Federal Hospice Updates
(March 4, 2025) Please note the following hospice updates from LeadingAge National:
Hospice Report Portal Updated. On Feb. 28th, the LeadingAge National Report Portal was updated for hospice. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated hospice Care Compare data. LeadingAge NY analyzed the data and incorporated it into the Quality Metrics reports, which were then uploaded to the portal. Members can now log onto the Report Portal webpage to access their organization's reports, which are dated February 2025. This data includes updates to the Hospice Item Set data, Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) measures, and the CAHPS Star Ratings. If you have any questions, please contact LeadingAge National's Katy Barnett.
Bipartisan Reintroduction of Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act. U.S. Representative Carol Miller (R-WV) and five colleagues, Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Aaron Bean (R-FL), and Joe Morelle (D-NY), reintroduced the Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act on Feb. 27th. The bill would allow the hospice face-to-face recertification to take place via telehealth through Dec. 31, 2027 and establish a claims code to track telehealth recertification. Telehealth flexibilities for hospice are currently authorized through March 31, 2025.
Please look for an action alert on this bill coming soon from LeadingAge National.
Stakeholders to U.S. AG Bondi: Rescind Proposed Telemedicine Regulation. In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Feb. 20th, LeadingAge National, along with over 150 other stakeholder groups, emphasize the importance of access to telemedicine and urge the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rescind the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) proposed telemedicine regulation and to work with Congress to ensure ongoing access to virtual prescribing for patients and providers of certain controlled substances.
The letter emphasizes that time is of the essence, as the current COVID-19-era flexibilities expire this December. LeadingAge National has advocated on behalf of members to allow more flexibility for prescribers to use telehealth for controlled substances across aging services. As part of a series of executive orders (EOs) on Jan. 20th, the Trump administration put a freeze on any new regulations for 90 days and required all agencies to review current regulations out for public comment and determine if they should be rescinded.
This review of regulations is set to end on March 20th, with comments on the Biden administration’s proposed rule due March 18th.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871