Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Q4FY22 release of the Hospice Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER), which was distributed on April 5, 2023, included two new target areas that provide the average number of Medicare Part B claims paid during hospice episodes. To provide more information related to…… Continue reading New Medicare Part B PEPPER Reports for Hospices

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Introduction to the HQRP Web-Based Training is a two-part training series for Hospice providers. Course 1: Getting Started with the HQRP and Public Reporting Provides a general overview of the HQRP and reviews the program’s use of three data sources: The Hospice Item Set (HIS),…… Continue reading Updated Resource Available: Introduction to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) Web-Based Training

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Providers can now access the latest Provider Preview Reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application. Once released in CASPER, providers will have 30 days during which to review their quality measure results.  Although the actual “preview period” is 30 days, the reports…… Continue reading Hospice Preview Reports for the August 2023 Refresh and Care Compare Quarterly Refresh for May 2023 Now Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Introduction to the HQRP Web-Based Training is a two-part training series for Hospice providers. Course 1: Getting Started with the HQRP and Public Reporting Provides a general overview of the HQRP and reviews the program’s use of three data sources: The Hospice Item Set (HIS),…… Continue reading UPDATED RESOURCE AVAILABLE: Introduction to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) Web-Based Training

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On March 31, 2023, CMS posted FY2024 Hospice Payment Rate Update Proposed Rule Fact Sheet. On March 31, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule (CMS-1787-P) that would update Medicare hospice payments and the aggregate cap amount for fiscal year…… Continue reading FY2024 Hospice Payment Rate Update Proposed Rule (CMS-1787-P)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has prepared a fact sheet that summarizes CAHPS data refreshes on Care Compare. This resource is available in the Downloads section of the Public Reporting: Key Dates for Providers page. If you have questions about accessing the resource or feedback regarding trainings, please email the PAC…… Continue reading New Resource for Hospice Quality Reporting Program: CAHPS Hospice Survey – Care Compare Data Refresh Schedule

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Hospice care is for terminally ill patients who decide to forgo curative treatment and instead receive palliative care. To be eligible, a patient must be certified as having a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal…… Continue reading What Problems has OIG Identified with the Hospice Program?

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Swingtech sends informational messages to hospices related to the Quality Reporting Program (QRP) on a quarterly basis. Their latest outreach communication can be found on the HQRP Requirements and Best Practices web page. If you want to receive Swingtech’s quarterly emails, then add or update the…… Continue reading Important Updates on the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The February 2023 quarterly refresh for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program is now available on Care Compare. For additional information, please see the FY2023 Hospice Wage Index Final Rule at https://www.cms.gov/Center/Provider-Type/Hospice-Center. Please visit the Hospice Background and Announcements webpage to review the Claims-Based Measures Questions and Answers downloadable (PDF) for more…… Continue reading Hospice Care Compare Quarterly Refresh – February 2023

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Providers can now access the latest Provider Preview Reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application. Once released in CASPER, providers will have 30 days during which to review their quality measure results.  Although the actual “preview period” is 30 days, the reports…… Continue reading Hospice Preview Reports for the May 2023 Refresh Now Available