Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
In order for a patient to receive the Medicare hospice benefit, the patient must be certified as terminally ill, according to a cgsmedicare webpage. The certification/recertification is an important part of required documentation for Medicare payment for the hospice services provided. A common reason for hospice certification errors are related to a missing or invalid […]
The COVID-19 pandemic that has sent the nation’s unemployment rate soaring may eventually—at least in some cases—affect employers’ unemployment insurance tax rates. Just who will be affected, though, remains an open question. With businesses shutting down or significantly curtailing operations, Congress responded with the $2 trillion stimulus bill dubbed the CARES Act, which was signed […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is supporting clinicians on the front lines by getting red tape out of the way so the healthcare delivery system can focus on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) response. CMS is implementing additional extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy exceptions and extensions for upcoming quality measure reporting and […]
Just as employers were taking a look at a bill in Congress aimed at providing paid leave for employees affected by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, the House-passed legislation took on changes in the Senate. As of early March 17, no Senate vote had been scheduled. Worries from business interests have resulted in a scaling back of […]
Concerns regarding compliance with quality and safety standards under the Hospice Conditions of Participation were addressed through legislation recently introduced by two members of the House Ways & Means Committee, Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Rep. Tom Reed. The legislation entitled, “Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments Act (HOSPICE Act),” was scheduled to be marked […]
CMS announced a new webinar designed to provide an overview of the Hospice Item Set (HIS) and submission requirements. The webinar is scheduled to take place 2-3 p.m. EST on March 3, 2020. The webinar will cover a general overview of the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, CAHPS submission and exemptions, basic instructions for completing the […]
CMS has released requirements documents for fiscal year 2021. The requirements have been updated to reflect changes in the FY2020 final rule. Updates have been made to the following: Getting Started with the Hospice Quality Reporting Program Hospice Quality Reporting Program: Requirements for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and Future FY Reporting Years Hospice Quality Reporting […]
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends giving CMS the authority to “enforce remedies” for hospices that fail to meet federal health and safety requirements, according to a November report. The study found that in 2017, 472 hospice providers discharged at least 50% of beneficiaries before death. And 83 providers didn’t have hospice staff visit beneficiaries within the […]
Hospices will now be permitted to accept medication orders from some physician assistants, according to the CY2020 Physician Fee Schedule final rule filed on Nov. 1. Prior to this, hospices were only allowed to accept prescription orders from physicians and nurse practitioners According to the rule, in order for the hospice to be able to […]
CMS will hold its next home health, hospice and durable medical equipment open door forum at 2 p.m. EST on Nov. 6. Topics will include the home health payment rule and the review choice demonstration as well as a home health billing update related to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). View the agenda at https://go.cms.gov/1TlLRb4.