CMS Invites Feedback on Public Data Collection Burdens and Usefulness
Published Date: 3/17/2026
Notice
Summary
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants your thoughts on their plan to collect info from the public. This helps make sure the questions they ask aren’t too much work and actually useful. If you have ideas or concerns, you’ve got until April 16, 2026, to speak up—no money changes yet, just a chance to improve how info is gathered.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Face-to-Face Documentation Burden
If you are a physician or an authorized non-physician practitioner who certifies Medicaid home health services, you must document a face-to-face encounter before certifying that home health is needed. CMS estimates 381,785 respondents, 2,495,355 total annual responses, and 416,724 total annual hours to complete this documentation (writing/typing/dictating and signing/dating).
Expanded Authority for NPs, CNSs, and PAs
Section 3708 of the CARES Act and CMS action allow nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and physician assistants to certify and order Medicare and Medicaid home health services and to perform the required face-to-face encounter independently for patients they order services for, in accordance with state law. CMS amended 42 CFR 440.70 to remove the prior requirement that authorized non-physician practitioners communicate the clinical finding to the ordering physician.
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Key Dates
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