- CMS-1355-F: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule to update the Medicare Hospice Wage Index for fiscal year (FY) 2012. This final rule continues the phase out of the hospice wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF), which is now in its third year. This final rule also revises the methodology to calculate the statutory aggregate cap, revises requirements for the face-to-face encounter for recertification, and implements quality reporting measures. Hospices serving Medicare beneficiaries are estimated to see a 2.5% increase in their payments for FY 2012. The estimated hospice payments are the net result of a 3.0% increase in the hospital market basket, offset by an estimated 0.5% decrease in payments to hospices due to updated wage index data and the third year of CMS' 7-year phase-out of its wage index BNAF. (Posted July 29, 2011) View Press Release.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Change Request (CR) 7518 [PDF, 75KB] , entitled "Update to Hospice Payment Rates, Hospice Cap, Hospice Wage Index, and the Hospice Pricer for FY 2012", which is effective October 1, 2011.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Transmittal 8, which revises hospice cost reporting instructions and hospice cost report worksheet S-1, effective for cost reporting periods ending July 31, 2011.
- Correction to CMS-1355-NR [PDF, 183KB] (Text Version), "Hospice Wage Index for Fiscal Year 2012", which was published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2011: This Notice of Ruling was corrected to show the correct title, "Hospice Appeals for Review of an Overpayment Determination." Additionally, this Notice of Ruling was corrected change the effective date of this Notice of Ruling from "April 14, 2011" to "May 9, 2011". (Posted July 22, 2011)
- CMS-1355-R / CMS-1355-NR: Ruling (Issue Date: April 14, 2011; Publication Date: May 9, 2011). CMS issued a Ruling, effective April 14, 2011, establishing CMS policy related to when a hospice challenges the validity of the beneficiary counting methodology in its appeal of an overpayment determination for any hospice cap year ending on or before October 31, 2011. (Posted May, 6 2011)
- Hospice Face-to-Face Guidance PowerPoint
- Update on Physician Signature Requirement and Face-to-Face Encounter Requirements
- Hospice Face-to-Face encounter FAQs
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Change Request (CR) 7337 [PDF, 400KB], which updates the hospice chapter of the Benefit Policy Manual to incorporate changes implemented as a result of the Affordable Care Act, and through notice-and-comment rulemaking in 2008, 2009, and 2010 (See CMS Manuals & Transmittals for CMS Internet-only Manuals, IOM 100-02, chapter 9 [PDF, 95KB]). The changes include updates to the CoP and certification sections of the chapter as well as minor technical edits.
- Do you want to find out Medicare Fee-for-Service information quickly? Subscribe to a CMS E-mail Update List or Listserv, such as the Hospice listserv, that suits your needs!
Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Spotlights Go to the Spotlight page for the latest MLN products and announcements! Check it often! |
