CMS increases Medicare hospice payments by 0.9 percent

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its Medicare Hospice Wage Index for fiscal year 2013, increasing payments by 0.9 percent. The increase is the net result of a 1.6 percent increase in the “hospital market basket” update, which is offset by a 0.7 percent decrease in payments to hospices due to updated wage index data and the fourth year of CMS’ seven-year phase-out of its wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor. A 48-page rate notice also includes details on payment reforms and is available on the government’s website.