CMS Ends Hospice Special Focus Program For 2025 Pending Further Evaluation

Effective February 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ceased implementing the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) for calendar year 2025. During this pause, CMS intends to further evaluate the program.

The Hospice SFP was finalized in the 2024 Medicare home health payment rule. The SFP was among the requirements established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The SFP is intended to address issues that could place Medicare beneficiaries in hospice at risk of receiving poor-quality care. The program would provide enhanced regulatory oversight and enforcement.

In October 2024, CMS released a memo with details . . .