Proposed Medicare Advantage Bill Could Change How Hospice Care is Covered
A new bill in Congress this summer could make a big change to how hospice care is paid for under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. It’s called the Hospice Care Access Act, and if passed, it would require all Medicare Advantage plans to include hospice care as a regular benefit.
This change could mean both good news and some challenges for patients, families, and hospice care providers like us at HealthView.
What’s This All About?
Right now, most people who have Medicare Advantage plans have to switch back to Original Medicare when they need hospice care. But for the past few years, Medicare has been testing a new idea—letting some MA plans cover hospice care directly.
This bill would make that change permanent for all MA plans, starting a new chapter in how end-of-life care is delivered.
What Could This Mean for Our Patients and Team?
If the bill becomes law, here’s how it could affect the way we care for patients:
1. Better Continuity of Care
Patients would no longer need to change plans to get hospice care. This can help avoid confusion and make the care journey smoother for families.
2. More Paperwork
MA plans usually require more documentation, approvals, and reports than traditional Medicare. That could mean more time spent on paperwork and less flexibility in care decisions.
3. Focus on Outcomes
MA plans often pay based on results, like how well we manage symptoms or keep patients out of the hospital. That means we’ll need to track more data about how patients are doing.
4. Closer Relationships with Insurance Plans
To provide the best care under this new system, we’ll need to work even more closely with Medicare Advantage plans—making sure patients get what they need quickly and smoothly.
How We’re Getting Ready
At HealthView, we’re not waiting around—we’re already preparing:
- Starting to work with doctors and hospitals to make the referral process smoother
- Tracking the care we give to show strong results
- Getting informed!
Advocating on Capitol Hill
To make sure patient needs are represented, HealthView will be attending the National Alliance for Care at Home’s Advocacy Week and Hill Day this fall in Washington, D.C. (Event Info).
This important event brings providers together to speak with lawmakers about the future of home-based care, including legislation like the Hospice Care Access Act. We’ll be there to:
- Advocate for patient-centered policies
- Share real stories from our patients and families
- Push for smooth, fair implementation of Medicare Advantage changes
We believe decisions made in Washington should reflect the voices of the people we serve—and we’re proud to be part of that conversation.
Why This Matters
Hospice care isn’t just a service—it’s about giving people comfort, dignity, and peace at the end of life. Making sure that care is easy to access, high-quality, and personalized is essential.
We support making hospice available to more people, but we also want to make sure the system works well and puts patients and families first.
Stay in the Loop
We’re closely following this bill and will keep you updated on what we learn during the National Alliance for Care at Home’s Hill Day and Advocacy Week.
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HealthView Home Health, Hospice & Palliative Care provides compassionate care throughout Southern California, caring for every segment of our elderly community for over 57 years.
Sources:
- Hospice News (2025)
- CMS (2024): VBID Hospice Model
- NAHC Policy Updates (2025)
- McKnight’s Home Care (2025)
- Health Affairs (2024)
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