The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a proposed rule to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2022. CMS proposes a 2.3% ($530 million) net increase to payments, compared to FY 2021. This includes a 2.5% market basket update and a 0.2 percentage point cut for productivity. The agency also proposed a new methodology to assess hospice aide competencies.

CMS proposes to add one new quality measure as well as a Star Rating based on patient surveys to the Care Compare website. In addition, the rule requests comments on how to better address health inequities through data collection to aid relevant analysis. CMS will accept comments on the rule through June 7.

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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission March 12 released its March 2026 report to Congress, which includes its recommended payment rates for hospital…
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services March 11 issued guidance to state survey agency directors clarifying and reinforcing the roles and…
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Feb. 23 announced the development of its Medicare App Library. As part of the agency’s Health Technology…
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The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will have sufficient funds to pay full benefits until 2040 — 12 years…