Understanding the New Service and Spending Variation Index—and What Hospice Leaders Should Do Next Throughout our FY 2027 Hospice Final Rule series, we have talked about something bigger than individual regulatory changes: CMS is increasing its ability to see, compare, and act on what is happening inside hospice organizations. The newly released Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI) may…
Beyond the Addendum: What Else Hospice Leaders Need to Know Before October 1 In Part I of our FY 2027 Hospice Final Rule series, we focused on what we believe is the most significant operational change facing hospices this year: the mandatory Hospice Election Statement Addendum. But the Addendum isn’t the only change hospice leaders…
The Biggest Operational Change: Why Every Hospice Needs to Rethink the Election Statement Addendum The long-anticipated FY 2027 Hospice Final Rule has finally been released, and hospice leaders across the country are asking the same questions: What changed? What does it mean for my organization? What do we need to do before October 1? Over…
At first glance, the new hospice and home health moratorium may seem like good news. Fewer new providers entering the market could mean less competition and greater stability for existing organizations. But the reality is far more complex. While the moratorium limits new entrants, it also signals a dramatic escalation in government oversight across the…
The recent announcement from CMS placing a moratorium on new hospice and home health enrollments isn’t just about limiting new agencies—it’s a clear signal of increased scrutiny across the entire industry. What does this mean for existing providers? More ADRs and denials Heightened focus on eligibility and recertification documentation Increased audits and compliance reviews Greater…
How can we provide Continuous Care services without going broke? Continuous care (CC) has gained significant popularity in recent years. Many savvy competitors have aggressively marketed their continuous care services as a means of enticing referral sources. Why is this level of care so popular? The most important reason is that so many of our…
As promised, the first 50 hospices to be chosen for scrutiny and participation in the CMS Special Focus Program have been named. There were no surprises as states that have recently come under scrutiny are well represented including California (14 programs), Texas (10 programs) and a respectable showing for the state of Georgia (5 programs).…
Can third party wound care providers bill Medicare Part B for wound supplies for hospice patients? This is a question that has come up frequently in the last year. Many of our hospice clients have been approached (repeatedly and aggressively) by wound care organizations who offer free wound supplies for hospice patients, free unlimited consultation…