A fourth year into the pandemic, its effects have hospices continuing to combat against financial and operational headwinds, as well as uncertainty about the future of telehealth rules. The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is likely to endure past another extension. Currently set to expire Jan. 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health & Human […]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently approved legislation that expands upon last years’ moves to strengthen hospice oversight in the state, among other enforcement actions. Assembly Bill 2673 extends California’s moratorium on new hospice provider licenses, which now will remain effective until the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) sets emergency regulations. The agency has […]
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has set its sights on the long-term expansion of value-based reimbursement, as well as advancing health equity. Going forward, this could mean greater collaboration with private-sector payers and providers. Also on the table is the question of how to meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries who increasingly […]
Regulatory attention heating up in the hospice industry could be impacting buyers’ mergers and acquisitions decisions. Nuances in the regulatory environment can be difficult to navigate, perhaps more so for private equity and venture capital investors that are new to the industry. Changes to federal enforcement practices during the next year could bring some additional […]
Federal oversight is needed to stem harmful and potentially illegal practices associated with a proliferation of new providers in several states, four of the nation’s largest hospice industry groups wrote to U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Signatories on the joint letter included LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care […]
Attorneys General from 22 states have petitioned the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers. CMS instituted the mandate last December, requiring that all health care personnel that enter a care setting or come into contact with patients, families or caregivers be vaccinated for […]
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently began to probe hospices in its initial phase of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) audits. More than two years after the CARES Act established the $175 billion PRF, federal regulators are moving forward on audits that closely examine the ways […]
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) recently introduced legislation aimed at improving access to advance care planning services among patients with serious illness. The Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act would expand utilization of these services by removing Medicare payment barriers faced by both providers and patients. The bill proposes to […]
Hospice leaders are working with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure providers get a fair shake when the agency’s forthcoming Special Focus Program (SFP) comes to fruition. Initially proposed for 2022, the agency opted to delay implementation in response to feedback from hospices and industry organizations. Instead, CMS is convening […]
Hospices that are meticulous and vigilant with documentation see the best results when appealing payment cuts associated with Hospice Item Set (HIS) audits. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed HIS as a tool to gauge a patient’s overall care experience. The agency requires hospices to submit HIS data for each patient […]
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