The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) published the seventh and final summative report on the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) demonstration model. This model was originally introduced in 2016 across nine states and concluded in 2021. HHVBP is one of the only CMMI demonstrations to be expanded nationally; that expansion began in January of this year.

The final report found the model produced more than $1.38 billion in Medicare savings in the 2016-2021 period. With regard to utilization of more costly services, the report found a decline in utilization rates for hospitalizations and skilled nursing facilities, but an increase in outpatient emergency department visits. On the quality front, the final report found gains in functional status like mobility and self-care, but patient experience measures declined. According to a summary of the report, utilization rates of home health services remained the same across HHVBP and non-HHVBP states. Finally, the report noted that HHVBP could exacerbate existing racial inequities with regard to high-quality care access.