Hospice CARE Act of 2026

This bill changes how Medicare pays for and oversees hospice care. It would stop new hospice programs from enrolling in Medicare nationwide for 5 years, with exceptions for areas that lack access to hospice care, and would require review of all enrolled hospices' records and public posting of their ownership information. It would increase inspections of newer hospices, require advance notice of ownership changes with fines up to $1,000,000 per violation, and stop payment to hospices that do not report quality data starting in fiscal year 2028. It would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to certify terminal illness, require in-person or supervised telehealth visits before recertification, and change payment rates to include per-visit amounts. It would also add payment for short-term respite care in the patient's home and limit how many medical directorships one doctor can hold.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mark R. Warner Democrat sponsor
• 0 cosponsors