Improving Access to Blood Transfusions for Medicare Hospice Patients
This bill mandates testing a new Medicare payment method to ensure blood transfusions for hospice patients are paid for separately. Currently, these costs are bundled into a fixed daily rate, potentially limiting access to care. The goal is to make it easier for patients receiving end-of-life care to access necessary transfusions for symptom management and comfort.
Key points
Medicare payment change: Blood transfusions for hospice patients will be tested for separate payment, rather than being included in the fixed daily rate.
Enhanced patient access: This aims to remove financial barriers for hospice providers, ensuring patients have better access to necessary transfusions for comfort care.
Evaluation requirement: The new payment model must be evaluated by comparing patient outcomes (e.g., hospital utilization, hospice days) against patients treated under the old system.
Expired
Citizen Poll