Complete Story
09/29/2026
CMS Begins Major Review of Hospice Conditions of Participation
CMS has begun the process of updating the Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs), nearly 20 years after the requirements were last comprehensively revised. The agency is starting with a series of virtual listening sessions in October to hear directly from hospice leaders, frontline staff, patients and families.
CMS is seeking feedback on requirements that may no longer reflect how hospice care is delivered today, as well as operational and workforce challenges, access to covered services, quality and safety, and safeguards against inappropriate enrollment and fraud.
Three listening sessions are scheduled:
- Hospice administrators and associations: Oct. 6, 2 to 3 p.m.
- Direct hospice care staff: Oct. 7, 2 to 3 p.m.
- Hospice patients, families and caregivers: Oct. 14, 2 to 3 p.m.
Why it matters
This review could shape hospice operations and regulatory expectations for years to come. CMS is asking about issues providers routinely navigate, including contracting challenges, workforce capacity, hospice eligibility controls, access to covered services, the role of the medical director and volunteer requirements. This is an early opportunity for providers to help CMS understand where current requirements work and where modernization or clarification may be needed.
What to do
- Review the questions CMS plans to discuss and identify issues your organization would like CMS to understand
- Encourage appropriate administrative and clinical leaders to participate in the session aligned with their role
- Consider specific examples of regulatory barriers or requirements that could be clarified or modernized without compromising quality or patient safety
- Share the Oct. 14 session with patients, families and caregivers who may want to provide feedback on their hospice experience
- Review LeadingAge’s summary for registration links and additional details