Major payment system changes rarely take effect smoothly, and hospice payment reform is no exception.
The problem: “Hospice providers are receiving an incorrect Service Intensity Add-on (SIA) payment for services that do not qualify for the payment,” says HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor National Government Services on its website.
“SIA payments should only be made for social worker and registered nursing visits when provided during routine home care in the last seven days of life. Hospice providers may be receiving SIA payments incorrectly, when the services are provided during continuous home care. This incorrect processing may be causing an overpayment to hospice providers, when the services do not qualify for the SIA payment.”
The problem appears to be a nationwide issue, notes the National Association for Home Care & Hospice in its member newsletter.
The solution: A Feb. 22 system fix should correct the problem, NGS says.