New Medicare hospice rules aim to boost physicians' role

The most significant changes are designed to give patients more rights. By David Glendinning, AMNews staff. July 14, 2008 Medicare, for the first time in 25 years, has updated the rules for hospice physicians. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in June released final conditions of participation for hospice professionals. The new guidelines, the only overhaul of the regulations since Medicare first offered the benefit in 1983, will take effect on Dec. 2.