Hospice Operations & Management Flashcards

Under the Medicare Conditions of Participation, how often must the interdisciplinary group (IDG) review and update each patient's plan of care at minimum?

Answer: Every 15 days

42 CFR 418.56(d) requires IDG review and revision of the plan of care at least every 15 calendar days.

A hospice administrator is calculating volunteer compliance. Volunteer hours must equal at least what percentage of total patient care hours provided by paid employees and contract staff?

Answer: 5%

42 CFR 418.78(e) sets the volunteer minimum at 5% of total patient care hours of all paid hospice employees and contract staff.

How often must a registered nurse make an on-site supervisory visit to a patient's home when hospice aide services are provided?

Answer: At least every 14 days

42 CFR 418.76(h) requires an RN supervisory visit no less frequently than every 14 days to assess aide services.

Aggregate inpatient days (general inpatient plus inpatient respite) for Medicare hospice patients may not exceed what share of total patient care days in a cap year?

Answer: 20%

The 80/20 inpatient cap limits inpatient days to 20% of total Medicare hospice patient days, with excess paid at the routine home care rate.

Within what timeframe must a hospice file the Notice of Election (NOE) with its Medicare Administrative Contractor?

Answer: Within 5 calendar days after the election date

The NOE must be filed and accepted within 5 calendar days after the hospice election date, or the hospice forfeits payment for the late days.

Which of the following is NOT a core service that a hospice must routinely provide directly through its own employees?

Answer: Physical therapy

Core services are physician, nursing, medical social services, and counseling; physical therapy is a non-core service that may be contracted.

Unless state law requires longer, how long must a hospice retain clinical records after a patient's death or discharge?

Answer: 6 years

42 CFR 418.104(e) requires hospice clinical records be retained for 6 years after death or discharge.