HOPE After Eight Months: Workflow, Timing, and Submission Lessons

<p>On this episode of AHCC Talk, Jan Milliman, HCS-D, Director of AHCC, is joined by AHCC Advisory Board member Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, HCS-H, HCS-O, COS-C, Vice President of Clinical Services with McBee, for a look back at the first eight months of using the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation — HOPE — tool.</p><p>Jan and Lisa discuss how the transition from HIS to HOPE has affected hospice workflows, documentation, visit timing, symptom follow-up visits, data integrity, and compliance risk. They also review common submission issues, rejection patterns, warning vs. error distinctions, and practical ways teams can improve acceptance rates and HOPE accuracy.✅ Jan Milliman, HCS-D, Director, AHCC✅ Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, HCS-H, HCS-O, COS-C, Vice President of Clinical Services, McBee</p><p><strong>Links Mentioned in the Episode</strong></p><p>Medicare Program; FY2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements: <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/06/2026-06604/medicare-program-fy-2027-hospice-wage-index-and-payment-rate-update-and-hospice-quality-reporting">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/06/2026-06604/medicare-program-fy-2027-hospice-wage-index-and-payment-rate-update-and-hospice-quality-reporting</a></p><p>Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) Guidance Manual v1.01: <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hope-guidance-manual-v1-01.pdf">https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hope-guidance-manual-v1-01.pdf</a></p><p>Hospice Quality Reporting Program: <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/hospice">https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/hospice</a></p><p>Learn more about AHCC credentials: <a href="https://store.decisionhealth.com/ahcc-credentials">https://store.decisionhealth.com/ahcc-credentials</a></p><p>⬇️ Downloadable slides from this discussion: <a href="https://ahcc.decisionhealth.com/ahcc-talk-episode-92-eight-months-of-the-hospice-hope-tool/">https://ahcc.decisionhealth.com/ahcc-talk-episode-92-eight-months-of-the-hospice-hope-tool/</a></p><p>📧Have a question, episode request, or suggestionsfor a future panel guest? Email Jan at jan.milliman@decisionhealth.com</p>