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HR 5821 116th Congress House

HOSPICE Act

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish hospice program survey and enforcement procedures under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 10, 2020 Introduced by: Panetta, Jimmy Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 544.
Dec 17, 2020
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Dec 17, 2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 116-660, Part I.
Feb 12, 2020
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Feb 12, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 10, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 10, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 10, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 17, 2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 544.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments Act or the HOSPICE Act

This bill establishes survey requirements for, and enforcement mechanisms against, certified hospice programs under Medicare.

Specifically, certified programs must undergo periodic surveys by a state, local, or approved accreditation agency, as specified; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must provide appropriate training for surveyors and publish information relating to survey results on its website. The CMS must also (1) conduct more frequent surveys of programs that are found to be noncompliant with applicable standards; and (2) take specified enforcement actions against such programs, based on the severity of the deficiencies. Enforcement actions include civil penalties, suspended Medicare payments, and termination of program certification.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2477 Related bill Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2020
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5821: HOSPICE Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5821/
MLA
"H.R. 5821: HOSPICE Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5821/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5821, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5821/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5821: HOSPICE Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5821/)
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