A hospice must complete the state licensing process prior to becoming certified to provide hospice services. While the hospice's certification is pending, it must comply with the regulations in the Medicare Conditions of Participation. The Medicare CoPs are discussed in the next section of this CBT.
It is possible for a hospice to successfully pass the initial licensure survey and not be recommended for certification if one or more of the Medicare CoPs are not met.
If the hospice passes both the licensure and the certification surveys, the surveyor recommends certification for the hospice.