Just before midnight on Monday, December 21, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133) passed both chambers of Congress and the President is expected to sign. The legislation combined an omnibus spending bill, COVID-related provisions, and included hospice provisions.     Thanks to your dedicated work throughout the year the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes several key provisions which will improve access to and the quality of hospice care across the country. Without you, none of this would be possible! Thank you!    First, The Rural Access to Hospice Act (H.R. 2594), which was included in this bill, allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide hospice attending physician services when RHC and FQHC patients become terminally ill and elect the hospice benefit beginning January 1, 2022.  The Hospice Action Network advocated for inclusion of this provision in the legislative package.     Sequestration Relief. One of the many relief efforts contained in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") is a suspension of the 2% sequestration reduction for most Medicare payments. This legislation extends this relief through March 31, 2021. This will give providers more funding flexibility to provide for patient care during the COVID-19 public health emergency in the first quarter of 2021. NHPCO led a coalition in support of extending this relief.    Helping Our Senior Populations in Comfort Environments (HOSPICE) Act (H.R. 5821) The HOSPICE Act incorporates NHPCO recommendations for improving the survey process by including increased surveyor training and competency that will improve the overall survey process. With Senator Portman's (R-OH) and Senator Cardin's (D-MD) leadership and advocacy, NHPCO was successful in reducing the survey frequency of every two years included in the House bill to every three years in the final package.    For detailed analysis on the hospice provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, please read NHPCO's policy alert.    Thank you again for your tireless advocacy on behalf of hospice patients and providers; without your dedication this enormous progress would not be possible.    Thank you,    Lucy     Lucy Schmitz Advocacy and Grassroots Specialist  Hospice Action Network | National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization  Take Action | Facebook | Twitter |Website