Advocating for Access: Coalition Responds to CMS Hospice Proposed Rule

As hospice providers grapple with rising staffing costs, inflation-driven expenses, and mounting pressures on care teams, the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care is advocating for policy changes at a federal level.

In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 10, the Coalition called for a stronger response to the economic realities threatening access to hospice care. The FY2026 Proposed Rule suggests a 2.4% payment update—far below what many in the field say is needed to sustain quality services.

The Coalition’s letter outlines key concerns and recommendations, including:

• Workforce sustainability: Addressing critical staffing shortages and escalating wage demands.
• Data integrity: Urging CMS to begin collecting claims data for chaplain services and telehealth visits to fully capture hospice care delivery.
• Responsible implementation: Calling for a delay in enforcement of the new HOPE assessment tool until providers are fully equipped for the transition.
• Patient-centered care: Advising against a one-size-fits-all nutrition measure, noting its misalignment with individualized end-of-life care goals.

To inform these comments, the NCHPC convened experts and professionals from across the interdisciplinary field of hospice and palliative care that comprise our coalition.