NPHI issued the following statement following the introduction of new House legislation by Rep. Van Duyne (TX-24), H.R. 8883, the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, aimed at strengthening oversight of hospice providers under the Medicare program:
“NPHI greatly appreciates and supports Congressional efforts focused on strengthening oversight and accountability within the Medicare hospice benefit through targeted, evidence-based program integrity reforms.
The provisions outlined in this legislation reflect many of the concerns responsible providers have raised for years, particularly efforts to strengthen oversight of newly enrolled hospices, increase penalties for providers who choose not to report required quality data and require the disclosure of audit and oversight activities by CMS to Congress on a regular basis. We are encouraged to see policymakers pursuing targeted approaches designed to root out fraud and abuse without imposing unnecessary burdens on trusted nonprofit providers delivering exceptional community-based care.
For years, NPHI and nonprofit hospice providers have warned that fraudulent activity in certain markets is threatening the integrity of the Medicare hospice benefit and undermining public trust in one of the most compassionate and effective models of care in the American healthcare system. NPHI has consistently called for enforcement strategies that aggressively target bad actors while ensuring long-term sustainability for high-quality, mission-driven hospice providers serving patients and families with compassion, dignity, and accountability every day.
At the same time, NPHI views these reforms as an important starting point – not the end point – in broader efforts to strengthen and modernize the Medicare hospice benefit. While program integrity reforms are welcome and necessary, many of the underlying challenges facing the benefit are also tied to longstanding payment and structural issues that are not addressed in this legislation alone. Sustainable reform will require a holistic approach that aligns payment policy, quality, accountability, and access to care.
NPHI looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Congress, CMS, and other stakeholders on complementary modernization efforts and broader payment reform discussions to ensure the Medicare hospice benefit remains strong, sustainable, and centered on the needs of patients and families for future generations.”
