• Update to Aggregate Cap Amount [PDF, 20KB]: The 2009 hospice aggregate cap amount is $23, 014.50.
• Update to FY 2009 Medicaid Hospice Payment Rates [PDF, 56KB] Information for States and providers on the impact to FY 09 Medicaid hospice payment rates based on revisions to the hospice wage index.
• CMS-1420-P (Publication Date: April 24, 2009): The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update the Medicare Hospice Wage Index for fiscal year (FY) 2010. This proposed rule continues with the 75 percent reduction of the budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF) which, in the August 8, 2008 FY 2009 Hospice Wage Index final rule, was originally implemented as the second year of a 3-year phase-out of the BNAF. The combined effects of a 75% reduction to the BNAF in FY 2010 and a estimated 2.1% hospital market basket update are estimated to decrease payment to hospices in FY 2010 by 1.1%. In addition, this proposed rule proposes to require hospice physicians to provide a short narrative on hospice certifications and recertifications. For more information, see the Fact Sheet.
• On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which delayed the phase-out of the hospice wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF) for FY 2009. Therefore we are posting a revised copy of the FY 2009 wage index, which includes a full (unreduced) BNAF. Please also see Change Request 6418 (Transmittal 1701, dated March 13, 2009) for more information on the revision to the FY 2009 wage index.

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