Hospices will now be permitted to accept medication orders from some physician assistants, according to the CY2020 Physician Fee Schedule final rule filed on Nov. 1.
 
Prior to this, hospices were only allowed to accept prescription orders from physicians and nurse practitioners. According to the rule, in order for the hospice to be able to accept the order from a PA:
  • The PA must be an individual acting within his or her state scope of practice requirements and hospice policy
  • The PA must be the patient’s attending physician
  • The PA may not have an employment or contractual arrangement with the hospice
CMs will revise §418.106(b)(1) of the hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs) to reflect this change effective Jan. 1, 2020.
 
Related link: For more information, view the rule at: https://bit.ly/2NLSRn2.