NHPCO and HAN Comment on Final FY23 Hospice Wage Index and Quality Reporting Rule

For Immediate Release:
July 27, 2022

Alexandria, VA – Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted for public inspection the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements Final Rule. The final rule includes a payment increase of 3.8% for FY23, representing a slight increase from the proposed rule, along with other key updates to the hospice regulatory framework related to payments, quality, and equitable access.

“After weeks of advocacy efforts, today is a step in the right direction to meet the needs of our hospice and palliative care providers. However, the CMS rates for FY23 still do not accurately reflect the reality of higher gas prices, unrelenting labor shortages, and additional pandemic-related expenses that hospice providers and programs are facing across the country. We call on the Biden Administration and Congress to step in to provide additional reimbursements in 2023 which accurately reflect the unprecedented demands and costs providers are facing in order to ensure long-term viability for the hospice and palliative care that Americans want and deserve,” said Ben Marcantonio, Interim President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and President of the Hospice Action Network (HAN).

NHPCO and its advocacy affiliate, HAN, will continue to work with Congressional champions and members on key committees to protect hospice and other providers from further financial hits during this ongoing public health emergency. NHPCO members will have access to detailed analysis of the FY23 Final Rule via the Regulatory & Compliance Center on nhpco.org.

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Press Contact:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973