CMS refreshes hospice telecommunications recertification reporting guidance
Oct 11, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0025 · Published 2026-10-11 · Version 3 · Final
CMS’s revised hospice guidance explains G0679 reporting for telecommunications recertification encounters from January 1, with systems implementation January 4. Claim lines must use the specified bill types and revenue code. September’s revision updates references without changing the substantive instruction.
What happened
Revised MLN Matters article MM14495 explains how hospices must report face-to-face recertification encounters conducted by a hospice physician or nurse practitioner using telecommunications technology. The reporting instruction takes effect January 1, 2027, with contractor implementation January 4. CMS specifies HCPCS G0679 for the encounter and describes it as an administrative expense. The service must appear in line-item detail, with each service on a separately dated line under the appropriate revenue code. The instruction concerns the coding of the recertification encounter; it does not itself establish a separate authorization to furnish telehealth beyond the applicable statutory rules.
CMS says the Medicare Administrative Contractor will return a G0679 claim if its type of bill is other than 81X or 82X, or if its revenue code is other than 0657. That makes the relationship between the encounter documentation, bill type and claim-line coding important for implementation. The article’s background links the reporting requirement to specified virtual-platform contractual or payment arrangements and incident-to professional services. Its September 2 revision changed only the change-request release date, transmittal numbers and links, not the substantive policy. The reporting start date therefore needs preparation, but the revised article should not be described as a new September entitlement or a new expansion of telehealth services.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Final
- Applicability
- Operationally relevant
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Affected functions
- Revenue Cycle, Coding, Clinical Operations, IT
- Responsible owner
- Revenue Cycle
- Recorded date
- 2027-01-01
- Date type
- effective
Why it matters
This is newly tracked guidance in this briefing, not a new September policy. Incorrect claim combinations can cause returns.
Recommended action
Revenue Cycle should validate hospice claim templates and coding with the current instruction, distinguishing the January 1 effective date from January 4 implementation.
Sources
- MM14495, hospice recertification reportingOfficial · CMS · 2026-09-02 · Source review 2026-10-11
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