The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent Congressional agency tasked with advising the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. The Commission's statutory mandate is quite broad: In addition to advising the Congress on payments to private health plans participating in Medicare and providers in Medicare's traditional fee-for-service program, MedPAC is also tasked with analyzing access to care, quality of care, and other issues affecting Medicare. From time to time, MedPAC studies aspects of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, formulates recommended changes, and reports to Congress.

NHPCO’s Public Policy team closely monitors MedPACs work on hospice issues and also interacts with Congress on MedPAC recommendations. When necessary, the Hospice Action Network mobilizes to educate and influence Congressional response to MedPAC.

Resources:
March, 2010 MedPAC Report to Congress: Hospice chapter

NHPCO Release: Hospice Objects to MedPAC Margin Projections and Reductions

March, 2009 MedPAC Report to Congress: Reforming Medicare’s hospice benefit

NHPCO Statement on MedPAC Recommendations to Congress (2009)

NHPCO Comments to Congress on MedPAC Recommendations (2009)