Face-to-Face Requirements for State Plan Home Health benefit:
Effective October 1, 2013, as mandated by section 6407 (d) of the Affordable Care Act, prior to certifying a beneficiary’s eligibility for the home health benefit, the certifying physician must document that he or she, or an allowed non-physician practitioner (NPP) has had a face-to-face encounter with the beneficiary. The state plan Home Health benefit includes skilled nursing, home health aide and therapeutic services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.