National Hospice Organizations Against CMS’ Final Design of its Special Focus Program
November 1, 2023(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) – The four preeminent national hospice organizations – LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) – strongly oppose the final design of the hospice special focus program (SFP) as presented in the CY2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update (CMS-1780-F), released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today.
CMS’ decision to progress using a flawed methodology for the SFP algorithm will threaten the ability of millions of older adults and other hospice beneficiaries to access quality hospice care.
In addition, the implementation of the poorly designed algorithm, which has been widely criticized by congressional leaders, technical expert panel participants, and hospice community and association leaders, will hinder a widely shared goal of improving sector quality. As a community, we are profoundly disappointed with this decision.
Over the past two years, the national hospice associations have presented CMS — in letters, in-person meetings and via other channels — with a wide array of research and well-supported advocacy outlining our concerns. We’ve reiterated those concerns to the White House Office of Management and Budget and Domestic Policy Council as well. Nonetheless, CMS has opted to ignore our feedback, along with concerns from congressional leaders dating as far back as 2021.
To be clear: our associations support the spirit and intent of the SFP, which, in keeping with the HOSPICE Act passed in 2020, aims to improve poor performing hospices. CMS’ approach is not aligned with congressional intent, nor does it effectively identify the lowest quality performing providers, and does not achieve the goals set forth in the HOSPICE Act.
On behalf of hospice provider members serving beneficiaries around the country, our organizations are committed to continued advocacy on this issue. We will explore all options to prevent the flawed SFP design from moving forward and will work to find a solution which accomplishes the goals of the hospice community and Congress for improving the quality of care delivered.
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About NAHC
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more, visit nahc.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Thomas Threlkeld
Director of Communications, NAHC
202-547-7424/tom@nahc.org
Lisa Sanders
LeadingAge
202-508-9407
lsanders@leadingage.org
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973
Matt Wilkinson
NPHI Communications Manager
mwilkinson@hospiceinnovations.org
801-615-4207