NPP
CMS to Allow Hospices to Accept Medication Orders From Some Physician Assistants
The CY2020 Physician Fee Schedule final rule was posted last week and contains a welcome change for hospices. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will revise §418.106(b)(1) to permit a hospice to accept drug orders from a physician, NP (nurse practitioner), or PA (physician assistant). The PA must be an individual acting within […]
Read MoreExecutive Order Provides Limited Detail but Presages Policies to Advance Medicare Advantage, Other Changes
On October 3, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) on “Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation’s Seniors” expressing disapproval of efforts by some in Congress to encourage “Medicare for All” policies and, instead, to promote health initiatives endorsed by the Administration. While the EO does not, of itself, directly change any existing […]
Read MoreNAHC Comments on Role of Physician Assistants and Other Non-Physician Practitioners in Hospice
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposed amendment to Section 418.106(b)(1) of the hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs) to permit a hospice to accept drug orders from a physician, Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Physician’s Assistant (PA). The proposed […]
Read MoreGrassroots Advocates: Help Authorize NPPs to Certify Home Health Eligibility
NPPs need authority to certify patients for home health. GO HERE to learn more! Become an advocate for home health now! The United States has an aging population and a serious shortage of health care professionals. By 2030, Medicare eligible seniors will make up over 20 percent of the population and we will not have […]
Read MoreCMS Proposes Expanded Role for Physician Assistants in Hospice CoP
As reported previously, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA 2018) included a provision permitting physician assistants (PAs), beginning January 1, 2019, to serve as hospice attending physicians. This change affords patients whose primary care practitioner is a PA to receive the same continuity of care that has been available for patients served by nurse […]
Read MoreWe need your Stories, Heart, and Voice for Nurse Practitioners!
Congress must Act to Allow NPP’s to Order Home Health Services Current federal law requires that a physician certify a patient’s eligibility for coverage of Home Health services. Many things have changed in healthcare since this Medicare provision was enacted. Much of the primary care provided today comes from highly skilled non-physician practitioners (NPPs) such as […]
Read MoreBill to Permit Non-Physician Practitioners to Certify Medicare Home Health Orders Introduced in the House
A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 9, to allow non-physician practitioners to certify home health orders under Medicare. Commonly referred to as the “NPP bill”, the legislation would extend certification authority to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. These NPPs play […]
Read MoreFight to Allow Non-Physician Practitioners to Certify Home Health at March on Washington!
There is no cost to attend the 2019 March on Washington, so register now! The 2019 March on Washington is less than two weeks away and we need you to join us for two days of education and advocacy on behalf of the millions of people across America who depend on home care and hospice and the […]
Read MoreBill to Enable Non-Physician Practitioners to Certify Home Health Introduced in Senate
Long-time home care champions Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) have introduced the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (S. 296) in the 116th Congress. This long-standing NAHC priority legislation would enable non-physician practitioners the authority to certify home health orders under Medicare. In the past, this legislation has enjoyed strong, widespread bipartisan […]
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