WiHPCA is happy to remind members about and provide links to the latest articles and information from Hospice News and other publications:
· 22 States Petition CMS to End COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
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 COVID-19.
Read more…
· OIG Rolls Out Provider Relief Fund Audits for Hospices
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 that providers spent these dollars.
Read more…
· Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Break Down Advance Care Planning Barriers
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. Read more…
· Meticulous Documentation a Hospice’s Best Defense in HIS Audit Appeals
By Holly Vossel | November 9, 2022
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 served. Those who do not report those data risk a payment cut of 2% across the board. Read more…
Hospice News, which is part of the Aging Media Network, is a leading source for news and information covering the hospice industry.
