CMS issues the Hospice Item Set Fact sheet and DOH releases proposed "Hospice Operational Rules."

DOH has posted guidelines effective Oct. 1, 2013 for the provision of hospice services to enrollees in mainstream Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MMCOs) that will become the responsibility of the MMCO. The guidelines include: The scope of benefits, the roles and responsibilities of MMCO and hospice providers, network responsibilities, and claims coding.
 

The Department of Health hosted a webinar on Sept. 18 for Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) plans regarding carving-in the hospice benefit.

Fiscal year 2015 reporting cycle training materials and final rule are now available for providers.

This grant opportunity promotes research on Palliative Care and End-of-Life (PCEOL) interventions, which are needed for all individuals with Life Limiting Illnesses (LLI's).

DOH has posted a policy on utilizing hospice while in MLTC pursuant to recent changes to Section 4403-f of Article 44 of PHL.

The Department will activate the 2010 Hospice Cost and Utilization Report on the Health Commerce System (HCS) on June 10, 2013. The reports must be submitted by August 9, 2013. The Hospice Cost and Utilization Report is used to collect information such as the census by county and days of service by payor.

CMS proposes updates for the Medicare hospice program for FY 2014 that includes payment rates and wage index, coding clarifications and requirements, quality reporting and payment reform.