Home health cost report · CMS-1728-20
Home Health Cost Report Preparation (CMS-1728-20)
The home health cost report is the annual Medicare cost report, Form CMS-1728-20, that freestanding home health agencies file with their Medicare Administrative Contractor by the last day of the fifth month after the period ends. Soriaga & Associates, LLC prepares it for a flat $1,599.99, or $500 for no utilization.
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The form
What is the home health cost report?
Freestanding Medicare-certified home health agencies file an annual cost report on Form CMS-1728-20. Agencies that are part of a hospital or skilled nursing facility complex file that provider's form instead (CMS-2552 or CMS-2540). CMS publishes the instructions in Provider Reimbursement Manual Part 2, Chapter 47.
It is one of the most consequential financial documents your agency files. We prepare the report, our CPAs review it, and we file it electronically through MCReF to your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).
Medicare cost reports
Flat pricing for every cost report.
No hourly billing. You know the fee before we start.
$500 for no-utilization reports
- Preparation of your complete Medicare cost report
- Prepared and reviewed by CPAs
- Electronic filing through MCReF with your MAC
- 72-hour turnaround once your documents are complete
When is my home health cost report due?
Your cost report is due on or before the last day of the fifth month after your cost reporting period ends. If your period ends on a day other than the last day of a month, it is due 150 days after the period ends. That is set by 42 CFR 413.24(f).
Extensions are not routine. Your MAC may grant one only when extraordinary circumstances outside your control, such as a flood or fire, significantly affect your operations. If you do not file a timely, acceptable cost report, Medicare payments are suspended in whole or in part until one is filed and accepted (42 CFR 405.371). The form also warns that failing to report can cause interim payments made since the start of the period to be treated as overpayments.
For more on timing, read when the Medicare cost report is due.
What is in a home health cost report?
The form is built from worksheets that move from your books to your Medicare settlement. At a high level:
- Worksheet S: certification, provider identification, and settlement and statistical data
- Worksheet A: your trial balance of expenses, with reclassifications and adjustments
- Worksheets B and B-1: cost allocation and the statistics used to allocate
- Worksheet C: apportionment of patient service costs
- Worksheets D and D-1: reimbursement settlement and analysis of payments
Do I file a no-, low-, or full-utilization report?
The form has an indicator for each type: F (full), L (low), or N (no Medicare utilization). We confirm which one you file on your free call.
No utilization
Your agency furnished no covered services to Medicare beneficiaries during the entire cost reporting period. Flat fee: $500.
Low utilization
Your agency had low Medicare utilization, and your MAC must approve filing less than a full report. Flat fee: $1,599.99.
Full utilization
Your agency does not qualify for the no- or low-utilization report, so the full cost report is required. Flat fee: $1,599.99.
What do I need to give you?
We confirm the exact list on your free call and send a preparation checklist when we begin. Typically we ask for:
- Your PS&R (Provider Statistical & Reimbursement) report
- Your trial balance or year-end financial statements
- Payroll records and statistics that support your visit and cost data
- Your depreciation schedule or fixed asset listing
- Your prior-year cost report and any MAC correspondence
The 72-hour turnaround starts once your documents are complete.
How does home health cost report filing work?
- 01Free 20-minute call: we confirm your fiscal year end, deadline, MAC, and utilization type.
- 02You send the documents on our checklist.
- 03We prepare the report and our CPAs review it. Turnaround is 72 hours once your documents are complete.
- 04You review it, and we file the electronic cost report through MCReF to your MAC.
What happens next
- 01
Free 20-minute call
Tell Christian about your agency and what is on your plate. No pitch deck, no pressure.
- 02
Written fee quote
You get a clear written quote for the work before we start. No surprises.
- 03
We handle it
Your CPA team takes it from there and keeps you posted until it is filed.
Client reviews
What our clients say
5.0 from 15 Google reviews
“Soriaga & Associates LLC has expertly handled our Medicare Cost Report preparation and filing for several years. They are reliable professionals ensuring compliance and efficiency in filling out cost reports. They respond quickly to emails and provide proactive support.”
FAQ
Home health cost report FAQs
Still have questions? Ask them on a free 20-minute call.
What is the CMS-1728-20?
CMS-1728-20 is the Medicare cost report form for freestanding home health agencies. Home health agencies that are part of a hospital complex file CMS-2552, and those that are part of a skilled nursing facility complex file CMS-2540.
Who has to file a home health cost report?
Medicare-certified home health agencies must file an annual cost report. The form states that the report is required by law (42 USC 1395g and 42 CFR 413.20(b)).
When is the home health cost report due?
On or before the last day of the fifth month after your cost reporting period ends, or 150 days after the period ends if it does not end on the last day of a month. Extensions are allowed only for extraordinary circumstances outside your control, at your MAC's discretion.
What happens if I file my cost report late?
If you do not file a timely, acceptable cost report, Medicare payments are suspended in whole or in part until one is filed and accepted (42 CFR 405.371). If your deadline is close or has passed, book a call right away so we can tell you where you stand.
How much does a home health cost report cost?
We charge flat fees: $1,599.99 for a low- or full-utilization report and $500 for a no-utilization report. You know the fee before we start, with no hourly billing.
What is the difference between a no-, low-, and full-utilization report?
No utilization means your agency furnished no covered services to Medicare beneficiaries during the entire period. Low-utilization reports require approval from your MAC. A full report is required otherwise. We confirm which type you file on the free call.
How long does preparation take?
We can turn your report around in 72 hours once your documents are complete. We confirm exactly what we need on your free call and provide a preparation checklist when we begin.
What documents do you need from me?
Typically your PS&R report, trial balance or financial statements, payroll and statistics records, depreciation schedule, and your prior-year cost report. We confirm the exact list on the free call.
How is the cost report filed?
We file the electronic cost report (ECR) through MCReF, the CMS portal, to your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).
What if my previous home health cost report had errors?
We assist agencies with amended filings and audit support. Amended and prior-year reports are quoted on your free 20-minute call, so contact us to discuss your situation.
Do you prepare home health cost reports outside Illinois?
Yes. We prepare Medicare cost reports for home health agencies nationwide and file to your MAC wherever it is.
Sources
Regulatory facts on this page come from these sources, checked on October 2, 2026:
- CMS Provider Reimbursement Manual Part 2, Chapter 47: instructions for Form CMS-1728-20
- Form CMS-1728-20: worksheets, utilization indicator, and filing warning
- 42 CFR 413.24: due date and extensions
- 42 CFR 405.371: suspension of payments
- CMS MCReF page: electronic filing to your MAC
- First Coast Service Options: low and no Medicare utilization: how a MAC describes no and low utilization
Free 20-minute call
Get your home health cost report prepared by CPAs.
Talk directly with Christian Soriaga, CPA. No pitch deck, no obligation.
On the call we’ll cover
- Your situation and what is due next
- Deadlines and filing status
- A clear written fee quote
- Clear next steps, no obligation
Christian Soriaga, CPA
Soriaga & Associates, LLC