Advocacy Update

As Policymakers Focus on Hospice Care, AAHPM Weighs In

Jacqueline M. Kocinski, MPP

Last summer, as the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) published two headline-grabbing reports focused on hospice vulnerabilities, it was not difficult to imagine policymakers would be spurred to respond with proposals for change. At the same time, the department's Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) was working on a long-anticipated model to include hospice in the Medicare Advantage (MA) benefits package. As these efforts to improve access, accountability, and quality of care continue to take shape, AAHPM has been working with its coalition partners to assess the potential risks and rewards for providers and engaging directly with policymakers to share the Academy's priorities and serve as an expert resource.