NHPCO and We Honor Veterans Welcome CMS Clarification Regarding Medicare Hospice Benefit for Dually Eligible Veterans
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2024
(Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its We Honor Veterans (WHV) program responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) clarification on concurrent care eligibility for Veteran beneficiaries. Under Change Request 13523 issued by CMS on February 22, 2024, the Medicare Benefit Manual is updated to clarify that a Veteran beneficiary who elects hospice services under the Medicare benefit may still receive services that are not included on the hospice plan of care and are furnished and paid under the beneficiary’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, in addition to hospice services.
This is a much-needed clarification that NHPCO and WHV have advocated for to help ensure eligible Veterans get the best possible care with access to the full suite of benefits to which they are entitled. It is also an important demonstration of how concurrent care can optimize the patient experience.
Katherine Kemp, Senior Director of Veterans Services for NHPCO said, “NHPCO and WHV are pleased to see this important clarification for Veterans receiving end-of-life care. Enrolled Veterans and their families need and deserve the best of both healthcare systems and access to all options during this time. This change removes potential barriers to accessing benefits.”
NHPCO and WHV will continue to work with CMS and the VA to advance programs and policies that best serve those who served our Nation when they need it most.
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About NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org
About WHV
We Honor Veterans, a program of NHPCO in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), invites hospices, state hospice organizations, Hospice-Veteran Partnerships and VA facilities to join a pioneering program focused on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment. By recognizing the unique needs of America’s Veterans and their families, community providers, in partnership with VA staff, will learn how to accompany and guide them through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending.
Press Contact
Elyssa Katz
NHPCO Communications
571-281-0220