Hospice providers may soon see updates to the Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
 
CMS will host three listening sessions next month on operational and regulatory challenges under the existing CoPs. They’ll also be looking for innovative approaches that providers have found to address these challenges.
 
The first session will be Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, for hospice administration and hospice associations. CMS notes in the event details that it’s seeking input on the following questions:
  • Are there existing CoPs that no longer reflect how hospice care is delivered today? If so, which CoPs should CMS prioritize for modernization?
  • What operational challenges do hospices experience when trying to establish contracts with hospitals, rehabilitative therapists, etc.
  • What workforce challenges have had the greatest impact on your ability to provide hospice services?
  • What internal controls exist to prevent the enrollment of patients who do not meet hospice eligibility criteria?
  • Are physicians who certify terminal illness independent, or do they have a financial relationship with your hospice? How is this documented?
 
A second session on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, is looking for responses from hospice field staff, with the following questions:
  • What barriers prevent hospices from providing all Medicare-covered hospice services to patients? 
  • If a hospice chooses to employ a physician assistant (PA), what activities is the PA primarily engaged in? 
  • What policy changes would have the greatest impact on improving patient care while also reducing opportunities for fraud or inappropriate enrollment? 
  • In your role, how often do you interact with the hospice medical director? Please describe your interactions and experiences with the medical director. 
  • How has your hospice adapted its volunteer recruitment strategies in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as reduced volunteer availability, hesitancy around in-person care, and increased competition for community volunteers?
  • Are you utilizing virtual or remote volunteer roles (e.g., phone companionship, administrative support, telehealth assistance) to supplement in-person volunteering, and how are these roles documented toward the 5% requirement?
  • How do you engage younger or non-traditional volunteer populations (e.g., college students, corporate volunteers, faith-based organizations) to diversity and grow your volunteer base post-pandemic?
 
Finally, a third session is planned for patients, families and caregivers on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Questions include:
  • When your family member enrolled in hospice, did you feel you understood which services hospice would and would not provide? Were there aspects of hospice care that were confusing or difficult to understand?
  • If you could recommend one change CMS could make to improve the hospice experience for patients and families, what would it be?
  • When your family member enrolled in hospice, did the hospice team explain the four levels of hospice care and when each might be used?
  • Did the hospice team communicate clearly about the changes in your family member’s condition and updates to the care plan? Did they share this information in a timely manner?
  • How often did you feel that your family member needed services that were unavailable or difficult to access? Please describe these experiences.
  • Did the hospice provide bereavement support after your family member’s passing? If so, how soon after the passing did this support begin, and for how long were those services offered?