaries

We did present and post two very detailed summaries with the highlights of the home health content as well as the DME content on our website

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A single, accurate medication list can prevent harm, yet it’s often the messiest part of home visits. We unpack how to turn a kitchen-table pile of bottles into a clear, living record that protects patients, reduces polypharmacy, and keeps agencies compliant. Drawing on decades at the bedside and in surveys, we walk through the moments where discrepancies hide—transitions between providers, “as needed” meds, herbals and supplements, dose tweaks after a clinic visit—and show how to bring everything into alignment with orders and what’s actually in the home.

View CHAP's new resource: Medication Reconciliation in Home-Based Care

We get specific about what good medication reconciliation looks like in home health and hospice: verify at every visit, include non-covered and OTC products, and escalate discrepancies to the prescriber right away. You’ll hear why misalignment across the home list, the medication profile, and facility records is a top CMS deficiency and how it can escalate to immediate jeopardy when safety is at risk. We also dig into the April 2024 Home Health CoP interpretive update that lets agencies define who performs medication reviews based on scope and policy, while underscoring the nonnegotiable goal: a timely, accurate, and complete list.

Education and tools make the difference. We share practical strategies for teach-back, multilingual materials, and adapting for hearing or vision limits. We cover the Beers Criteria for older adults, ISMP resources, safe storage and disposal, and tech that improves adherence—delivery services, synchronized refills, pre-filled packs, and smart dispensers. Expect actionable checklists, questions to ask on every visit, and a reminder to have patients carry a current list to appointments and during any transition of care.

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