CMS Updates & Clarifications to Hospice Policy Issues Transmittal 188

On May 1, 2014 CMS issued Transmittal 188 to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual.  The change request was issued to update the hospice policy chapter to incorporate policy language from existing regulations, prior rules, and Office of Inspector General Memorandum Report, and two Change Requests, and to clarify existing policy. 

One of the items added was that a hospice admits a patient only on the recommendation of the medical director in consultation with, or with input from, the patient’s attending physician (if any).

Another addition states in reaching a decision to certify that the patient is terminally ill, the hospice medical director must consider at least the following information: (1) Diagnosis of the terminal condition of the patient. (2) Other health conditions, whether related or unrelated to the terminal condition. (3) Current clinically relevant information supporting all diagnoses.

This also adds new sections for Managed Care Medicare Hospice Enrollees to be effective 8/1/2014.

For more information please utilize the following link: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R188BP.pdf