(Alexandria VA, and Washington, DC) — The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year (FY) 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, Hospice Conditions of Participation Updates, and Hospice Quality Reporting Program final rule.
While the finalized 2.6% payment update is higher than proposed, it does not do enough to address the operational realities confronting hospice providers nationwide. The Alliance will continue to advocate for payment updates that support access to high-quality, person-centered hospice care. The Alliance appreciates CMS’s response in the final rule to its previous recommendations to correct regulatory inconsistencies and improve operational challenges for providers.
“The Alliance appreciates CMS’s partnership in the rulemaking process for hospice providers,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. “While the finalized 2.6% payment update is still insufficient for providers that face persistent inflationary forces amid an ongoing nationwide healthcare workforce crisis, we recognize CMS’s incorporation of Alliance feedback to help streamline regulatory requirements. We will continue to partner with CMS to advocate for home-based care rulemaking that focuses on comprehensive long-term strategy to best serve both the American people and the Medicare trust fund. Evidence consistently demonstrates that hospice care aligns with patient and family preferences and saves the American healthcare system money.”
Despite responsiveness in other areas, the Alliance is deeply disappointed that CMS did not heed recommendations and delay the October 1, 2025 implementation of the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool nor waive the timeliness completion requirement for HOPE record submission. We expect providers to face a burdensome transition and urge CMS to remain responsive to real-world challenges, offering flexibility as providers navigate the change.
The Alliance celebrates other regulatory relief provided by the rule in response to its advocacy, including specifying that a physician member of the interdisciplinary group can recommend hospice admission and allowing a signed clinical note to serve as the attestation that a physician or practitioner completed the face-to-face encounter.
Moving forward, the Alliance stands ready to work with CMS on solutions that strengthen the Medicare hospice benefit. As previously stated, we are concerned about increasing nonhospice spending and committed to working with the agency on potential reduction initiatives. We also continue to support the agency’s focus on a targeted approach to rooting out any fraud, waste, and abuse that threatens this vital benefit.
Hospice care represents exceptional value to our healthcare system and the American people. The Alliance will continue advocating for policies that promote the delivery of the compassionate, high-quality care patients deserve at the end of life.
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About the National Alliance for Care at Home
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.
Press Contact
communications@allianceforcareathome.org
Elyssa Katz | 571-281-0220
