Many physicians are failing to adequately document the face-to-face visits now required for home-health referrals, which has led Medicare to make $2 billion in inappropriate payments to home-health agencies, according to a report from HHS' Office of the Inspector General.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires physicians to conduct in-person assessments to determine if a Medicare beneficiary is eligible for home care. Visits must be documented with a brief narrative that describes why the patient is homebound and requires skilled assistance at home.