Hospice Care Access Improvement Act of 2015

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to hospice care under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may cited as the Hospice Care Access Improvement Act of 2015 2. Hospice payment reform demonstration program (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this Act referred to as the Secretary (b) Proposed Hospice Payment Methodology Revisions defined In this section, the term proposed hospice payment methodology revisions 42 U.S.C. 1395f(i)(6)(D) (c) Scope The Secretary shall select one Medicare administrative contractor to conduct the demonstration program. Such contractor shall conduct the demonstration program with respect to all hospice programs under that contractor’s jurisdiction. (d) Evaluation The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the demonstration program, which shall include an analysis of the impact of the proposed hospice payment methodology revisions— (1) on the quality of patient care and the ability of hospice programs to provide such care; and (2) on access to hospice care for beneficiaries. (e) Report Not later than March 31, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the demonstration program. The report shall include— (1) the results of the evaluation under subsection (d); and (2) recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate. (f) Implementation of hospice payment methodology revisions (1) Prohibition on implementation of revisions for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 No revisions to the hospice payment methodology shall be made under section 1814(i)(6)(D) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(i)(6)(D) (2) Implementation of revisions for fiscal year 2018 After taking into account the results of the evaluation of the demonstration program and after making any necessary revisions, the Secretary shall implement the proposed hospice payment methodology revisions beginning with fiscal year 2018. 3. Hospice program integrity (a) Medical review for certain hospice programs Section 1814(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(i) (8) Medical review for certain hospice programs (A) In general The Secretary shall implement a process for the medical review of hospice care furnished by a hospice program identified under subparagraph (B). (B) Identification of hospice programs for medical review The Secretary shall identify hospice programs the patients of which will be subject to medical review under subparagraph (A). In identifying such programs, the Secretary shall consider multiple factors in comparison with other similarly situated hospice programs, such as— (i) the percentage of patients who were discharged after receiving hospice care for a period of 120 to 180 days and who were alive upon such discharge; (ii) the percentage of patients who are receiving hospice care from the program at the end of life who receive no skilled hospice care visits in the last week of life; and (iii) the level of per-patient expenditures under this title for patients of the hospice program excluding expenditures for hospice care. (C) Limitation on liability of beneficiary where medicare claims are disallowed The provisions of this title relating to the limitation on liability of a beneficiary where Medicare claims are disallowed shall apply with respect to this paragraph in the same manner as they apply to subsection (a)(7)(E). . (b) Developing interventions To reduce hospital admissions The Secretary shall develop and publish guidance, where appropriate and in consultation with interested parties, for hospice programs to develop interventions to reduce hospital admissions and visits to hospital emergency departments by patients of such hospice programs. (c) Expanding who may perform pre-Hospice evaluation and counseling services (1) In general Section 1812(a)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395d(a)(5) hospice program , or services that are furnished by a registered nurse who is an employee of a hospice program in consultation, if necessary, with other members of the interdisciplinary group described in section 1861(dd)(2)(B), (2) Evaluation and report (A) Evaluation The Secretary shall evaluate the impact of the amendment made by paragraph (1). Such evaluation shall include an evaluation of the impact of such amendment on hospital admission rates, hospice care utilization, and length of stay in hospice programs for patients receiving services under section 1812(a)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395d(a)(5) (B) Report The Secretary shall submit a report to Congress containing the results of the evaluation under subparagraph (A). (d) Expanding hospice care access for residents using skilled nursing facilities (1) Medicare and skilled nursing facilities Section 1819 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–3 (A) in subsection (b)(4), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Hospice program contracting In the case of a facility that contracts with a hospice program for hospice care for its residents, such facility shall make a good faith effort to enter into a contract with more than one hospice program participating under this title that provides services in the area served by the facility, if more than one hospice program is available to serve such residents. ; and (B) in subsection (c)(1)(A)(i), by inserting after well-being, to be fully informed, in a form and manner specified by the Secretary, of any financial interest, as specified by the Secretary, the skilled nursing facility has in any hospice program to which a resident is referred, (2) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to skilled nursing facilities in operation 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) Hospital discharge planning provisions relating to hospice care (1) In general Section 1861(ee)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(ee)(2) (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting and, in the case of individuals likely to need hospice care, the availability of such care through hospice programs that participate in the program under this title and that serve the area in which the patient resides and that request to be listed by the hospital as available. (B) in subparagraph (H)(i), by inserting or hospice care home health services (2) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to discharges occurring on or after 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Hospice Care Access Improvement Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to select one Medicare administrative contractor to conduct a one-year demonstration program during FY2016 in all hospice programs under the contractor's jurisdiction to test revisions to the methodology for determining hospice payment rates under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act contained in the "Fiscal Year 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements," published on May 5, 2015, by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. No revisions to the hospice payment methodology may be made for FY2016-FY2017, except for demonstration program purposes. HHS shall implement the proposed hospice payment methodology revisions beginning with FY2018 after: taking into account an evaluation of the demonstration program, and making any necessary changes to the revisions. HHS shall implement a process for the medical review of hospice care furnished by a hospice program identified according to certain multiple factors, such as the percentage of patients discharged after receiving hospice care for between 120 and 180 days and who were alive upon discharge. HHS shall also develop and publish guidance for hospice programs to develop interventions to reduce hospital admissions and visits to hospital emergency departments by hospice patients. Medicare shall cover pre-hospice evaluation and counseling services performed by a registered nurse employed by a hospice program. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) shall make a good faith effort to contract with more than one hospice program participating in the Medicare program that provides services in the area served by the SNF, if more than one hospice program is available to serve SNF residents. SNF residents shall have the right to be fully informed of any financial interest the SNF has in any hospice program to which a resident is referred. Any hospital discharge planning evaluation must evaluate, for an individual likely to need hospice care, the availability of such care through hospice programs that: participate in the Medicare program and serve the area in which the patient resides, and request to be listed by the hospital as available.