In the CY2027 End Stage Renal Disease proposed rule published on June 26, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) included a Request for Information (RFI) To Advance Palliative Care for Dialysis Patients. The RFI looks at the interaction between ESRD and the hospice benefit in part from the analysis of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commissions that finds relatively low rates of hospice utilization for these patients. The RFI also looks at the interaction of home health services for dialysis patients understanding that home health is also a potential setting for palliative care.

CMS is seeking feedback on definitions for palliative dialysis, beneficiary eligibility and targeting, care delivery and setting interactions, payment policy considerations, program integrity and safeguard efforts, as well as potential models and policy approaches.

LeadingAge will have a deeper review of this rule and RFI in the coming week and will discuss the implications of this RFI with members on upcoming Home Health and Hospice Member Network calls. Comments for this rule are due August 26.