CMS issues FY2018 Hospice Medicaid rates

Download the memorandum from CMS, “Annual Change in Medicaid Hospice Payment Rates–Action” (PDF).

The CMS memorandum begins:

This memorandum contains the Medicaid hospice payment rates for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The rates reflect changes made under the final Medicare hospice rule published on August 1, 2017 (CMS-1675-F). Please inform your staff and all state agencies in your jurisdiction of these new payment rates, which are effective October 1, 2017. We expect state agencies to share the Medicaid hospice payment rates for FY 2018 with the hospice providers in their states.

The Medicaid hospice payment rates are calculated based on the annual hospice rates established under Medicare. These rates are authorized by section 1814(i)(1)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (the Act), which also provides for an annual increase in payment rates for hospice care services. Rates for hospice physician services are not increased under this provision.

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All providers should access this information and share with necessary staff.