Hospice Updates from CMS and DOH

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available a Hospice Item Set (HIS) fact sheet for providers. This fact sheet can be found on the Hospice Quality Reporting Program HIS web page in the “Downloads” section. It is intended to provide a general overview of the HIS and includes topics such as HIS background information, possible steps for implementing the HIS in your organization, HIS completion and submission timeframes and additional HIS resources.

The NYS Department of Health (DOH ) published a proposed operational rule for Hospice in the Oct. 23, NYS Register on page 16 . As outlined in the NYS Register, "the proposed rule making was necessitated by changes in the federal conditions of participation/rules for hospice providers and recent Medicaid Redesign Initiatives. State rules have been revised and reordered to be consistent with federal rules to facilitate provider compliance and surveillance activities. Revisions to federal and state rules are intended to improve care delivery processes and support performance improvement activity at the provider level. Additionally, amendments were necessitated by Chapter 441 of the Laws of 2011, signed by the Governor on August 17, 2011 and Medicaid Redesign efforts to expand hospice benefits. Individuals could benefit from receiving hospice services earlier in their terminal illness, by having their symptoms managed on an on-going basis, thereby reducing the need for emergency room visits and hospital stays."

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871.