CMS Encourages Hospices to Submit Notice of Election Electronically 

Situation Report | May 24, 2021

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging hospices to submit their notices of election (NOE) through electronic data interchange (EDI). This method reduces, and potentially eliminates, problems with NOEs that result from keying errors during the Direct Data Entry (DDE) process.

Electronically filed NOEs will receive a 999 acknowledgment within minutes of submission if accepted. And, if not accepted, hospices will know the reason for non-acceptance. This then allows the hospice to make any necessary corrections within the NOE timely filing window. Electronic filing also:

  • Makes it easier to export data from electronic medical records or software systems.
  • Reduces manual effort if you’re serving a Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model (MA VBID) patient.

Hospices serving MA VBID patients are encouraged to check with their vendor about the capabilities for dual submission of the NOE to both the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) and the MA plan. 

CMS made electronic filing available for the NOE in 2018 at the request of the hospice industry. However, only a small percentage of hospices utilize this option. CMS is reminding hospices of this option and is encouraging more hospices to utilize this submission method.