On today’s episode, Madison is joined once more by NHPCO’s VP of Policy and Government Relations, Logan Hoover plus a new addition to the NHPCO team, Patrick Harrison, Senior Director of Regulatory and Compliance, to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing the hospice community in 2024: the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Special Focus Program (SFP).
Enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the SFP aims to increase oversight of hospices which have substantially failed to meet Medicare program requirements. However, despite concerns raised by key stakeholders including members of Congress, technical expert panel participants, and hospice community leaders, CMS is moving forward with a program based on a flawed methodology which may not accurately identify poor performing hospices. Tune in to learn more about what’s being done to attempt to change the current SFP algorithm and how providers can advocate for change.