In the CY 2024 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule that posted late this afternoon to the Federal Register preview site, there is a proposed change for hospices. In order to implement division FF, section 4121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, CMS is proposing to modify the requirements for the hospice CoPs at § 418.56 "Interdisciplinary group, care planning and coordination of service" and §418.114 "Personnel qualifications." to allow marriage and family therapists (MFT) services and mental health counselors (MHC) to serve as members of the interdisciplinary group (IDG). The CAA leaves it up to the hospice to decide whether to use an MFT or MHC – they are not required to use them, and a hospice would still be required to use a social worker if that is what the patient's plan of care called for.
NAHC staff are reviewing the full proposed rule now and will provide a summary in NAHC Report soon.
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Katie Wehri
Director of Home Health & Hospice Regulatory Affairs
NAHC
Washington, DC
202-240-9254 #3360
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