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January 19, 2017

Hospice Election Statements Lack Required Information or Have Other Vulnerabilities

This article was previously published in the January 19, 2017, issue of the MLN Connects® Provider eNewsExternal PDF.

After a stratified random sample review of hospice election statements and certifications of terminal illness, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports that more than one-third of hospice General Inpatient (GIP) stays lack required information or had other vulnerabilities.

  • Hospice election statements did not always mention – as required – that the beneficiary was waiving coverage of certain Medicare services by electing hospice care or that hospice care is palliative rather than curative.
  • In 14 percent of GIP stays, the physician did not meet requirements when certifying that the beneficiary was terminally ill and appeared to have limited involvement in determining that the beneficiary’s condition was appropriate for hospice care

Hospice should improve their election statement and ensure that physicians meet requirements when certifying beneficiaries for hospice care.  Resources:

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