The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its Fiscal Year 2024 Mission and Priorities Document (MPD). This important document helps guide CMS, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG), the Survey & Operations Group (SOG), and State Survey Agencies (SAs) to ensure healthcare providers meet safety and quality standards. For healthcare providers and public sector planners, staying up to date on CMS priorities is key to maintaining compliance and being prepared for changes.

Here’s a breakdown of the main points from the FY2024 MPD and how they might affect your healthcare operations.

What is the MPD?

The MPD outlines how CMS will prioritize its efforts during the upcoming fiscal year. It includes updates on regulations, new programs, budget changes, and legal requirements, all designed to make sure people receiving care through Medicare or Medicaid get safe, high-quality treatment.

The FY2024 MPD is divided into three main sections:

  • New program updates since last year.
  • Ongoing policies that remain constant.
  • Priority tiers for survey and certification activities.

Key Areas of Focus

CMS organizes its survey activities into four priority tiers, helping Survey Agencies (SAs) focus on the most critical areas of patient care. These tiers allow CMS to allocate resources effectively.

The Four Priority Tiers:

  • Tier 1: Providers with immediate access-to-care issues.
  • Tier 2: Providers with Medicare applications pending for more than 150 days.
  • Tier 3: All other initial certifications not in Tiers 1 or 2.
  • Tier 4: Less urgent activities.

One of the significant changes this year is that initial surveys for home health and hospice providers, previously categorized under Tier 4, have been moved up to Tier 1 or 2 due to the increased demand for these services.

Updates for Home Health and Hospice Providers

Home health and hospice care are receiving extra attention in FY2024. CMS has introduced stricter enforcement measures, such as fines, suspension of payments for new patients, and management changes at facilities that fail to meet quality standards. These updates will be included in the State Operations Manual (SOM) Chapter 10, although the exact release date has not been announced yet.

Hospice care is also getting special attention through the new Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). This program targets underperforming