CMS Announces Hospice Carve-In Demonstration will be Terminated at End of 2024

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Late on Monday, March 4, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced it plans to formally end the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Medicare Advantage hospice “carve-in” demonstration on December 31, 2024, and that it will not accept applications to the previously released CY 2025 Request for Applications (RFA) for the hospice component of […]

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TODAY! Value-Based Insurance Design Hospice Provider Webinar & Updates

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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model team will host a Hospice Provider Webinar on November 9, 2023 at 3:00pm ET. To register for the webinar, please visit the registration page. During this webinar, presenters will provide key information and policies for the upcoming Calendar Year (CY) 2024 of […]

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CMS to Extend MA VBID Hospice Component Model

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Future Changes include Tightened Hospice Choice, Enhanced Concurrent Care Benefits On March 23, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced its intent to extend the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model (MA VBID) through 2030. While CMMI did not explicitly indicate that the Hospice Component of […]

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CMS Issues Request for Applicants for Fourth Year of Model to Test Hospice Coverage under Medicare Advantage

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has issued its Request for Applications (RFA) for Calendar Year (CY) 2024 of the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Hospice Component Model (Model).  CY2024 will be the fourth (and, as currently planned, final) year of the model to test […]

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CMS Report Provides Insight into Experiences under MA-Hospice Model

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Send your comments/questions to Theresa Forster at tmf@nahc.org The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) report, Evaluation of Phase II of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model, released October 17, includes a first look at ways MA plans approached implementation of hospice coverage as part of the MA benefit package. This includes identification of patients, services offered, […]

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Plan Participation in CY2023 to Expand for MA VBID Model to Test Hospice Coverage

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–CMMI Releases List of Plans, Operating Locations for Next Year On September 29, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the list of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that will participate in the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model during Calendar Year (CY) 2023, including those that will participate in the […]

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CY 2023 HH PPS Proposed Rule and New Resources Now Available; Sample Reports Coming Soon

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June FAQs Now Available The June edition of the Expanded HHVBP Model Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is now available to assist home health agencies (HHAs) in understanding common terms used in the expanded Model and requirements under the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) final rule. The document is available […]

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Hospice Notes for July 13, 2022

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Congress is facing a packed few weeks in the lead-up to the monthslong August recess. The potential revival of a slimmed-down reconciliation package sought by Senate Democrats remains top-of-mind for many DC watchers. While nothing is concrete at this point, it unfortunately appears likely that any smaller party-line reconciliation bill will omit major funding investments […]

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NAHC to CMS: Maintain NP/CNS Authority to Certify Home Health

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The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and a group of likeminded organizations have written to Brian Slater, Director of the Division of Home Health and Hospice in the Center for Medicare Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reiterate our strong support for the authority of nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical […]

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CMMI Releases 5th Annual Home Health VBP Report

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The Center for Medicare  and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI) has released the fifth Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model annual report. The report shows  that total performance scores were 7% higher among agencies in HHVBP states than agencies in non-HHVBP states in 2020, a decrease in unplanned hospitalizations, ED visits leading to inpatient admission, and skilled […]

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Congress Expected to Pass Bill to Avert Major Medicare Cuts

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The US House of Representatives passed legislation during the evening of Tuesday, December 7, that would delay significant payment cuts to Medicare providers. The Senate is expected to vote on and pass the bill in the next few days, where it would then be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Assuming President Biden […]

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