Legislation recently introduced by Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) would ensure the longevity of hospice care programs and make hospice care more available for patients.
The Hospice Opportunities for Supporting Patients with Integrity and Care Evaluations (HOSPICE) Act aims to add accountability and transparency to the hospice care system by implementing a three-year recertification cycle.
Under the current system, certified hospice care facilities are required to recertify every six to eight years.
“For any family who has had a personal experience with the care that hospice provides, they know that it is truly irreplaceable,” Reed said. “We depend on hospice providers for more than helping our loved ones, we also depend on them to bring peace of mind and comfort to our families. Strengthening hospice care is something people from across the spectrum and from across the political aisle can come together to support and improve hospice care delivery in America.”
The HOSPICE Act would allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to review hospice care programs that reach a specific threshold of patients seeking care for more than 180 days. The provision is intended to help ensure hospice care facility needs are supported.
“By putting these fair accountability and transparency measures in place, we’re trying to make sure patients have access to the highest quality care that best fits their needs,” Reed said. “We need to make sure – especially in our rural areas – that families have access to all levels of care, including hospice and palliative care. I always want to be working to make sure hospice providers have the support they need and their care remains a choice for patients and their families.”