Blog
COVID-19 Emergency Declaration 1135 Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers
CMS issued a set of blanket 1135 waivers that apply to various Medicare provider types, including hospice. Long requested by NHPCO, state hospice and palliative care organizations and providers, these temporary regulatory waivers and new rules will provide some relief and maximum flexibility to respond to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Hospice-specific waivers include:
New COVID-19 Stimulus Package Signed into Law: Important Provisions for Hospice including Telehealth for Face-to-Face Recertifications
President Trump has signed new legislation designed to address the needs of Americans during the spread of COVID-19. The bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act contains several provisions important for hospice patients and providers: Key provisions include: New flexibilities for Hospice Recertification: While current rules require a face-to-face interaction between a patient and […]
Recorded On-line Meeting – HHSC Guidance to Hospice Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Topic: Regulatory Support from HHSC during the COVID-19 Pandemic Date/Time of this recording: Mar 26, 2020 09:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) Description: This webinar with HHSC regulators will have a Q&A component to it and discuss regulatory changes and guidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic. HHSC Speakers: Jennifer Morrison, Manager of Long Term Care-Regulatory, […]
Regulatory Update for the Week of 3/16/2020
Texas New Mexico Hospice Organization Coronavirus Information TNMHO has posted corona virus information for our members under our Member Only section. We are working to keep this information as up to date as possible. Go to (& sign-in): https://www.txnmhospice.org/2020/03/13/coronavirus-information-for-hospice-providers/ Federal News and Information The following two Q&As address matters that, in the event […]
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Information for Hospice Providers
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Information and resources to assist hospice providers in navigating challenges related to coronavirus (Covid-19) […]
Not a member yet?
Membership makes a difference! TNMHO membership opens doors – to training, education, advocacy, community, and solutions – all in the pursuit of quality, ethical hospice care. We are “all hospice, all the time” and proud to be your partner for success. A complete list of member benefits and privileges is available here. […]
We Honor Veterans Partnership Quarterly Virtual Meetings – Sign-up
Each quarter TNMHO hosts a 1 hour WHV partnership meeting to share expertise and to help hospices that are participating meet program requirements. You only need to sign up once to get on the roster, and then you will be notified by email of every meeting. The meeting usually will have 1-2 speakers followed by […]
Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information
Texas Attorney General: Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information
Legislative Updates
Every week, hospice providers will be receiving a legislative update so you can be aware of what is going on in your respective states during the session. We hope that you will find this information helpful and insightful. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Maxcine “Max” Tomlinson at: [email protected] […]
Hospice News for the Week of 3-19-19
MEDPAC RELEASES REPORT TO CONGRESS ON MEDICARE PAYMENT POLICY The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has released the March 2019 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy. The 531-page report covers a broad range of issues—from the context for Medicare payment policy to outpatient dialysis services and opioid alternatives in hospital settings. It provides […]
Regulatory Updates 3/28/19
Federal Register Highlights DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 455 Office of Inspector General Medicaid; Revisions to State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Rules This final rule amends the regulation governing State Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs or Units). The rule incorporates statutory changes affecting the Units […]
Regulatory Updates 3/14/19
Federal News and Information Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospice Provider Preview Reports Now Available Hospice provider preview reports and Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Survey ® provider preview reports have been updated and are now available. These two separate reports are available in your Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports […]
Hospice News for the Week of 3-12-19
AUTHOR FINDS MEANING IN BOTH SCIENCE AND THE SPIRIT FOR THOSE NEAR LIFE’S END Sunita Puri’s new book, That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour, is drawing attention for how we understand medicine’s role in the last stage of life. Puri, a palliative care and hospice physician, shares intimate moments from her […]
Weatherbee Resources Hospice Regulatory Boot Camp March 2019 – Austin, TX
Co-sponsored by Texas & New Mexico Hospice Organization. Monday, March 18, 2019 at 8:30 AM -to- Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 3:45 PM Boot Camp | $695 Additional 3rd day Wednesday, March 20, 2019 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Striving for Documentation Success | $325 (Open to registrants attending the 2-day Boot Camp or anyone […]
Regulatory Update for the week of 2/8/2019
Federal Register Highlights DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines–This notice provides an update of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines to account for last calendar year’s increase in prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The guidelines in this […]
Hospice News for the week of 1/29/2019
BOOM TIMES AND CHALLENGES FOR HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS In two recent articles in Home Health Care News, Bailey Bryant looks to the year ahead for home health agencies and the trends in palliative care and hospice. She foresees a boom in home health and hospice mergers and acquisitions in 2019. It’s […]
CAHPS News
CY 2018 Participation Exemption for Size Form Now Available
Provider Preview for CAHPS Hospice Survey Public Reporting began December 10
Legislative Updates 12/14/2018
New Mexico 54th Legislative Session The New Mexican Legislative Session begins January 15 and ends March 16, 2019. Legislation may be pre-filed from December 17, 2018 to January 11, 2019. Texas 86th Legislative Session The Texas Legislative Session (86th) begins January 8, 2019 and ends May 27, 2018. Pre-filing has begun. […]
Hospice Item Set Manual: New Version
The Hospice Item Set (HIS) Manual V2.01 is updated with refined guidance to clarify HIS coding instructions. Note: No updates were made to HIS items. Visit the HIS webpage for more information: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Hospice-Quality-Reporting/Downloads/HIS_Manual_V201.pdf.