Policy Issue: Program Integrity
Our Position
Protecting care for patients and families is a top policy priority. We must ensure appropriate oversight and regulation to protect the quality of care hospice patients receive, via additional oversight of new and suspicious hospices to prevent bad actors from operating.
Resources
Previous Legislation
- 116th Congress (2019-2020): H.R. 5821: “Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments” (HOSPICE) Act: This legislation would have addressed the concerns identified by the HHS Office of Inspector General about CMS monitoring of hospice, hospice survey deficiencies and patient harm. Provisions of the HOSPICE Act were included and passed within the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133).
- 116th Congress (2019-2020): S.2807: Hospice Care Improvement Act of 2019: This legislation would have included provisions that aim to increase reported hospice data, improve the hospice survey process and increase compliance of quality standards for hospice care.
Activities
- March, 2024: Press release from the four preeminent national hospice organizations re: a recent hospice provider survey showing that CMS and Congress must act to address shortcomings in the current hospice audit process.
- November, 2023: Press release in opposition to the final Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) released in the CY2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update. HAN launched an action alert, calling on Congress to require CMS to make improvements to the SFP algorithm.
- October, 2023: Comments in response to Request for Information from the House Budget Committee titled “Solutions to Improve Outcomes and Reduce Federal Health Care Spending in the Budget.” Comments discussed the need for continued policy that addresses hospice fraud.
- August, 2023: Coalition Letter to CMS on Auditing of Medicare Hospice Benefit Claims.
- July, 2023: Congressional champions sent a letter to CMS urging further action on addressing hospice fraud. HAN sent an action alert, encouraging members of Congress to sign on to the letter.
- June, 2023: Priority Issue at Hospice Action Week 2023 in Washington, D.C.
- February, 2023: Coalition Meeting with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to share concerns and recommendations to address hospice program integrity issues.
- January, 2023: 34 recommendations list shared with Congressional Leadership.
- November, 2022: Coalition Letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure with a collaboratively created list of 34 recommendations to improve hospice program integrity policy and regulation.
- February, 2020: Priority Issue at We Are Hospice event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
- February, 2020: Press Release in support of the “Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments” Act or the “HOSPICE” Act (H.R. 5821).