Hospice providers must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to patient health and safety, including obtaining required state licensure. Hospices operating multiple locations must secure Medicare approval and state licensure for each location before providing Medicare-reimbursed services. Any laboratory testing performed by or referred by the hospice must meet CLIA requirements under 42 CFR Part 493.
View official source§ 418.116 Condition of participation: Compliance with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations related to the health and safety of patients. The hospice and its staff must operate and furnish services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations related to the health and safety of patients. If State or local law provides for licensing of hospices, the hospice must be licensed. (a) Standard: Multiple locations. Every hospice must comply with the requirements of § 420.206 of this chapter regarding disclosure of ownership and control information. All hospice multiple locations must be approved by Medicare and licensed in accordance with State licensure laws, if applicable, before providing Medicare reimbursed services. (b) Standard: Laboratory services. (1) If the hospice engages in laboratory testing other than assisting a patient in self-administering a test with an appliance that has been approved for that purpose by the FDA, the hospice must be in compliance with all applicable requirements of part 493 of this chapter. (2) If the hospice chooses to refer specimens for laboratory testing to a reference laboratory, the reference laboratory must be certified in the appropriate specialties and subspecialties of services in accordance with the applicable requirements of part 493 of this chapter.