On October 4, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California bill SB-664 “Hospice licensure: moratorium on new licenses” (the “Bill”) into law. The Bill, which passed the California Assembly on September 8, 2021 and the California Senate on September 9,
Latest from Hospice Law Blog
MEDPAC Reviews Hospice; Proposes Quadrupling Cap Recoveries
On December 3, 2020, MEDPAC reviewed hospice data from 2019, noting these key metrics:
- Medicare payments grew just under 10% to $20.9 billion;
- Hospices served 1.6 million patients, including 51% of 2019 decedents (both modest increases);
- Average length of stay
CMS Sending Hospice Cap Demands Ahead of Schedule
Hospice providers within regions administered by NGS are reporting that NGS is presently finalizing and serving out final 2019 hospice cap repayment demands. This action, which tacks on sequestration (funds never received) to revenue, is entirely inappropriate and must be
CARES Act: Telehealth Allowed for Hospice Recertification/Face to Face
In the CARES Act, passed last night, section 3706 allows hospices to conduct recertifications including face to face visits using telehealth “during the emergency period.”
Coronavirus: Hospices Can Help
Our healthcare system is in just the initial stages of the Coronavirus19 crisis. Hospices have a role to play. Let’s keep it short. Here is what we need to do:
Annual DDE Recertification Due 9/30 (And Other DDE Pitfalls)
Direct Data Entry (DDE) access is a company’s revenue lifeline: without it, hospices cannot comply with NOE filing requirements or submit claims for payment. Every hospice has DDE login rights, but many fail to recognize (and take due care to
Hospice False Claims: AseraCare Lost A Battle But Has Helped Win The War
Last week, the 11th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals reversed summary judgment given to AseraCare in its hospice false claims case, setting up more litigation on the question whether AseraCare’s certifications were made in good faith. But, the appeals court
CMS Finalizes 2020 Hospice Rule: Big Changes Coming
On August 6, 2019, CMS finalized its 2020 hospice rule, including adopting, without substantial modification, two controversial and material changes to the hospice benefit:
- Rebasing payment rates to shift about $500 million from routine care to enhanced levels of
CMS Proposes To Shift Hospice Funding From Routine To Enhanced Care Days
With the FY 2020 proposed hospice rule, CMS proposes two material changes for hospice providers:
- CMS proposes to shift approximately $500 million of hospice funding (2.7% of payments) from routine care to enhanced care payments (inpatient, continuous, and respite care);
CMS Proposes To Force Hospices to Specify Unrelated Treatments
In its FY 2020 proposed hospice update, CMS proposes two changes of significant interest to providers:
- Shifting $500 million of reimbursement from routine to enhanced care levels; and
- Requiring providers to notify patients in writing of treatments that will be