Regulatory Updates

State: All

Date Effective : 06/3/2024

Program: Hospice

Update:  CMS issued a revised MLN on April 25, 2024 that states the effective date of this requirement has been delayed until June 3, 2024. Reminder to all hospice providers: Effective May 1, 2024, hospice certifying physicians (Medical Director, Medical Director designee, and/or interdisciplinary team hospice physician, as well as the patient-designated attending physician, if they have one) must be enrolled in Medicare or validly opted out at the time of the certification.  It is imperative that hospice providers understand this requirement in order to determine processes for billing compliance.  Read more to learn about the important concepts of this new requirement.

State: Texas

Date Effective : 03/31/2024

Program: Assisted Living

Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued a revision to Provider Letter 2021-32 on March 31, 2024.  This revision updates guidance issued to Assisted Living facility providers regarding implementation of Life Safety Code Rules in the ALF.

State: All

Date Effective : 02/22/2024

Program: Renal Dialysis

CMS issued a revised version of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 8, for ESRD providers.  This update corrects an omission of billing processing procedures in the prior version.  The most current version of this chapter in the manual is dated 2.22.24.

State: Texas

Date Effective : 04/3/2024

Program: Home Care, Home Health, Hospice

Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued Provider Letter 2024-06 April 3, 2024.  This provider letter is applicable to Home and Community Support Services Agencies and provides guidance for those agencies who provide teleservices.

State: All

Date Proposed : 03/28/2024

Program: Hospice

On March 28, 2024, CMS issued the FY 2025 proposed rule.  This proposed rule addresses payment updates, hospice quality reporting, and additional proposed regulations.  See the CMS newsroom fact sheet for more information.

State: All

Program: Hospice

CMS has released an updated Hospice Model Election Statement.  The updated model form is dated March 2024.  Note that the requirements for the Hospice Election Statement and Addendum have not changed.  Updates to the sample Hospice election statement reflect changes enacted in prior final rules.  The hospice model Addendum to the election statement has not yet been updated.