Wash. HCA Hospice Services Billing Guide, What are the notification requirements when a client transfers to another hospice agency?

Both the former hospice agency and the current hospice agency must provide

HCA with all of the following:

• The client’s name, the name of the former hospice agency serving the client,

and the effective date of the client’s discharge

• The name of the current hospice agency serving the client, the hospice

agency’s provider number, and the effective date of the client’s admission

HCA does not require a hospice agency to notify HCA’s Hospice program

when a hospice client is admitted to a hospital for palliative care.

Note: Failure to notify HCA properly of a client’s discharge or

revocation from hospice care could result in denial of payment

for services provided by the hospice agency.

For example: The client revokes hospice care. The hospice

agency fails to notify HCA’s Hospice program within five business

days. The client or the client’s family attempt to get a

prescription filled at the pharmacy. The pharmacist does not fill

the prescription because the client is on hospice. The client or

family is then forced to go without, or pay for the prescription.