CMS has developed five self-paced online trainings to help hospices navigate new and updated items on the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool, which went into effect Oct. 1, 2025. 
 
More information on this and other training for hospice providers was included in the March 2026 newsletter from CMS and contractor Swingtech. The e-newsletter included reminders about the fiscal year 2026 hospice wage index, information on how providers can update their hospice demographic data and links to frequently asked questions and updated quality reporting program training. 
 
Other HOPE-related items in the newsletter include: 
  • Final materials from CMS’ HOPE coding workshop 
  • Frequently asked questions related to HOPE implementation 
  • HOPE data collection timepoints explainer video 
To view the March 2026 newsletter and learn about how to receive future updates, visit https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/hospice/hqrp-requirements-and-best-practices.