The Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued its semiannual report for the period ending September 30, 2011. The report provides an overview of the enforcement actions over the past year. Of particular interest is the report’s section of hospice care.
Hospice care for nursing facility residents has grown nearly 70% since 2005. The OIG recommends that CMS monitor hospices that depend heavily on nursing facility residents and modify the payment system for hospice care in nursing facilities. According to the OIG, the current payment structure provides incentives for hospices to seek out nursing facility beneficiaries who often receive longer but less complex care.
