CMS proposes rules that will impact you
Reimbursement, recertification changes listed
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the final rule on wage index changes and two proposed rules that affect hospice reimbursement.
The announcement of final wage index changes represents an estimated 1.8% increase in hospice payments for Medicare patients in fiscal year 2011, according to CMS. The estimated increase is the net result of a 2.6% increase in the hospital market basket and an estimated decrease of 0.8% in payments due to updated wage index date and the second year of CMS' seven-year phase-out of the wage index budget neutrality factor.
The notice solicits public comments on two possible approaches to modernizing the hospice aggregate cap calculation. These approaches take advantage of new computing technologies to streamline the cap calculations, which might lead to a timelier provider notification of overpayments. CMS will consider the comments in future analyses and possible future rulemaking. (To see a copy of the proposed rule, go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-17622.pdf. To submit comments electronically, go to www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions under the ''More Search Options'' tab. In commenting, refer to file code CMS–1523–NC.)
To submit comments for on the hospice aggregate cap, refer to CMS-1523-NC, and submit electronic comments to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions under the "More Search Options" tab. To comment by regular mail, send to: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, ATTN: CMS-1523-NC, PO Box 8012, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Comments are due Sept. 20.
Face-to-face requirement addressed
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that a physician or nurse practitioner have a face-to-face encounter with certain long-stay hospice patients prior to recertifying them for hospice benefits. The proposed implementation of this requirement is included in the "Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update for Calendar Year 2011" proposed rule. To see a copy of the proposed rule and instructions for submitting comments, go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-17753.pdf.
To submit comments on the home health proposed rule that mandates face-to-face physician assessments for recertification, refer to CMS-1510-P in all correspondence. Submit electronic comments to www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions under the "More Search Options'' tab. You may mail written comments to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1510-P, P.O. Box 1850, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Comments are due Sept. 14.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the final rule on wage index changes and two proposed rules that affect hospice reimbursement.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content