CMS Releases FY 2019 Hospice Wage Index, Payment Rate and Quality Reporting Requirements

CMS has issued a final rule that will update hospice payment rates, wage index values, and quality reporting items for fiscal year 2019. Hospices will see a 1.8 percent ($340 million) increase in Medicare payments for FY 2019. Additionally, effective Jan.1, 2019, physician assistants (PAs) will be recognized as designated hospice attending physicians, in addition to physicians and nurse practitioners. This rule also finalizes changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program. For more details, see today’s fourth Financial Feature.