Medicare’s hospice payments, adjusted for inflation and other factors, would rise an estimated 1.3% in 2016, according to the proposed hospice payment rule posted April 30.
 
The $200 million increase is the result, among other things, of a final hospice payment update percentage for fiscal year 2016 of 1.8% and changes to the fiscal year 2016 hospice wage index.
 
By comparison, the 2015 rule included a 1.4% increase in Medicare's hospice payments.
 
Another change within the latest proposed rule involves a clarification from CMS that  hospices must report all diagnoses identified within initial and comprehensive assessments on hospice claims — including those diagnoses unrelated to patients’ terminal prognoses.
 
This includes reporting patients’ mental health conditions that might affect plans of care.
 
Hospices must assess and provide care for patients’ identified psychosocial, emotional, physical and spiritual needs, CMS reminds.
 
CMS’ intent “is to try to capture anything that relates to the patient’s terminal trajectory,” believes John Mulder, vice president of medical services for Faith Hospice in Grand Rapids, Mich.