Medicare patients who elect hospice must meet these requirements:
- Be eligible for Part A
- Be certified as terminally ill with medical prognosis of 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course
- Use a Medicare-approved hospice program
- Sign a hospice election statement
- Waive all coverage rights for terminal illness and related conditions, unless the hospice arranges or delivers it
Medicare pays covered benefits unrelated to a terminal prognosis.
What’s changing for Hospice Payment System & Coverage?
- Starting May 1, 2024, physicians who certify hospice services must be enrolled in Medicare or validly opted-out
- Updated with the FY 2024 payment rates and cap amount
- Beginning in FY 2024, hospices not reporting quality data will get a 4% annual market basket update reduction