Hospice physicians who prescribe antipsychotics for hospice patients living in facilities will soon need to visit those patients at least every 14 days. That is, if the patient continues to need the antipsychotic Rx to treat symptoms.
This requirement is due to CMS' QSO-25-14-NH memorandum updating surveyors' instructions on conducting Long-Term-Care surveys. Many hospice patients, of course, live in LTC facilities, making this new directive apply to them.
The memorandum originally posted in January. CMS updated it March 10, and it's effective April 28, 2025 (extended from its prior March 24, 2025 implementation date).
Although it's a directive for LTC facilities, it certainly impacts hospice agency processes.
Here is a copy of the memorandum for your convenience. And I (at least tried to) highlight all the relevant statements in the memo. Please read it or do your own search in case I missed something.
If I can help you with this, let me know.
Be well, my friends.
Beth