Hospice CARE Act of 2026 Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2026
Impact
In addition to the moratorium, the bill requires changes to the oversight processes regarding hospice care, including a mandate for prepayment medical reviews on claims to ensure the appropriateness of services related to terminal conditions. The first continuous 15 days of short-term inpatient care may not count towards the care limit when certain conditions regarding caregiver support are not met. This could alleviate the strain on patients and families during urgent care transitions, although the bill’s long-term implications involve additional bureaucratic layers that may affect accessibility in the short term.
Summary
SB4118, known as the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2026, aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act focusing on improving the integrity of hospice care under Medicare. The bill introduces a nationwide temporary moratorium on the enrollment of new hospice programs for five years, which aims to reduce potential fraud and enhance oversight of existing programs. This provision is designed to bolster quality control in hospice services by limiting the influx of new programs until established facilities can meet certain standards of care. Importantly, there are exemptions for hospices providing care in areas with insufficient access to such services.
Contention
Some points of contention may arise regarding the moratorium's impact, as critics argue that it could limit patient access to hospice services when needed most, particularly in underserved areas. Essential stakeholders, including existing hospice providers and advocacy groups, have voiced concerns that while these reforms aim to improve care quality, the enforcement mechanisms might inadvertently delay care for patients requiring immediate assistance. Simultaneously, the bill is designed to tackle fraudulent practices, a serious issue contributing to rising healthcare costs, thus presenting a balancing act between safeguarding patients and ensuring accessibility.
A bill for an act relating to health care decisions related to palliative care, hospice programs, life-sustaining procedures, out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate orders, durable power of attorney for health care, and probate court guardianship reports. (Formerly HF 708.) Effective date: 07/01/2026.