Hospice Special Focus Program Playbook for Members Will Help Guide Media, Patient Relations
The Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) was developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify and improve the performance of hospice providers struggling to meet quality standards. As part of the 2020 HOSPICE Act, the SFP was intended to strengthen oversight, promote quality improvements, and ensure compliance among underperforming hospices. However, as the program has taken shape, numerous concerns have emerged regarding its implementation. These concerns, including reliance on incomplete data and the potential for unfair targeting of quality providers, have spurred a series of legislative and stakeholder actions.
The National Alliance for Care at Home has produced a valuable Member Playbook for organizations to deal with the SFP, which outlines strategies and tactics for Alliance members to use after the publication of a list of hospices by CMS’ Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). The Member Playbook contains:
- a checklist to help organizations prepare
- high-level talking points
- draft holding statements
- initial tough questions and answers
- sample patient-focused messaging
- social media guidelines
These materials should be customized and utilized by Alliance members to fulfill three primary
purposes:
- Respond to the local and national media
- Communicate with employees
- Communicate with patients and families
If members are wrongfully included in the list, they should utilize any data or track record of
success to underscore their commitment to patient care and push back against CMS’ listing.
