WiHPCA is happy to remind members about and provide links to the latest legislative and regulatory articles and information on the hospice industry from Hospice News and other publications:

·       CMS Issues Guidance for Hospices on HOPE Tool Implementation

Hospice News – By Jim Parker| Sept. 17, 2024

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final guidance manual for implementing the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool. The tool is slated for an October 2025 implementation, according to the agency’s 2025 final hospice rule. The tool will replace the Hospice Item Set (HIS) quality reporting system. Read more...

·       CMS to Expand ‘Enhanced Oversight’ to Combat Hospice Fraud in 4 States

Hospice News – By Jim Parker| Sept. 10, 2024

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expanding its enhanced oversight for new hospices in fraud-ridden states, including California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. The agency in July 2023 first announced a “provisional period of enhanced oversight” for new hospices in those states. A key component of the enhanced oversight includes a medical review of claims before a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) will pay them. Read more...