Your hospice will continue to be able to use contract nursing staff if you’re unable to hire sufficient staff to serve your patient population.

CMS announced Sept. 14 if has decided to extend a special exemption from the requirement that hospice core services be provided only by employees. The exemption was due to expire Sept. 30, but has now been extended through Sept. 30, 2014.

The federal Medicare agency decided to allow the extension because “[m]any hospices and their associations” had argued that an ongoing shortage of nurses is affecting patients’ ability to access hospice services.

CMS’ announcement also contains a list of information you must submit to apply for the exemption.