CMS is pulling back from a proposal that would have required hospices to follow patient preference in selecting the type of therapist used in the interdisciplinary group (IDG) in order to meet the Conditions of Participation.
In the Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, released Thursday, Nov. 2, CMS finalized a plan to add mental health counselors (MHC) and marriage and family therapists (MFT) as alternatives to social workers as members of the IDG.
Importantly, CMS removed proposed language that would have left it up to the patient to determine whether a social worker, MHC or MFT serve as a member of the IDG.
The change provides hospices flexibility in making this determination, CMS noted.
“It is important for the hospice to assess and determine, along with the input from the patient and family, which care and services best align with the needs of the patient,” CMS noted. “Therefore, we expect that the hospice would include the patient’s needs as part of the patient assessment and care planning process.”