Upcoming Changes to Home Health and Medical Equipment Prescriptions

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Apple Health (Medicaid) Provider Alert

Effective January 1, 2019, only physicians will be authorized to order home health services and medical equipment.

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is amending its rules for home health services (Chapter 182-551 WAC, Subchapter II) and medical equipment (Chapter 182-543 WAC) to align with federal regulations published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) or physician assistants (PAs) ordering home health services or medical equipment must have a physician’s signature on their requested order.

Please see the November 14, 2018 letter from Medicaid Director MaryAnne Lindeblad for more information, as well as the proposed home health services rules and medical equipment rules for a full description of all the changes.