Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2023
Impact
If enacted, SB2186 will significantly impact the way hospice care providers manage blood transfusions for their patients. Currently, hospice providers are limited in the services they can offer under the all-inclusive payment model, which can deter them from administering necessary blood transfusions due to budget constraints. By allowing these transfusions to be billed separately, the bill would help to alleviate some financial barriers, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes and greater accessibility to vital care at the end of life.
Summary
SB2186, known as the 'Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2023', aims to enhance the payment structure for blood transfusions in hospice care settings. Specifically, the bill mandates the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMI) to create a model that allows blood transfusions to be billed separately from the Medicare hospice all-inclusive per diem payment. This separation is intended to ensure that hospice patients receive critical medical services without the financial limitations imposed by the current payment structure.
Contention
The creation of a separate payment model raises potential questions about the broader implications for Medicare hospice policy. Advocates for the bill argue that it would remove important barriers to care, while critics may express concerns about the sustainability of increased costs borne by Medicare. There may also be debates regarding the administrative burdens this would place on hospice facilities and the potential for unintended consequences in how services are utilized.
Notable_points
Overall, SB2186 represents a proactive step toward improving hospice care quality. Notably, within one year of its enactment, the CMI is required to set up and implement this new payment model, including evaluations comparing outcomes for hospice patients receiving blood transfusions against those who do not. This data-driven approach aims to provide essential insights into the efficacy and necessity of such treatments in hospice settings.