CMS released several proposed rules late Thursday, including the FY 2022 Hospice Payment Rate Update.
 
"Despite the continuing public health emergency (PHE) generated by COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pushing forward with significant changes for hospice," the National Association for Home Care and Hospice noted in its initial analysis of the proposed rule.
 
That includes a 2.3% rate increase in FY2022 and an updated cap amount to $31,389.66. The rule would also make changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, as well as changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program in order to meet a deadline for 2022 publicly reported data.
 
In at least one case, CMS is proposing to make one of the hospice Conditions of Participation waivers during the PHE permanent: allowing hospice aide competency testing with the use of pseudo-patients.
 
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