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ACA

In FY 2012: Medicare Hospice Wage Index Increases 2.5%, Other Hospice Changes

[07/29/11]

Posted on July 29, 2011 in Long-Term Care, Home Health & Hospice

Written by: Bufford, David W.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) increased fiscal year (FY) 2012 Medicare payments by 2.5% for hospice providers in a final regulation released July 29.  Also included in the final regulation are requirements for hospice providers to start collecting quality of care data and changes to the way CMS counts hospice patients... READ MORE

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Updates to Hospice Face-to-Face Encounters

[07/01/11]

Posted on July 1, 2011 in Long-Term Care, Home Health & Hospice

Written by: Selby, Todd J.

In response to the changes contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) designed to address increasing lengths of stay in hospice programs, CMS added a “face-to-face encounter” requirement to the hospice certification requirements. Effective January 1, 2011, a hospice physician or nurse practitioner must have a “face-to-face” encounter with each hospice... READ MORE

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