CMS posted the latest version of the Hospice Item Set (HIS) to its website June 2.
 
Among the changes, Manual Version 1.02 eliminates confusion about how hospices should answer a question about when treatment involving comfort packs is initiated, says Katie Wehri, hospice operations expert for the National Association for Home Care & Hospice.
 
The latest HIS clarifies that the answer to that question is when the pack is ordered and the patient is told to open and begin using the pack, Wehri says.
CMS is hosting a provider call 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST June 17 to discuss this and other changes within the HIS.
 
Related link: Read more about the HIS and about CMS’ provider call at http://go.cms.gov/1eGtava.