Delta Connect Blog

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) directed the establishment of quality reporting requirements for Hospice programs. One of the initial requirements was the introduction of the Hospice Item Set (HIS). Effective on July 1, 2014, all Medicare-certified Hospice providers were
required to submit HIS-Admission and HIS-Discharge records on all patient admissions and discharges at their Hospice regardless of the patient's payer source, age, or where the patient received Hospice services.

Data collected by Hospice Item Set (HIS) and Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System Survey (CAHPS) between July 2015 - July 2016 was recently released. This marks the first publication of national hospice data.  

CMS released the final version of the HIS Data Submission Specifications (v2.00.0) on August 22nd.  HIS v2.00.00 is set to go into effect on April 1, 2017.  There were no changes in the final version from the previously posted draft specifications. Hospices are encouraged to review the latest guidance to prepare for implementation next spring.

We understand that overseeing your patients’ day-to-day comprehensive care is exhausting and time-intensive.

As has been previously communicated by CMS, all Medicare-certified hospices are required to complete and submit a Hospice Item Set (HIS)-Admission record and HIS-Discharge record for patient admissions on or after July 1, 2014.