The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is sharing information about hospice providers to permit the public to compare hospice providers on measures of care quality. The Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) was established at section 1814(i)(5) of the Social Security Act. The Act also requires the Secretary to publicly report, on a CMS website, quality measures that relate to the care provided by hospice programs across the country.
CMS created the new Hospice Compare website for patients and family members to support their ability to find and compare hospice providers based on whether the provider assesses the patient’s goals of treatment preferences and other quality indicators. Providers can start a conversation with their patients and family members about how the new Hospice Compare website impacts them by:
- Explaining that the compare website provides a snapshot of the quality of care a hospice offers;
- Encouraging patients and their family members to review quality ratings; and
- Helping to strengthen patients and family members’ ability to make the best decisions for their care
This data can demonstrate how a hospice provider’s service quality compares to that of other local providers, as well as to the average national quality scores. It can showcase hospices’ ongoing commitment to quality and improve engagement and confidence among staff, patients, caregivers, families and stakeholders.
For complete information including Hospice Item Set, publicly reported data as well as a list of measures that are included on Hospice Compare and the national average and much more, visit the www.cms.gov newsroom.