Hospice Face-to-Face Telehealth Ends September 30, 2025
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has confirmed an essential change for hospice providers. Telehealth can no longer be used for face-to-face recertification encounters beginning October 1, 2025. All face-to-face visits for recertification must take place in person.
What is Changing
Section III.D of the FY 2026 Hospice Final Rule clarifies that the flexibility allowing telehealth for hospice face-to-face recertification visits will end on September 30, 2025. After this date, these encounters must be conducted in person by a hospice physician or nurse practitioner.
Biggest Impact for Hospice Providers
The most immediate challenge is ensuring there are enough providers available to conduct in-person visits. Agencies may face scheduling pressures and staffing shortages, especially in rural areas or during high census periods.
Biggest Risk if Non-Compliant
If a provider continues using telehealth after September 30, 2025, auditors may not count those visits as completed. Until the face-to-face encounter is corrected and the certification of terminal illness is re-signed, agencies risk losing reimbursement for the entire benefit period. In some cases, this could mean months of lost revenue.
Advice for Agencies
Now is the time to review your upcoming recertifications that require a face-to-face visit. Ensure sufficient providers are scheduled to conduct these encounters in person once the rule takes effect. Adjust internal policies and workflows as needed so your agency is fully compliant on October 1, 2025.
Call us at 800.949.0388