Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026
Last recorded step: none recorded yet.
Nothing scheduled on the calendars we hold.
This bill would test a model paying for hospice blood transfusions separately from the standard Medicare per diem rate.
What it does
This bill would require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a new payment model for blood transfusions provided to hospice patients. Under this model, Medicare would pay for these transfusions separately rather than including them in the standard daily rate paid to hospice providers. The program would be evaluated by comparing participants against non-participants based on metrics such as hospital usage and the duration of hospice care received before a patient's death.
Who is affected
This bill affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving hospice care who require blood transfusions, as well as the hospice care providers responsible for administering these services. Additionally, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is affected, as it is tasked with implementing and evaluating the new payment model.
Key provisions
- Medicare payment model for blood transfusions in hospice care. Requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model where blood transfusions for hospice patients are paid separately from the standard all-inclusive per diem rate.
- Evaluation of model performance and patient outcomes. Directs the evaluation of the new payment model by comparing participating and non-participating patients across metrics such as hospital utilization and the duration of hospice care prior to death.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill modifies existing Medicare hospice reimbursement protocols by testing a departure from the standard all-inclusive per diem payment system. It directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to evaluate a model where blood transfusions are billed separately from the traditional hospice payment structure.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to evaluate whether paying for blood transfusions separately from the standard Medicare hospice per diem rate improves care outcomes. By testing this model, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation intends to measure its impact on hospital utilization and the duration of hospice care provided to patients at the end of life.