Industry News

HAA is committed to representing the industry's interest before Congress, the regulatory agencies, other national organizations, the courts, the media, and the public. This page links you to news and information abstracts currently available from HAA's legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, research, legal, and public relations departments. Providers interested in receiving monthly updates through HAA's Hospice Forum in CARING magazine, should contact subscription services at 202/546-4759. Members receive this publication free of charge.

Hospice Forum articles from CARING Magazine
Legislative Priorities
Regulatory Priorities
Research Updates

Proposed Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoP)

Proposed Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoP), from Federal Register, May 27, 2005. The Hospice Association of America/National Association for Home Care & Hospice is preparing comments in conjunction with the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization to form a united front on suggested changes to the proposed CoPs.Ê Hospices are urged to review and share their comments with HAA/NAHC by July 11 so we may include them with the comments we send to CMS.Ê ÊIt is recommended that Hospices also send their comments to CMS on these proposed CoP before July 26, 2005. Ê(PDF document, 345 KB)

Hospice Wage Index for 2004

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the new hospice wage index for FY 2004, which is effective October 1, 2003, in the September 30 issue of the Federal Register. Hospice Wage Index for 2004. (PDF document, 1.1 MB)

Intermediaries Receive 2003 Hospice Payment Rates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a program memorandum (Transmittal A-03-057) to the regional home health intermediaries to update the hospice payment rates, cap, wage index and the hospice pricer for fiscal year (FY) 2004.

Medicare Program-CMS issues letter on the Impact of Nursing Shortage on Hospice Care

Available in PDF format

Medicare Program-Update to the Hospice Payment Rates, Hospice Cap, Hospice Wage Index and the Hospice Pricer for FY 2003

Available in PDF format

CMS Releases New Guidelines for Hospice Services to SNF Residents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memorandum on May 10, 2002, to regional office administrator and state survey agencies on "Promising Practices for Implementing the Medicare Hospice Benefit for Nursing Home Residents." (This memorandum is available only to HAA members. To access the members only sections of this web site, enter your HAA membership number and zip code.)

Hospice Associations Send CMS Proposed New Guidelines for Hospice Medical Review

The Hospice Association of America (HAA), American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) have provided the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with proposed guidelines detailing how the medical review process might be improved.

Hospice Response to USA Today Article, "The Painful Truth of Hospice Care"

The Hospice Association of America (HAA) encourages hospices to respond to a very negative article about hospice, "The Painful Truth of Hospice Care," which appeared in the Life section of the August 20 edition of USA Today.

Hospice Industry News and Information

Latest news:

• CMS Clarifies Use of "PRN" for Hospice Plans of Care
• Intermediaries Receive 2003 Hospice Payment Rates
• CMS: Hospices May Employ NPs to Visit Patients and Write Orders
• OIG: No "All Meds Covered" Marketing for Hospices
• CMS Panel Responds to Hospice Policy Questions
• CMS Panel Responds to Hospice Survey and Certification Questions
• CMS Panel Responds to Hospice Medical Review Questions
• CMS to Expand Emphasis on Education
• FI Medical Directors Considering Creation of Universal Hospice LMRP
• CMS Releases New Guidelines for Hospice Services to SNF Residents
• MedPAC Report on Access to Hospice Care
• OIG 2002 Orange Book Takes Aim at HME
• MedPAC Receives Interim Report on Access to Medicare Hospice Benefit
• CMS Holds Second Open Door Meeting with Hospice Associations
• HAA and NAHC Ask CMS to Pay Physicians for Hospice Certification
• CMS Clarifies Payment Responsibilities for MCO Enrollees Electing Hospice
• OIG Recommends Delay in Medicare Appeals Reform
• Hospice Associations Meet With CMS on Proposed New Guidelines for Hospice Medical Review
• OIG Issues Two Hospice-Related Advisory Opinions
• CMS Seeks Input Regarding Hospice Patients in SNF/NFs
• Additional Delay in Due Date for Entity-based Hospice Cost Reports
• Hospice Payment Rates to Increase October 1, 2001
• First Quarter Cahaba Stats Show Denials Decline in Hospice Medical Review

At the National Association for Home Care's Annual National Policy Conference, the Hospice Association of America sponsors a workshop featuring a panel of experts from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) who respond to questions about the Medicare Hospice Benefit. The following three links are transcripts from the 2001 panel Q&A on several topics:

Q&A on HCFA policy
Q&A on Medical Review
HCFA responses to questions posed to the panel

Provider Based Hospice — Draft Cost Report Forms are available for download as a self extracting zip file.

haa.exe — Hospice Based
hsptl.exe — Hospital Based
snf.exe — SNF Based