Late April 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) posted the proposed FY2018 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements. The rule allows for a 1 percent increase in hospice payments, which equates to an increase of $180 million in hospice outlays. The rule also updates the hospice wage index using the FY2017 hospital pre-floor, pre-reclassified wage index. CMS is considering, in the future, amending existing rules related to the appropriate source of information for initial determinations of terminal illness and is soliciting comments on this; CMS asked for comment on proposed updates to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP). CMS outlines its plans for launch of the Hospice COMPARE website in summer 2017, which will be used for public reporting of hospice quality measures. As part of that launch, CMS indicates it will include the initial seven Hospice Item Set (HIS) process measures. Public reporting of CAHPS Hospice measures will occur in winter of 2018, and the two newest HIS measures (the HIS Composite Measure and the Visits at the End of Life Measures) will be reported at a later date. The Coalition took the opportunity to summit comments, Download Coalition Comment Letter.
