# Medicare Program; FY 2019 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements
> **Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services** · Final rule. · Published 2018-08-06 · Effective 2018-10-01 · 83 FR 38622
## Document
- **Document number:** 2018-16539
- **Category:** medicare
- **Sub-agency:** Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- **Federal Register citation:** 83 FR 38622
- **CFR reference:** 42 CFR 418
- **Publication date:** 2018-08-06
- **Effective date:** 2018-10-01
- **HHS docket:** CMS-1692-F
## Abstract

This final rule updates the hospice wage index, payment rates, and cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The rule also makes conforming regulations text changes to recognize physician assistants as designated hospice attending physicians effective January 1, 2019. Finally, the rule includes changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/08/06/2018-16539/medicare-program-fy-2019-hospice-wage-index-and-payment-rate-update-and-hospice-quality-reporting)
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