WiHPCA - WiHPCA Legislative & Regulatory Quick Notes

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and Hospice Action Network (HAN) recently sent a letter to Congress, joined by organizations representing a broad coalition of the hospice and palliative care community, to request protection of access to high-quality hospice care for Medicare beneficiaries. The letter asks congressional leaders to call on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make changes to the proposed payment rate increase for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). A more sufficient rate would reflect the unprecedented demands and costs that hospice providers and programs are facing across the country. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
Earlier this month, the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) through October 13, 2022. The PHE provides special access to health insurance and offers key flexibilities on telehealth and reporting deadlines. The Biden Administration has long agreed to give 60 days’ notice warning if the PHE will not be extended again.

Last month, the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2021 was introduced in Congress to extend key telehealth waivers introduced during the pandemic. The legislation includes some of the most significant waivers introduced by the CMS since the COVID-19 pandemic began, including the elimination on geographical restrictions on Medicare coverage for telehealth services. It would also specifically extend hospice telehealth flexibilities – the option to hold face-to-face visits prior to recertification for the hospice benefit via telehealth, and for hospice patients to attend telehealth visits from home – through the end of 2024. CLICK HERE to contact your Members of Congress through the Hospice Action Network and urge them to support the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2021.
At the June 28 DQA-WiHPCA quarterly meeting (see more information below), the regulatory agency invited WiPHCA to review the state’s hospice interface document, the findings of which will be used to update the document. If you are interested in assisting with this important project and use your experience and expertise to review the hospice interface document, please contact the WiHPCA office at wihpca@badgerbay.co.

Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Association

563 Carter Ct, Suite B

Kimberly, WI 54136

Phone: 920-750-7726 | Fax: 920-882-3655