Start free

PolicyChanges tracks payer policy changes for medical practices and tells you what to do before they take effect.

Create a free accountPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.
← Back to list
BCBS IllinoisMedicaid · Prior Auth · General · IL · Palliative CareHigh impact

Update: Signed Forms Required for Hospice Authorizations

Act
immediately
Effective date
Jan 1, 2026
Identified
Jun 16, 2026

Summary

Blue Cross Community Health Plans now requires signed Certificate of Terminal Illness forms AND Health and Family Services Form 1592, 1593, or 1594 with all hospice prior authorization requests. Requests without both signed forms will be returned or denied.

Get alerts when payers change rules like this one

We check BCBS Illinois and other payers every day and email you when a change matches your specialty and state.

Get BCBS Illinois alertsPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.

What to do

immediately · 3 steps
01Billing team must update hospice prior authorization workflow to include both a signed Certificate of Terminal Illness (CTI) form AND the appropriate Health and Family Services Form (1592, 1593, or 1594) with every submission for Blue Cross Community Health Plans members.
02Update staff training and checklists to prevent denials.
03All requests without both signed forms will be returned or denied.

Original notice

Update: Signed Forms Required for Hospice Authorizations
bcbsil.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
View original ↗

Related policy hubs

BCBS Illinois policiesIL policy changesPalliative Care

Summaries are AI-assisted. Always confirm against the original payer notice.

What is PolicyChanges

One workspace for payer rules, prior auth, coding and compliance

Medical practices use PolicyChanges to catch payer changes before they cause denials. Every change is summarized in plain English, with the codes involved, the date it takes effect and what to do.

Policy MonitoringPayer policy, prior auth and coding changes, filtered to your saved searchesOIG ScreeningStaff and vendors screened every month against OIG LEIE, SAM.gov and state Medicaid listsPrior Auth LookupKnow if a service needs prior authorization before you schedule itCredentialing TrackerLicenses, CAQH, Medicare revalidation and payer enrollments, with reminders before anything lapsesCompliance CenterKeep your HIPAA program documented and ready to show
Start freePolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.
Get alerts for changes like thisPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.Create a free account