Government Shutdown 2025: What It Means for Home Care Agencies

As of October 6, 2025, the U.S. federal government remains shut down, halting non-essential federal operations and creating ripple effects across healthcare programs. While Medicare and Medicaid payments continue, many administrative, regulatory, and telehealth policies are awaiting further federal action.

For home healthcare providers, these disruptions can impact scheduling, billing, and compliance, exactly where having the right software support matters most.

The Current Situation

The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. Nonessential federal agencies have had to stop operations, while others are operating at reduced capacity.

Although healthcare programs are generally protected from funding lapses, agencies are already feeling the impact of administrative slowdowns, particularly within Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) operations and survey scheduling.

Key Areas of Impact for Home Healthcare Providers

1. Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Waivers

Unless Congress acts soon, several temporary healthcare flexibilities from the pandemic will expire:

Medicare telehealth allowances for face-to-face encounters will expire, requiring in-person visits for certifications and recertifications.
The Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver may end, forcing transitions back to inpatient settings and increasing hospital strain.
Medicaid telehealth remains governed by state policy and is unaffected by this federal lapse.

For agencies, these changes could disrupt patient scheduling, continuity of care, and compliance documentation. INMYTEAM’s platform allows providers to adapt workflows quickly, whether appointments are conducted in person or remotely, maintaining compliance across all visit types.

2. Medicare and Medicaid Operations

While funding for these programs continues, the administrative functions that support them are slowing down. Agencies may experience:

Delays in new provider enrollments and revalidations.
Postponements of appeals and waiver approvals.
Possible delay in the release of the 2026 Home Health Final Rule, originally expected by November 1.

INMYTEAM’s claims tracking and billing automation help agencies monitor reimbursements, identify payment gaps, and stay on top of compliance requirements during these disruptions.

3. Surveys, Certification, and Quality Reporting

Routine Medicare certification and recertification surveys are likely to be postponed until funding resumes. However, complaint-driven surveys related to patient safety will continue.

Providers are advised to keep submitting quality reporting data as scheduled. Any official changes or suspensions will come directly from CMS.

With INMYTEAM, agencies can centralize documentation, ensure readiness for inspections, and maintain a complete audit trail, even if survey timelines are uncertain.

4. Impact on Community and Support Programs

Several programs are at risk of temporary funding gaps, including the Older Americans Act and the Social Services Block Grant. These programs often serve as referral sources and support systems for home care patients.

As community resources tighten, home care agencies may see:

An increase in patient volume as families turn to in-home care.
Greater administrative coordination demands.
Difficulties keeping services running smoothly due to staffing shortages.

INMYTEAM’s communication and scheduling tools help teams coordinate efficiently, ensuring patients continue to receive timely and consistent care.

How Home Healthcare Agencies Can Prepare

Stay informed: Monitor updates from CMS, state Medicaid programs, and industry associations such as NAHC and HCAF.

Plan for delays: Prepare for possible delays by reviewing your billing timelines, patient schedules, and payroll plans.

Engage policymakers: Support legislative solutions such as the Home Health Stabilization Act, which would freeze 2026 rates and prevent further reimbursement cuts.

Leverage technology: Platforms like INMYTEAM enable automation of compliance tracking, document management, and communication workflows, reducing administrative strain during uncertain periods.

Supporting Home Care Agencies Through Every Policy Shift

Home care providers play an essential role in maintaining community health, especially during federal disruptions. INMYTEAM is committed to helping agencies stay compliant, efficient, and focused on patient care.

Our all-in-one home care management platform integrates scheduling, billing, quality reporting, and communication tools, so your team can continue delivering high-quality care, no matter what happens in Washington.