QAPI Documentation:  How to Show Your Program is Active and Effective

QAPI Documentation: How to Show Your Program is Active and Effective

Hospice leaders often understand that QAPI is required by CMS, but many do not know how to document the program in a way that proves it is genuinely active and effective. CMS surveyors want to see more than binders, charts, or paperwork. They are looking for documentation that demonstrates continuous, data-driven improvement that is tracked over time. In other words, during survey, they are not just evaluating documents.  They are evaluating whether documentation reflects real action.

Why Documentation Matters

In the context of hospice QAPI, documentation is not about filling binders for the sake of compliance. It is about showing that the organization identifies problems, takes measurable action, analyzes results, and adjusts processes accordingly. CMS defines hospice QAPI as a data-based, objective approach to quality management that continuously monitors the outcomes of services, patient safety, and quality of care and requires that providers use this data to design and implement improvement projects when necessary.

To meet this standard, documentation must answer five questions clearly:

  • What was reviewed
  • What problem or risk was identified
  • What action was taken to address it
  • Whether that action made a difference
  • What the hospice will do next

If your documentation cannot answer these questions, CMS will not consider the QAPI program compliant, even if the hospice is working hard behind the scenes. The issue is often not that quality work isn’t happening.  Rather, the problem is that the work is not being documented clearly enough to show its impact.

Common Documentation Pitfalls

Many hospices get caught in documentation traps that weaken QAPI. They may create binders filled with policies but no records of action, prepare meeting minutes that vaguely state “QAPI discussed” without meaningful content, collect data that is not reviewed or analyzed, or maintain checklists that are completed but not tied to improvement decisions.

These habits create the appearance of a QAPI program without actually demonstrating one. CMS surveyors are trained to recognize documentation that looks like performance but does not show performance.

Start With Defined Indicators

The first step in documenting an effective QAPI program is to begin with defined indicators that are measurable. These indicators form the basis of what the organization monitors and what is documented throughout the year. Examples include pain assessment and management outcomes, timeliness of visits, medication error rates, clinical documentation compliance, grievances or caregiver complaints, and family satisfaction trends. The mistake many hospices make is tracking too many indicators and losing the ability to review and act on them consistently. Monitoring a smaller number or indicators – five to ten well-selected metrics – is more manageable and provides a clearer picture of change over time.

Show How Data Is Reviewed

Once indicators are established, documentation must show how the hospice reviewed data. This is where meeting minutes matter. They should include the date and time of review, the names or roles of participants present, the indicators that were reviewed, and the trends or variances noted. A clear example might read:

QAPI meeting held March 12, 2026. Reviewed late visit data for RN visits Jan–Feb 2026. Findings: 18% of scheduled visits started more than 15 minutes late. Geographic clustering identified in Zone 3. Attending: CEO, DON, QAPI Lead, RN Coordinator.

This simple statement shows activity, data, focus, and context, all elements that demonstrate that QAPI is functioning.

Document Root Cause Analysis, Not Blame

When a pattern or problem is identified, CMS expects hospices to document a root cause analysis. Root cause analysis is not about blame. Documentation should avoid language that points to individuals as “the problem.” Instead, it should focus on contributors such as workflow bottlenecks, documentation burden, staffing configurations, communication breakdowns, unclear policies, EMR inefficiencies, geographic routing challenges, or training needs.

Tools like “Five Whys” or Fishbone Diagrams can help identify these causes and show depth of analysis. For example, if nurses are repeatedly arriving late, documentation might state:

Primary contributing factor appears to be travel distance; route assignments have not been updated to reflect current census distribution. Documentation burden noted as secondary factor; RNs report medication review template adds charting time. The goal is to show thoughtful analysis, not superficial assumptions.

Record Corrective Actions Taken

After the cause is understood, documentation must show what action was taken. This can be operational, educational, technological, or process-based, but it must be specific and measurable. Documentation should include the intervention chosen, the person responsible for implementing it, and the date it was initiated. For instance:

Action: Adjust RN territory assignments to reduce travel time and reallocate visits in Zone 3. Responsible: Director of Nursing and Operations Manager. Implementation date: March 15, 2026.

This tells the surveyor exactly who acted, what was done, and when. It also provides an anchor point for follow-up measurement.

Prove Results With Re-Measurement

Few steps are more important than re-measurement.  This is where many hospices fail. QAPI work is not complete until the hospice checks whether the intervention worked — and documents the outcome. If an intervention does not lead to improvement, documentation should show that the hospice adapted or escalated the intervention rather than abandoning it. CMS does not expect hospices to fix everything on the first try; it expects them to document continuous improvement.

A strong re-measurement entry might read:Re-measured late visit percentage on April 15, 2026. Post-intervention result: Late visits reduced to 9% in Zone 3; hospice-wide reduction to 12%. Action considered effective; monitoring quarterly going forward.

An Example of QAPI Documentation Done Well

When all these elements come together, they tell the story CMS is looking for. Consider a full improvement cycle: On January 20, a hospice identifies a 12% medication documentation error rate during chart audits. In February, EMR templates are revised and staff training is conducted. On March 5, re-measurement shows the error rate has dropped to 3%. This is the type of documentation that proves QAPI is not theoretical. It also shows the hospice is functioning with intention and accountability rather than reacting randomly.

Tools That Support Documentation

The tools used to track this information do not need to be complicated. QAPI meeting minutes, action logs, re-measurement logs, and simple trend charts can meet CMS expectations when used consistently. Many hospices find it helpful to maintain a single “QAPI Action Log” that lists each improvement project from start to finish. CMS offers examples, worksheets, and guidance documents on its website for providers who need structure.

Final Takeaway

Ultimately, documentation should tell a story of how your hospice

  • Found a risk or opportunity
  • Tested an intervention
  • Measured the result
  • Made further decisions

based on what was learned. When this story can be followed easily and supported with evidence, a hospice has documentation that reflects an active and effective QAPI program. This is the level of clarity CMS expects — not perfection, but proof of progress.


How to Collect QAPI Data that Shows What Needs to Improve

How to Collect QAPI Data that Shows What Needs to Improve

In hospice, most organizations understand why Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) is required. What many do not understand is how to collect data in a way that reveals patterns, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

QAPI data collection does not mean saving every report, printing every dashboard, or drowning in spreadsheets. It means collecting the right information, in the right way, at the right time, so that it provides a story about what is happening inside the organization.

What Data Collection Should Accomplish

A hospice should collect data to answer three essential questions:

  • What is happening?
  • Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
  • Does it represent a risk to patients, operations, or regulatory compliance?

If the data that the agency is collecting does not help answer these questions, then either the data points are wrong or the method of collection needs to change.

The Most Common Mistake

Hospices often gather data after a problem has already occurred — almost like autopsy work. That prevents improvement.

Data collection must happen before, during, and after issues appear. Only then can you identify trends and prevent problems instead of reacting to them.

QAPI data can be thought of like a heartbeat monitor: If a patient’s heartbeat is only monitored after the patient has coded, the clinical staff will not have the information that they need to successfully intervene.

What Data Collection Looks Like in Practice

A successful data collection process has three characteristics:

CharacteristicWhat It Means
ConsistentCollected on a schedule (weekly/monthly/quarterly)
AccessibleStaff can enter information quickly without barriers
ActionableSomeone reviews it and can make decisions from it

Data that is collected but never reviewed is not QAPI; it’s record-keeping.

A Realistic Example

Scenario: A hospice agency is receiving more calls from families stating that nurses are arriving late for scheduled visits.

This is a signal, and signals should trigger structured data collection.

Here is how the hospice agency should approach this in QAPI:

Step 1: Define the Data Point

What should be measured?

Scheduled visit time vs. actual arrival time

This must be collected the same way for every visit being reviewed.

Step 2: Create a Simple, Repeatable Tool

The agency does not need software to begin. A chart, form, or shared spreadsheet is enough:

Patient IDDateScheduled TimeArrival TimeLate? (Yes/No)ReasonReported byNotes

Step 3: Collect Data Over a Set Timeframe

The agency can decide on the timeframe over which data will be collected: two weeks? one month? one quarter?
The timeframe must be long enough to show a trend, but short enough to act quickly.

Step 4: Analyze

After the data is collected, review what happened.

QuestionWhy It Matters
How often are nurses late?Shows severity
Are the same nurses repeatedly late?Training or workload issue
Are late visits tied to geography or routing?Scheduling issue
Are delays tied to documentation load?Workflow burden issue
Does lateness correlate with patient complexity?Staffing model issue

Step 5: Intervene

Example findings → Example actions:

FindingsAction
Late arrivals cluster in one regionAdjust territory planning
Late due to excessive documentation timeModify EMR workflow or training
Late due to visit volumeReevaluate caseload standards
Late due to travel timeRedraw service area or change routing

Step 6: Re-Measure

Intervention is not improvement unless data proves it. After the intervention is implemented, the agency must measure again to confirm whether lateness improved. If it did — fantastic. If not — the agency needs to try a new intervention.

This is how QAPI proves effectiveness.

Why This Method Works

This process does three crucial things:

  • Turns perception (“families say nurses are late”) into measurement
  • Turns measurement into insight (“where, when, why?”)
  • Turns insight into action (“fix the problem in the system, not the person”)

When to Start

Intervention and correction of problems identified does not require software systems or large volumes of data. If a hospice is waiting for the “perfect data system,” then the hospice is waiting too long.

  • Start small.
  • Start with one data point.
  • Start even if the first round is messy.

QAPI success begins with a mindset change — not a software purchase.

Takeaway

A hospice agency does not require large volumes of data in order to address issues identified. All that is needed is data that is collected consistently and reviewed with purpose. Data collection is not about volume. It is about visibility.

When data starts showing patterns, it offers the power to prevent problems instead of reacting to them.

Additional References


What is the Hospice Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program?

What is the Hospice Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program?

A hospice Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program is the formal system a hospice uses to understand how well it is functioning, where it is at risk, and how it will improve over time. Under 42 CFR § 418.58, CMS requires every hospice to maintain an ongoing, hospice-wide, data-driven program that evaluates the quality and safety of care and takes deliberate action when improvement is needed. In practical terms, a QAPI program is not a set of reports or a compliance binder.  It is the structured way a hospice identifies problems, analyzes why they occur, implements changes, and checks whether those changes actually improve care for patients and families.

While the regulation under 42 CFR § 418.58 describes what CMS expects, it does not specify how to build a functioning QAPI program from scratch. The good news is that CMS is not looking for a perfect system. It is looking for a repeatable structure that allows the hospice to identify risk, improve care, and demonstrate learning over time.

The most successful hospice QAPI programs start by putting structure in place before worrying about metrics or dashboards.

What does QAPI mean

At its core, QAPI combines two key components: Quality Assurance (QA) and Performance Improvement (PI). Quality Assurance focuses on setting and maintaining standards of care, while Performance Improvement is about fixing systemic or recurring problems in those care processes. Together, they form a comprehensive, data-driven approach that involves everyone in the organization  –  clinicians, administrators, and support staff – in practical problem-solving and care enhancement activities. This makes QAPI more than just a regulatory requirement; it is an organized way of doing business that builds quality into every level of hospice operations.

What is the scope of a QAPI program

A hospice QAPI program must be hospice-wide, meaning it must cover all services that affect patient care including clinical services, psychosocial and spiritual care, interdisciplinary group functioning, documentation systems, safety processes, and services provided under contract. The scope of the hospice QAPI program must be defined in writing. The written scope becomes the anchor when questions arise later about whether an issue belongs in QAPI.

The CMS Conditions of Participation require that hospices “collect and analyze patient care and administrative quality data and use that data to identify, prioritize, implement, and evaluate performance improvement projects to improve the quality of services furnished to hospice patients.” This emphasizes the importance of using objective data to show improvement in outcomes, care processes, satisfaction, or other performance indicators.

How does the QAPI program work

A QAPI program begins with data collection. The objective of the data collection is not to accumulate paperwork. Rather, the objective is to reveal patterns, risks, and opportunities for improvement. This can include clinical outcomes, documentation audits, incident reports, grievances, and patient or caregiver feedback. What matters most is that the data allows the hospice to answer key questions:

  • What is happening?
  • How often is it happening?
  • Why is it happening?
  • What can we do to improve?

QAPI does not require a hospice agency to design a complex data dashboard. It requires identifying reliable data sources that already exist and deciding how they will be used and reviewed.

The agency can start by identifying a small set of core data inputs: patient outcomes, complaints and grievances, adverse events, utilization trends, documentation audits, and patient or family experience data. The goal is not volume; the goal is visibility. When data is reviewed consistently and discussed meaningfully, it becomes usable for improvement.

Identifying concern and monitoring improvements

If an area of concern is identified, the hospice must design and implement an improvement strategy, evaluate the effectiveness of that intervention, and continue monitoring the results over time.

CMS does not require a specific improvement model but it does expect hospice agencies to demonstrate that improvement efforts follow a logical process. The key is choosing an improvement cycle that is easily understood and repeatable and that does not require specialized staff training.

Most hospice agencies succeed by using this straightforward and repeatable sequence:

  • Identify an issue using data
  • Analyze why it is happening
  • Implement a targeted change
  • Re-measure performance
  • Monitor whether improvement is sustained

The exact labels are less important than consistency. When the same cycle is used repeatedly, QAPI becomes easier to manage and easier to explain during survey.

What differentiates a strong QAPI program from a weak one is the ability to demonstrate measurable change. Hospice staff and leaders should be able to point to specific improvements that resulted from their QAPI efforts, backed by data over time. This could be a reduction in documentation errors, better pain control outcomes, improved timeliness of visits, or more positive caregiver feedback.  These are all examples of real impacts that show the program is not just active, but also effective.

Governance of the QAPI program

CMS places responsibility for QAPI effectiveness on hospice leadership and the governing body. This does not mean that leadership must manage every detail of the QAPI program. What it does mean is that leadership must ensure QAPI operates consistently and has authority.

Leaders are responsible for ensuring that QAPI is integrated into the hospice agency’s policies, procedures, and culture. This includes establishing clear objectives, designating qualified individuals to oversee day-to-day activities, and allocating the resources necessary to support ongoing performance measurement and improvement. The governing body must review QAPI findings regularly and ensure that identified issues are addressed at the organizational level.

Hospice leadership must establish a standing QAPI structure with a regular meeting rhythm and interdisciplinary participation. This can be a formal QAPI committee or a standing agenda item within an existing quality or leadership meeting. What matters is not the name of the meeting, but that QAPI activities are reviewed consistently, decisions are documented, and leadership is aware of priorities and outcomes.

Document how the program operates, not just that it exists

Regulatory compliance is inseparable from solid documentation. CMS surveyors expect to see evidence that a QAPI program is active and effective. Documentation should clearly reflect what was reviewed, what issues were identified, what actions were taken to address those issues, and what the results were. These records should show the agency’s ability to track performance and demonstrate improvement over time.

A QAPI program that exists only in manuals or binders but lacks real, documented improvement activities will be seen as ineffective during survey. Strong documentation tells the story of improvement over time. It shows that QAPI is active rather than simply theoretical. This becomes critical during survey, when the hospice must demonstrate not only intent, but execution.

Why QAPI Matters Beyond Compliance

While QAPI is a regulatory requirement, its impact extends far beyond mere compliance. When implemented thoughtfully, a QAPI program becomes a strategic advantage for a hospice agency. It enhances care quality, strengthens patient and family satisfaction, and supports organizational resilience in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

A hospice that can continuously monitor performance, learn from data, and act proactively is better positioned to deliver high-value, person-centered care every day. In an era where quality reporting and public transparency are increasing – including through programs like the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP), which publicly reports data on hospice performance measures – hospices that embrace continuous improvement are likely to stand out in quality metrics and community reputation.

Additional References

Hospice Documentation: Why It’s Vital and How to Do It Right

Hospice Documentation: Why It’s Vital and How to Do It Right

What is documentation?

Documentation is an essential part of patient care, especially when you are working as a member of a hospice team. Hospice documentation involves writing down everything you did, observed, and discussed with the patient and their family during your visit. This includes the care you provided, any changes in the patient’s health, and specific events that could impact the patient’s future health. Documentation is like a diary that keeps track of the patient’s journey, making sure everyone involved in the patient’s care is on the same page.

Why is documentation important?

Documentation is a way for the team members to share information about the patient’s health condition and any changes in the patient’s condition. It also serves as legal proof of the care that was provided to the patient. More specifically, there are a number of reasons why documentation is important:

  • Communication with the care team: Since hospice care involves multiple healthcare professionals, documentation helps everyone stay informed. Not all members of the care team are present during each patient visit. Notes in the medical record provide vital updates on the patient’s condition and ensure that all members of the care team know how the patient is doing and can make informed decisions about patient care based upon the most up-to-date information about the patient’s health status.
  • Legal requirements: Documentation is also a legal requirement. Documentation serves as proof that a patient visit occurred and that specific care was provided. If something goes wrong or if there is a legal question about the patient’s care, the notes in the patient’s medical record can be used to show what happened and when.
  • Continuity of care: Proper documentation ensures that the care plan is followed consistently. It helps the team track the patient’s progress and make any changes to the patient’s care, as needed. Without accurate records, important details may be missed which can lead to gaps in the patient’s care.

Guidelines for good documentation

As we have discussed, documentation plays a critical role in helping with communication between the members of the care team, helping meet legal requirements, and in ensuring continuity of patient care. So how can you make sure that the documentation that you write is good documentation — that it is clear, accurate, and useful? The following are some guidelines to follow:

  • Document right after the visit: Document your visit immediately after you complete your visit. This helps you remember exactly what happened and ensures that your notes are fresh and accurate.
  • Be clear: Think about what you want to write before you start. Make sure your notes are easy for other members of the care team to understand. Write your notes in a way that it is easy to follow, so that others can quickly find the information that they need.
  • Stick to the facts: Only write down what actually happened. Avoid including your opinions or assumptions.
  • Use quotation marks: If a patient or family member says something important, include their exact words in quotation marks. This helps convey the exact message they intended.
  • List your tasks: Write down any tasks you did, helped with, or observed.
  • Be specific: Include specific information to help other members of the care team better understand the patient’s current condition. Examples of specific details are (depending on role):
    • Patient’s mood
    • Any pain or changes in pain
    • How well patient moved around
    • Changes in appetite
    • Weight changes
    • Changes in need for oxygen
    • Increased or decreased difficulty breathing

Conclusion

Good documentation is more than just writing things down. It is a vital part of providing high quality care. By keeping accurate, detailed, and timely records you help ensure that the patient receives the best possible care and you fulfill your legal responsibilities as a healthcare provider. When in doubt, always ask for help to make sure that your documentation is accurate and useful. Your supervisor, clinical director, or members of your QAPI team are all great resources in case you have questions.

Where can you find more information?

Root Cause Analysis for Transforming Delivery of Hospice Care

Root Cause Analysis for Transforming Delivery of Hospice Care

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic and structured process used to identify the root causes that results in an undesirable outcome or adverse event and to develop corrective actions. The goal of RCA is not just to treat the symptoms of a problem but to delve into the underlying causes of the failure. By understanding these causes, a hospice agency can develop strategies to mitigate risks and implement corrective actions to prevent future occurrences.  This approach to addressing adverse events will lead to improved patient safety and enhanced quality of care. Further, by promoting a culture of safety, RCA fosters a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in the hospice agency. 

When is root cause analysis used

A hospice agency can use root cause analysis to investigate any unexpected occurrences such as hospice acquired pressure ulcers, medication errors, or process variations where recurrence could result in serious adverse outcomes. Candidates for RCA may be identified via patient satisfaction surveys, incident reports, surveys, or other reports and audit activities. A root cause analysis focuses on systems and processes, rather than individuals in the agency. The objective of the RCA is to reduce the risk of recurrence by identifying opportunities to improve or redesign systems or processes. By implementing system changes, this will lead to sustained system improvement.

Elements of root cause analysis

A comprehensive root cause analysis includes the following elements:

  • Problem identification: Identify the adverse event to be investigated and gather preliminary information. Events and issues can come from many sources such as patients and their families, staff, or regulatory bodies. The agency should have a process for deciding what events are selected for RCA.
    • Define the event: Clearly describe the adverse event, error, or near miss. Include specifics such as what happened, where, when, and who was involved.
    • Gather initial data: Collect all relevant information about the event including incident reports, patient records, and witness statements.
  • Assemble RCA team: Select the members of the RCA team and the team facilitator. Team members should be knowledgeable about the processes and systems that they will be investigating.
    • Multidisciplinary team: Form a team that includes individuals with diverse expertise and perspectives. This may include clinicians, administrators, and support staff.
    • Assign roles and responsibilities: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each team member to ensure an organized and effective RCA process.
  • Data collection and investigation: Collect and organize the facts about the adverse event that will be investigated.
    • Detailed event timeline: Create a detailed timeline of events leading up to, during, and after the incident. This helps in understanding the sequence of events.
    • Conduct interviews: Interview staff involved in the event to gain insights into what happened and why. Ensure a non-punitive approach to encourage open and honest communication. Review documentation: Examine all relevant documentation including patient records, policy and procedure manuals, and any relevant logs.
  • Identify contributing factors and root causes: Identify the situation, circumstances, or conditions that increased the likelihood of the adverse event. Conduct a thorough analysis of contributing factors that lead to identification of underlying process and system issues.
    • Cause and effect analysis: Use tools such as fishbone diagrams (Ishikawa) or flow charts to map out the possible causes and identify the root causes. Five whys technique: Ask “why” repeatedly (usually five times) to drill down to the underlying root cause(s) of the problem.
  • Develop action plan: Develop plan for best changing the processes and systems to reduce the likelihood of another similar event.  Design and implement changes to eliminate the root causes. This may involve creating new processes.
    • Corrective actions: Develop specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound (SMART) corrective actions to address the root causes.
    • Assign responsibility: Assign responsibility for implementing each corrective action to specific individuals or teams. Timeline: Establish a timeline for the implementation of each corrective action
  • Implementation and Monitoring: Implement the plan and evaluate its performance.  Create mechanisms to gather data that can be used to measure the success of changes that were introduced.
    • Implement changes: Put the corrective actions into practice. Ensure that staff are trained and aware of changes to procedures or policies. Monitor effectiveness: Continuously monitor the effectiveness of the corrective actions. This may involve regular audits, follow up assessments, and a feedback mechanism.
  • Documentation and Reporting: Create documentation of the RCA process including all findings, root causes, and corrective actions taken. Share findings with stakeholders, promoting a culture of transparency.
    • Detailed Reports: Document the entire RCA process, including findings, root causes, corrective actions, and implementation outcomes.
    • Communicate findings: Share the RCA findings and action plans with all stakeholders including staff, patients, and regulatory bodies.
  • Continuous improvement: Review the RCA process on a periodic basis to identify any necessary modifications or areas that could benefit from improvement. Continuous improvement ensures that the agency promotes a culture of growth and continuous learning.
    • Review and revise: periodically review the RCA process and outcomes to ensure sustained improvements. Revise strategies as necessary based on new data and feedback.
    • Promote a learning culture: Foster an environment where continuous learning and improvement are encouraged and staff feel empowered to report issues and participate in problem solving.

Root cause analysis is a vital tool in hospice care for understanding and addressing the underlying causes of adverse events and errors.  By systematically identifying and correcting these root causes, hospice agencies can significantly enhance patient safety, improve quality of care, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.  A well-executed RCA resolves the immediate issue and provides valuable insights to prevent future occurrences, thereby ensuring better outcomes for patients and their families.

Where can you find out more

What is the hospice governing body?

What is the hospice governing body?

What is the governing body?

In accordance with the Conditions of Participation, a Medicare certified hospice agency must have a governing body. The governing body has ultimate responsibility for the hospice agency, including legal and financial authority. Medicare Conditions of Participation require that the governing body is informed of the ongoing activities at the hospice agency, including patient care delivery issues and all QAPI activities. The governing body must also appoint a qualified hospice administrator – a hospice employee with the necessary education and experience – who is responsible for hospice daily operations.

The governing body must meet at least quarterly and must maintain written minutes of its meetings.

There are two Conditions of Participation – 418.100 and 418.58 – that relate to the hospice governing body.

Condition of Participation 418.100

This Condition of Participation defines a standard that the governing body is responsible for management of the hospice agency, including its fiscal operations, provision of services, and continuous quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) efforts. The governing body also assumes full legal authority of all hospice operations. It further specifies that the governing body should appoint an administrator that reports to the governing body and who is responsible for hospice agency daily operations. The hospice administrator must be a hospice employee and must have necessary training, education, and experience.  CMS does not specify the process by which an administrator should be selected by the governing body. If a hospice agency has multiple locations, the governing body is responsible for administration, supervision, and services for all locations as well as for any arranged services.

Condition of Participation 418.58

This Condition of Participation discusses requirements of a hospice agency’s QAPI program. The governing body must ensure that the hospice agency maintains and implements an ongoing quality improvement and patient safety program.  Program performance must be monitored on a regular basis. Further, the governing body must ensure that one or more individuals are selected to lead the organization’s QAPI efforts.

The hospice agency’s organization documents must specify that the hospice governing body is responsible for the QAPI program.  Additionally, the governing body specifies the frequency of data collection and level of detail of data collected by the QAPI program.

Are there any state regulations?

State hospice licensure regulations may impose additional requirements on the hospice governing body.  They may also have specific requirements on the administrator that is selected by the governing body. A hospice is required to meet the most stringent requirements (whether state or federal).

Surveyors will check that all conditions are met. A hospice agency should maintain evidence of the governing body’s role and activities. Governing body authorizations and activities should be documented in governing body meeting minutes, company organization documents, and company policies and procedures.

Where can you find out more?

CMS Conditions of Participation –  Governing Body