On October 1, 2025, the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool will replace the current Hospice Item Set (HIS). HOPE includes a combination of existing HIS items, revised, and new items. Once implemented, all HOPE records will be submitted to CMS via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES).
Final materials, resources, and trainings are available to assist providers and staff with a successful implementation of HOPE. These are posted on CMS’ HQRP website and include:
- The HOPE Guidance Manual v1.01, corresponding items sets, and the change table on the HOPE
- HOPE Data Specs and Vendor trainingon the HOPE Technical Information
- HOPE Training materials on the HQRP Training and Education Library page:
- Course 1: Didactic Recorded Training Series
- Course 2: Coding Workshop
- HOPE Implementation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- HOPE Tool Web-Based Training
All of these resources can be accessed either from direct links or in the Downloads section on the webpages listed above.
For additional questions about HOPE implementation or the HOPE tool, email: HospiceQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov. For questions about iQIES access and the submission of HOPE records, review this document What to Expect with the HOPE Assessment Submission and Reporting Launch in iQIES, or contact the iQIES Service Center by email at: iqies@cms.hhs.gov, or phone at: # 1-877-201-4721 (Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Central Time).