Delta Connect Blog

In July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Change Request (CR) 8358, Additional Data Reporting Requirements for Hospice Claims. Mandatory reporting of these additional items begins with claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2014, with voluntary reporting beginning January 1, 2014.  The CR provides instructions to Medicare’s Administrative Contractors (MACs) and also revises Section 30.3 of Chapter 11 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual.

This year’s Annual Meeting – being held October 31 – November 3 in Washington, DC – has a wide range of educational sessions for professionals in every segment of the home care and hospice community.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released Change Request (CR) 8358, Additional Data Reporting Requirements for Hospice Claims.  The implementation date on the CR is January 6, 2014. There is, however, additional voluntary reporting and mandatory reporting dates which are outlined below. CMS states that the additional claims data supports hospice payment reform as authorized by the ACA.  Last month, NAHC and its affiliate, the Hospice Association of America (HAA), sent comments to CMS on the Proposed Rule:  Medicare Program; FY2014 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update; Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements; and Updates on Payment Reform (CMS-1449-P). 

As part of an April 29, 2013 release, “Proposed Rule: Medicare Program;FY2014 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update; Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements; and Updates on Payment Reform” (CMS-1499-P), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included information about progress to date on research to develop a new hospice payment system - including discussion of several options that could be used in concert to reform hospice payments. Options discussed include: