RCD Providers Going Through a Change of Ownership: Here Is What You Need to Know

Published 05/08/2026

When buying a home health agency in a Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) state there are a few things one needs to know before, during, and after the change of ownership (CHOW) process. 

Before

  1. Find out which RCD choice the selling agency is currently under. The buyer will inherit the seller’s current selection, so you will want to familiarize yourselves with what that selection entails.
  1. You will be able to change your choice selection during the next cycle selection unless the agency’s current choice is Choice 3: Selective Postpayment Review, which is a permanent option.
  1. Try to find out the seller’s end-of-cycle rate. The buyer will inherit the seller’s cycle reviews and any affirmation decisions that were submitted during the cycle. This information will impact the available selections during the upcoming cycle selection. 
  1. If the cycle rate is below 90 perecent at the end of the cycle, you will be choosing from the initial options.
  2. If the cycle rate is above 90 percent at the end of the cycle, you will be choosing between the subsequent options. 

During

If a selection period occurs prior to the CHOW finalizing, the buyer should coordinate with the seller to ensure a choice selection is made. Remember, you will inherit whichever choice the agency is under once the CHOW is completed. 

After

Enroll in eSerivices under the new Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN)/National Provider Identifier (NPI) combination. 

  1. Do not use the old PTAN/NPI combination to request unique tracking numbers (UTNs) after the CHOW has finalized. Your claim will return to provider (RTP) if the NPI on your UTN is different from the NPI on your claim. 
  2. If a UTN was requested prior to the CHOW finalizing, and you need to have the NPI associated with the UTN updated, you can request this through the Provider Contact Center (PCC). 
  1. This workaround will not apply to UTNs that were requested after the CHOW finalized. You will need to bill the claim without a UTN which will result in an additional documentation request. If the claim is approved for payment, you will be subject to a 25-percent payment reduction.
  2. Ensure that all staff who need access to make Pre-Claim Review (PCR) submissions or other administrative tasks have access under the new account.
  3. Remember that the administrator must grant access to additional staff who require access to make PCR submissions.

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