HOSPICE Act

Bill: 116-hr-5821
Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20]
Introduced: 2020-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-10
text: 

Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments Act or the HOSPICE Act

 
This bill establishes survey requirements for, and enforcement mechanisms against, certified hospice programs under Medicare.
 
Specifically, certified programs must undergo periodic surveys by a state, local, or approved accreditation agency, as specified; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must provide appropriate training for surveyors and publish information relating to survey results on its website. The CMS must also (1) conduct more frequent surveys of programs that are found to be noncompliant with applicable standards; and (2) take specified enforcement actions against such programs, based on the severity of the deficiencies. Enforcement actions include civil penalties, suspended Medicare payments, and termination of program certification.

action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments Act or the HOSPICE Act

 
This bill establishes survey requirements for, and enforcement mechanisms against, certified hospice programs under Medicare.
 
Specifically, certified programs must undergo periodic surveys by a state, local, or approved accreditation agency, as specified; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must provide appropriate training for surveyors and publish information relating to survey results on its website. The CMS must also (1) conduct more frequent surveys of programs that are found to be noncompliant with applicable standards; and (2) take specified enforcement actions against such programs, based on the severity of the deficiencies. Enforcement actions include civil penalties, suspended Medicare payments, and termination of program certification.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 544.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 116-660, Part I.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 116-660, Part I.
action_date: 2020-02-12
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-02-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-02-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2020-02-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-02-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-02-10
text: Introduced in House