60-Day Certification Period
The 60-day certification period is the length of time a physician or allowed practitioner certifies a patient's need for home health care in a single certification. Under PDGM (the Patient-Driven Groupings Model), each 60-day certification period contains two 30-day payment periods. Care continuing beyond day 60 requires a recertification, supported by a recertification OASIS assessment and an updated plan of care.
Definition
The 60-day certification period is the length of time a physician or allowed practitioner certifies a patient's need for home health care in a single certification. Under PDGM (the Patient-Driven Groupings Model), each 60-day certification period contains two 30-day payment periods. Care continuing beyond day 60 requires a recertification, supported by a recertification OASIS assessment and an updated plan of care.
Why it matters
60-Day Certification Period is part of the OASIS & Assessment vocabulary used across home health operations, documentation, and revenue cycle. Understanding it helps clinicians, QA leads, and administrators stay aligned on care quality and compliance.
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