A brief review of recent hospice news.

By Liz Carey

(May 4, 2018)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule (CMS-1692-P) that would update the Medicare hospice wage index, payment rates, and cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2019. As proposed, hospices would see an estimated 1.8 percent ($340 million) increase in Medicare payments for FY 2018.

Highlights of the proposal include physician assistants serving as attending physicians, effective January 1, 2019.

MASSACHUSETTS (May 3, 2018)—Mass Home Care announced today that Lisa Gurgone has been appointed as its new Executive Director. Mass Home Care is the top advocacy organization for the Aging Services Access Points in Massachusetts. Its 30 member agencies provide home- and community-based care for the elderly and disabled throughout every part of the commonwealth.

Budget and MedPAC recommend expansion, in spite of CMS evaluations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 3, 2018)—United Spinal Association, United Ostomy Associations of America and Spina Bifida Association partnered with AAHomecare on a comprehensive white paper to articulate why competitive bidding should not include urologicals and ostomy supplies. The white paper counters recent references to expanding the controversial bid program in the President’s Budget and MedPAC recommendations.