New Regulations for Hospice Provision Publis...( National Hospice and Palliative C...),Health

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Welcomes Publication of Final Rule

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time since the Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation were created in 1983, the regulations for Medicare certified hospice providers issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been significantly revised. The new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) have a strong focus on patient centered care that emphasizes quality assessment and performance improvement and patient outcomes.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the nation's oldest and largest leadership organization representing hospice and palliative care providers and professionals, applauds the publication of the new CoPs. NHPCO looks forward to working collaboratively with regulators hospices to ensure that patients and family caregivers receiving hospice care at the end of life can be assured of the highest standards of care.

The final rule for the Medicare Hospice CoPs was published today in the Federal Register. Medicare certified hospices have 180 days in which to become compliant with the new regulations that go into effect on December 2, 2008.

NHPCO hosted a two-day intensive conference for state leaders, the organization's board and regulatory committee, and invited guests in Baltimore on June 4 and 5. The two-day event was carried out to NHPCO members throughout the country via live-streaming Internet broadcast; more than 650 programs audited the proceedings via the Web from their offices.

Presenting at the event were CMS staff members involved with the development of the final rule who provided insight into the reasoning behind some of the changes in regulation. Additionally, Barry Straub, MD, chief medical officer at CMS and the director of the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality joined the more than 300 hospice leaders at the meeting on Thursday, the official publica
'/>"/>