Hospice CARE Act of 2024 Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2024
If passed, HB9803 would significantly impact the current operational landscape of hospice care as it introduces stringent requirements for enrollment and ongoing operations. For instance, the temporary moratorium on new hospice program enrollments is intended to prevent an influx of potentially low-quality programs during a time when oversight and evaluation capabilities need strengthening. The bill proposes several enhancements to the process of medical reviews, including requiring face-to-face encounters for recertifications, thereby tightening eligibility criteria for patients seeking hospice services. The adjustments in the payment structure and the focus on quality accountability aim to elevate the standards of care for patients at their most vulnerable stages of life.
House Bill 9803, known as the 'Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2024', aims to ensure the integrity of hospice care provided under the Medicare program. This bill seeks to address concerns of quality and access to hospice services by instituting a mandatory temporary moratorium on the enrollment of new hospice programs for five years. The intention is to allow existing programs to stabilize while also enhancing quality oversight mechanisms. The bill also mandates that improvements be made in the medical review processes to ensure proper patient eligibility and appropriate care standards are maintained. Additionally, it emphasizes the responsibilities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in enforcing these provisions and overseeing hospice operations effectively.
The discussions surrounding the bill are likely to highlight tensions between ensuring quality care and the potential for reduced patient access to hospice services during the moratorium period. Opponents may argue that while the intentions behind the bill are sound, the moratorium could exacerbate existing access issues in underserved areas, where there may already be a lack of high-quality hospice providers. Questions about how the Secretary will determine which programs are eligible for exemptions from the moratorium will also be a focal point of contention. Additionally, the financial implications for existing programs undergoing increased scrutiny and regulatory compliance may lead to pushback from stakeholders within the hospice care sector.