(May 31, 2024) – CMS Deadline for Provider Enrollment Is June 3
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a new requirement for physicians who certify patient eligibility. For Medicare to pay for hospice services, the following physicians must enroll in Medicare or opt out by Monday, June 3.
- The hospice medical director or the physician member of the hospice interdisciplinary group who certifies the patient’s terminal condition
- The patient-designated attending physician who certifies their terminal condition
CMS will deny hospice claims if the certifying physician isn't in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System hospice ordering and referring files by June 3. Providers who are currently enrolled don't need to do anything. Hospices can quickly verify a physician's status using the CMS ordering and referring data file, which lists all Medicare-enrolled and opted-out physicians.
HRSA Nursing Grant Opportunity to Launch Soon
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has dedicated $4.75 million to the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – Workforce Expansion Program. This program aims to increase the nursing workforce in rural (nonmetro) and underserved areas to address the critical shortage of nurses, specifically in acute and long-term care settings.
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, as well as private institutions of higher education. An accredited school of nursing, health care facility or partnership of such a school and facility and entities that confer associate degrees in nursing, such as community colleges, are also eligible.
MLN Connects Provider eNews Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews: