FY 2022 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update Proposed Rule Summary

On April 8, 2021, CMS placed on public display a proposed rule updating the Medicare hospice payment rates, wage index, the cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2022 and the quality reporting requirements for FY 2022. Among other changes, this rule proposes to make permanent selected regulatory blanket waivers that were issued to Medicare-participating hospice agencies during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and updates the hospice conditions of participation. This rule also includes a Home Health Quality Reporting Program proposal that proposes changes beginning with the January 2022 public reporting to address exceptions related to the COVID-19 PHE. The proposed rule will be published in the April 14, 2021, issue of the Federal Register.