/ en Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:22:11 -0500 Wed, 19 Feb 25 14:57:21 -0600 /news/headline/2025-02-19-cms-suspends-hospice-special-focus-program <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Feb. 14 <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/certification-compliance/hospice-special-focus-program" title="special focus">announced</a> it ceased implementation of the Hospice Special Focus Program so the agency can further evaluate it. The program, established from the 2024 home health prospective payment system <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-11-13/pdf/2023-24455.pdf" title="final rule">final rule</a>, was created to identify poor-performing hospices for increased oversight to ensure they met Medicare requirements.</p> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:57:21 -0600 Hospice /news/headline/2024-07-30-cms-updates-hospice-payments-fy-2025 <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 30 issued a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-16910.pdf">final rule</a> updating hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2025. Overall, CMS finalized a 2.9% net increase to payments compared with FY 2024. This includes a 3.4% market basket update and a 0.5 percentage point cut for productivity. As a result of this increase, the hospice payment cap will be increased from $33,494.01 to $34,465.34. CMS also finalized adoption of the most recent Office of Management and Budget statistical area delineations, which will affect the wage index used by some providers. In addition, the rule adopts a new patient-level data collection tool to replace the existing Hospice Item Set and also adds two new process measures beginning in FY 2028.</p> Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:57:08 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2024-03-28-cms-proposes-payment-increase-hospices-fy-2025 <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services March 28 issued a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-06921.pdf">proposed rule</a> to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2025. CMS proposes a 2.6% ($705 million) net increase to payments compared with FY 2024. This includes a 3.0% market basket update, a 0.4 percentage point cut for productivity, and an annual payment cap per patient of $34,364.85. CMS also proposes to adopt the most recent Office of Management and Budget statistical area delineations, which would affect the geographic wage index. In addition, the rule proposes to adopt and implement a patient-level data collection tool to replace the existing Hospice Item Set and to add two new process measures beginning in FY 2028. CMS will accept comments on the rule through May 28.</p> Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:58:35 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2023-07-28-cms-issues-fy-2024-hospice-provider-final-rule <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 28 issued its <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-16116.pdf">final rule</a> updating hospice payments for fiscal year 2024. CMS finalized a 3.1% ($780 million) net increase to FY 2024 payments as compared with FY 2023. This update includes a 3.3% market basket, reduced by a 0.2% productivity adjustment. CMS also finalized an updated payment cap per patient of $33,494.01. In addition, the agency finalized its proposal to require that physicians who certify hospice eligibility be enrolled as a Medicare provider or validly opted out. Lastly, CMS finalized its proposal to extend the ability to conduct face-to-face physician recertifications remotely.</p> Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:04:52 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2023-03-31-cms-proposes-updated-hospice-payment-rates-fy-2024-requests-information-utilization-and-other-issues <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued its <a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fiscal-year-fy-2024-hospice-payment-rate-update-proposed-rule-cms-1787-p#:~:text=FY%202024%20Routine%20Annual%20Rate,0.2%20percentage%20point%20productivity%20adjustment">proposed rule</a> updating hospice payments for fiscal year 2024. CMS proposes a 2.8% ($720 million) estimated net increase to payments compared with FY 2023 payments. This update is the result of a 3% update to the market basket, reduced by a 0.2% productivity adjustment. This would result in an updated payment cap per patient of $33,396.55. In addition to these payment updates, CMS provides an analysis of hospice utilization and spending trends, and includes a request for information from stakeholders on access restrictions, utilization, ownership transparency, non-hospice spending during benefit periods, the hospice election process, and health equity in the hospice program. </p> <p>CMS also proposes to update its requirements around physician certification for the hospice benefit, which it says will be part of an ongoing effort this year to address fraud, waste and abuse in the hospice program. Finally, CMS is proposing updates to its regulatory text in anticipation of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including extending the ability to conduct face-to-face physician recertifications remotely.</p> Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:32:35 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2022-07-27-cms-finalizes-payment-increase-hospices-fy-2023 <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2022-16214/medicare-program-fiscal-year-2023-hospice-wage-index-and-payment-rate-update-and-hospice-quality">final rule</a> to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2023. The rule finalizes a 3.8% ($825 million) net increase to payments compared with FY 2022. This includes a 4.1% market basket update and a 0.3 percentage point cut for productivity. The rule also finalizes an annual payment cap per patient of $32,486.92 and a permanent 5% cap on wage index reductions relative to the prior year<br />  </p> Wed, 27 Jul 2022 17:03:50 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2022-03-31-cms-proposes-payment-increase-hospices-fy-2023 <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday issued a <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/14/2021-07344/medicare-program-fy-2022-hospice-wage-index-and-payment-rate-update-hospice-conditions-of">proposed rule</a> to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2023. CMS proposes a 2.7% ($580 million) net increase to payments compared with FY 2022. This includes a 3.1% market basket update, a 0.4 percentage point cut for productivity, and an annual payment cap per patient of $32,142.65. CMS also proposes a permanent mitigation policy for wage index year-to-year changes — a 5% cap on reductions relative to the prior year. In addition, the rule provides updates and seeks feedback on the development of a patient assessment tool and quality measures related to patient experience; and contains a request for information on health equity, including the concept of a structural quality measure to assess a hospice’s commitment to addressing health equity. CMS will accept comments on the rule through May 31.</p> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 15:58:47 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2021-04-08-cms-proposes-payment-increase-hospices-fy-2022 <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-07344/medicare-program-fy-2022-hospice-wage-index-and-payment-rate-update-hospice-conditions-of">proposed rule</a> to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2022. CMS proposes a 2.3% ($530 million) net increase to payments, compared to FY 2021. This includes a 2.5% market basket update and a 0.2 percentage point cut for productivity. The agency also proposed a new methodology to assess hospice aide competencies.</p> <p>CMS proposes to add one new quality measure as well as a Star Rating based on patient surveys to the Care Compare website. In addition, the rule requests comments on how to better address health inequities through data collection to aid relevant analysis. CMS will accept comments on the rule through June 7.</p> Thu, 08 Apr 2021 16:26:35 -0500 Hospice <p>Resources from the Hospice and Home Health Challenges with Medicare Advantage member call, March 30, 2021. </p> <p><a class="btn btn-default btn-round" href="/system/files/2021-05/hospice-home-health-challenges-with-medicare-advantage-member-call-3-30-21.mp3" target="_blank">Listen to the call.</a></p> Tue, 30 Mar 2021 18:52:22 -0500 Hospice /news/headline/2019-07-31-cms-finalizes-26-payment-increase-hospices-fy-2020 <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-16583.pdf">final rule</a> to update the payment rates for hospices by 2.6% for fiscal year 2020. CMS finalizes a net payment increase of $520 million, compared to FY 2019. This includes a 3.0% market-basket update, offset by a statutorily-required reduction of 0.4% for productivity. The rule also rebases the rates hospices are paid for certain types of care. In addition, the rule modifies the beneficiary hospice election statement in order reduce the time spent trying to obtain information needed for treatment decisions and accurate claims submissions.</p> Wed, 31 Jul 2019 16:23:15 -0500 Hospice