July 28, 2023 Washington, DC — Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including hospice, on FY2024 Hospice Payment Rate Update Final Rule (CMS-1787-F):
“While we appreciate the payment increase to 3.1%, a more generous market basket update was badly needed for nonprofit, mission-driven hospice providers committed to continuing to provide quality care in their communities.
Even with this increase, conditions on the ground require more support: workforce costs are higher than ever; nurses and aides are scarce, and cost for supplies, drugs, gas, and other expenses are all inflated.
We appreciate CMS’ consideration of ideas for hospice benefit improvements via a RFI in the rule and we will continue working with CMS, and encourage them to consider our hospice benefit reform ideas as they develop policy changes based on the RFI.”
