Risk, Relatedness, and Results: A Practical Guide to Hospice SSVI (CHAP On-Demand)

This on-demand training provides hospice professionals with an in-depth examination of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI) and its implications for hospice care delivery, billing, and program integrity oversight. Participants will examine the utilization indicators and non-hospice Medicare spending used to calculate the SSVI score, as well as the relationship between SSVI risk and hospice relatedness determinations. The training will also address documentation and patient-notification requirements for items, services, and drugs determined to be unrelated to the terminal illness and related conditions. Practical strategies will help hospice organizations evaluate their data, strengthen interdisciplinary decision-making, improve documentation and care coordination, and prepare for potential education, medical review, or additional CMS oversight. 

Learning Objectives 

• Explain the purpose of the CMS Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI) and its role in hospice program integrity oversight. 

• Identify the eight hospice utilization indicators and non-hospice Medicare spending component used to calculate the SSVI score. 

• Apply Medicare hospice relatedness requirements when evaluating whether conditions, medications, items, and services are covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. 

• Describe the documentation and patient-notification requirements for items, services, and drugs determined to be unrelated to the terminal illness and related conditions. 

• Analyze hospice utilization, spending, and operational data to identify potential SSVI risk patterns and opportunities for performance improvement. 

• Select organizational strategies that strengthen relatedness determinations, care coordination, documentation, billing practices, and interdisciplinary oversight. 

*Learners are eligible for 1 hour of continuing education - ANCC Nursing Contact Hours upon successful completion of the course material and survey submission.

Cost $49

Risk, Relatedness, and Results: A Practical Guide to Hospice SSVI 

Disclosure: Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  Criteria for successful completion includes completion of the entire course and completion of a post-course survey. There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those with the ability to control the content of the activity.  Nursing contact hours will be awarded for completion of this activity until October 4, 2029.