H.R. 7966: Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2026

The "Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2026" aims to enhance the quality and oversight of hospice services under Medicare. Here are the key components of the bill:

Moratorium on New Hospice Programs

The bill establishes a five-year pause on the enrollment of new hospice programs in the Medicare system. This moratorium is intended to focus on improving the existing hospice care facilities rather than expanding the number of programs currently available.

Enhanced Oversight

To ensure better quality in hospice care, the legislation mandates stricter oversight measures. This includes:

• Implementing enhanced monitoring of hospice services.
• Improving the process for reporting and addressing issues related to care quality.
• Reforming ownership and payment processes to promote transparency and integrity within hospice programs.

Regulations for Palliative Therapies

The bill outlines specific regulations regarding palliative care therapies offered by hospice providers. This is intended to ensure that patients receive appropriate treatments aligned with their care needs.

Payment Adjustments and Care Requirements

New adjustments to payment structures for hospice care will be made under this bill. This includes:

• Setting requirements for developing a comprehensive plan of care for patients.
• Defining the conditions for respite care, which provides temporary relief for caregivers.
• Making changes to inpatient care requirements to ensure patients receive necessary services.

Home Respite Care and Reporting Duties

The legislation encourages the development of home respite care services, allowing family members and caregivers to have support without removing patients from their home environment. Additionally, hospice programs will face revised caps on payments and annual reporting responsibilities to maintain transparency regarding services offered and quality of care provided.

Relevant Companies

• HOSP - A company primarily involved in hospice care that could be directly impacted by the newly imposed oversight, regulations, and payment adjustments.
• AMED - This company operates in the home health and hospice sectors and might see changes due to the extended moratorium on new programs and the reforms related to inpatient care requirements.