Mandatory Hospice Election Statement Addendum

Prior to October 1, 2026, the hospice election statement addendum was only required to be furnished to beneficiaries (or their representatives) upon request. However, CMS published a final rule in August 2026 that finalized the policy to make the hospice election statement addendum mandatory for all hospice elections beginning on and after October 1, 2026 (91 FR 49118). The hospice election statement must be furnished, in writing (which can be paper or electronic) to the beneficiary or their representative. 

The required content of the hospice election statement addendum is described in § 418.24(c). 

Medicare Administrative Contractors have been authorized to use enforcement discretion during a limited 3-month window (for hospice elections that started on or after October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026) to ensure industry is aware of and compliant with the above requirement. Upon review, MACs would not deny claims for impacted hospices solely for lacking a compliant addendum or an incomplete addendum. At the cessation of the grace period, all conditions of payment would continue to be followed.