During the most recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Health, Hospice, and DME (Durable Medicare Equipment) Open Door Forum (ODF), the following information and updates were provided:

FY2023 Hospice Proposed Rule

CMS provided a brief update of the proposed payment rate update (2.7%), wage index changes, and other aspects of the recently released FY2023 hospice proposed rule.  See the detailed NAHC summary and a link to the NAHC recorded webinar here.

Hospice Quality Reporting Program

CMS reminded hospices that the FY2024 annual payment update is based on the CY2022 data submissions.  Hospices must comply with the following HIS and Hospice CAHPS Survey participation requirements to avoid the APU penalty which increases to 4% in FY2024.

• Submit at least 90% of HIS records within the 30 days of the event date (patient’s admission or discharge) for patient admissions/discharges occurring 1/1/22 – 12/31/22
• Ongoing monthly participation in the CAHPS Hospice Survey 1/1/22 – 12/31/22

Public reporting of the new claims-based measures

• Hospice Care Index (HCI), and
• Hospice Visits in Last Days of Life (HVLDL)

will occur with the May 2022 refresh of Care Compare.  The Provider Preview Reports for this refresh were made available to hospices in their CASPER folders in March.  Hospices should note that the Preview Reports drop off their CASPER folder after 60 days; therefore, hospices are encouraged to download and save or print these reports for future reference.

CAHPS Hospice Survey Star Rating will be reported in August 2022.  It will NOT be reported with the May Care Compare refresh.