Congressional Letter on Regulatory Relief

Regulatory relief is one of the top priorities for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during this administration. CMS Administrator Seema Verma launched the “Patients over Paperwork” initiative, in accord with President Trump’s Executive Order that directs federal agencies to “cut the red tape” and there has been a lot of discussion about this issue among federal policymakers.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has been involved in discussions with both CMS and the House Ways and Means Committee, has submitted detailed suggestions to reduce regulatory burden for hospice and was invited to testify at a Red Tape Relief Roundtable sponsored by the House Ways and Means Committee.

NHPCO had further discussions with committee staff over the summer, as the Committee prepared a letter to CMS outlining the regulatory relief recommendations for various Medicare providers.

On September 4, the Congressional letter was sent to CMS, and included NHPCO’s top priority of increased accountability and transparency for government auditors reviewing hospices.