There’s an important update from Medicaid that affects how quickly paperwork must be completed for home health aide and nursing re-authorizations — and it’s a big shift.
The time allowed to submit the required documents has been shortened significantly. While the process itself hasn’t changed, the timeline has — and staying on track now matters more than ever.
Medicaid re-authorization timelines just dropped from 30 days to 7 days. Learn how this federal change affects home health care and what families must do to avoid service denials.
What’s changed?
Under a new federal rule, home health agencies now have 7 days instead of 30 days to submit all required documents once an authorization enters pending status.
In the past, if some documents were still missing, there was additional time for families to:
- Request letters from schools or employers
- Attend a doctor’s appointment
- Obtain medical letters
- Clarify work travel information
That extra buffer is no longer available. Now, if all required documents are not received within 7 days, the authorization is denied due to timing, not medical need.
What This Means for Families
Because the timeline is much shorter, your participation plays a huge role in keeping care approved without interruption.
To help everything move smoothly, here’s what families can do:
- Open and respond to all mail and calls from Tendercare
- Keep your address and contact information up to date
- Answer calls promptly, especially when Tendercare reaches out ahead of your PA deadline
- Gather requested documents within the timeframes provided
- Schedule annual doctor visits in advance
- Tele-health visits and sick visits are no longer accepted as proof of an annual visit
- Talk with your doctor about the importance of completing visit notes and signing orders quickly
- Identify one or two contacts at your child’s school or workplace who can provide letters quickly
- Let Tendercare know if the patient receives other services outside of those provided by Tendercare
Every patient’s situation is different, and the documents required can vary from family to family.
We're Here to Help
Tendercare is now reaching out up to two months before re-certification deadlines to help families prepare early and avoid last-minute stress.
If you have questions about your specific authorization or what documents are needed, please reach out to Heather or Laci in our Authorizations department. We’re here to support you and help keep care in place without disruption.
Questions about your authorization or paperwork?
Our Authorizations team is here to help you stay on track and avoid delays that could impact care. Reach out to Heather or Laci for questions about your specific authorization, required documents, or upcoming deadlines.
Heather Bloom
Authorizations Manager
(317) 251-0700 ext. 420
Laci Partlow
Medicaid PA Specialist
(317) 251-0700 ext. 438
