Page 3 - 2018HospiceHighlights

Pennsylvania 188 PA hospices

hospices receive served 69,185
nearly $714 Million Medicare

of Medicare’s $16.8 beneficiaries, 45%

billion annual received care at

spending home
(2016 Claims Data) (2016 Claims Data)

On Our Radar in 2019 FINGER ON THE PULSE:

PHA at Work for YOU!

• Development of the Hospice Evaluation and Assessment
Reporting Tool (HEART) – CMS completed a first round pilot • Council of States, National

test of the new assessment tool, which once completed will Hospice & Palliative Care

replace the Hospice Item Set (HIS). Additional pilot testing Organization (NHPCO)

is planned for 2019, as well as opportunity for additional • Forum of States, National
stakeholder engagement with CMS. Association for Home Health
• The Future of Hospice Compare and Star Ratings to Follow & Hospice Care (NAHC)

– While CMS has not announced plans to add a star rating • Medical Assistance Advisory
method to the Hospice Compare website, it has hinted that Committee (MAAC) of

the industry would be following suit with other healthcare Pennsylvania, including Long-

providers like home health and nursing facilities that Term Care, Managed Long-
currently have star ratings. Term Services & Supports,
• Advocating for Additional Burden Reduction & Rate and Managed Care Delivery

Increases in 2020 Payment Update – There remain several System Subcommittees
regulatory burdens on • Department of Health’s
providers such as the time Health Policy Board
crunch in securing a face-to- • Department of Human
face encounter at the third Services’ eHealth Advisory

or later benefit period, the Board
long waiting period for • Quarterly Meetings with
certifying new hospice Department of Health
agency locations, and surveyor team in Harrisburg
personnel requirements like
those for a contracted
nutritional expert or a
social worker with a master’s degree that PHA will advocate

for CMS to remove. In addition, with the growing population
of Medicare beneficiaries and the increasing need for quality
end-of-life care, PHA will continue its advocacy for higher
Medicare reimbursement to cover the cost of hospice care.