March 29, 2024 Washington, DC – Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including hospice, on  FY2025 Hospice Payment Rate Update Proposed Rule (CMS-1810-P):

“The demand for hospice services is growing as our country’s population is rapidly aging. While any increase in payment is appreciated, we are disappointed with the proposed 2.6% payment increase from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is not enough for our nonprofit, mission-driven hospice members who are struggling to keep up with both continued workforce shortages and inflation-driven operating expense increases. Without a better rate adjustment, providers will have to continue to reject referrals and may even close, leaving older adults and families searching for care. 

We are excited to see the request for information around payment for high-intensity palliative services; this thinking aligns with our benefit reform proposal around concurrent care. We also want to recognize that CMS released the long-awaited Hospice Outcome and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool. While we are still analyzing the tool, this proposal represents a major shift in the hospice quality landscape and we are hopeful that it will help our members in their mission to deliver high-quality hospice care.”