Medicare program; hospice wage index for fiscal year 2012. Final rule

This final rule will set forth the hospice wage index for fiscal year (FY) 2012 and continue the phase-out of the wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF), with an additional 15 percent BNAF reduction, for a total BNAF reduction in FY 2012 of 40 percent. The BNAF phase-out will continue with successive 15 percent reductions from FY 2013 through FY 2016. This final rule will change the hospice aggregate cap calculation methodology. This final rule will also revise the hospice requirement for a face-to-face encounter for recertification of a patient's terminal illness. Finally, this final rule will begin implementation of a hospice quality reporting program.