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Proposed Hospice Final Rule Change

CMS proposes to make some of the waiver changes permanent. One of these modifications is regarding hospice aide training.  The current CoP, 418.76 (c)(1) specifies aides must be evaluated by observation of their performance of the task with a live patient.  The proposed change would affect CoP 418.3 by allowing evaluation of aide competency to…

CMS proposes to make some of the waiver changes permanent. One of these modifications is regarding hospice aide training.  The current CoP, 418.76 (c)(1) specifies aides must be evaluated by observation of their performance of the task with a live patient.  The proposed change would affect CoP 418.3 by allowing evaluation of aide competency to be performed by “simulation” on a  “pseudo-patient”.  CMS suggests this will “increase the speed of competency testing and allow new aides to begin serving patients more quickly while still protecting patient health and safety”.