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MA Enrollment to Outstrip Traditional Medicare in 2025

Hospice News

Growth in the number of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries will likely overtake that for traditional Medicare in 2025, according to new estimates from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Researchers examined Medicare claims data for more than 1 million patients who died between 2016 and 2018.

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CMMI Analysis: Palliative Care Reduces Medicare Costs, Improve Patient Satisfaction

Hospice News

Despite this potential, existing programs hit barriers created by misconceptions about palliative care among referring physicians, as well as health equity concerns, among others, according to an analysts of four payment model demonstrations carried out by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation.

Medicare 317
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Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Less Likely to Receive Aggressive End-of-Life Care

Hospice News

Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries are less likely to receive intensive treatments or burdensome transfers during the last six months of life compared to those in traditional Medicare, a new study has found. For the study, researchers examined Medicare claims data for more than 1 million patients who died between 2016 and 2018.

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How Medicare Budget Neutrality Impacts Hospice Payment

Hospice News

Medicare reimbursement is the lifeblood of hospice providers, and a clear understanding of policies like budget neutrality can help elucidate the payment systems that keep their businesses running. An earlier version of budget neutrality was phased out in 2016. But a similar move within the Medicare Hospice Benefit is unlikely.

Medicare 246
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OIG Estimates $42 Million in Improper Medicare Payments for Advance Care Planning

Hospice News

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently reported the results of its audit of advance care planning (ACP) billing practices among Medicare-certified physicians and other health care providers. Office settings accounted for 61% of all ACP billing between 2016 and 2019, according to OIG.

Medicare 246
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The Case for a Palliative Care Medicare Carve-Out

Hospice News

The future of palliative care payment is reaching an uncertain, but potentially promising time in the Medicare landscape. The Alliance has been looking at additional opportunities to provide sustainable reimbursement for palliative care, whether that is through concurrent care approaches or something like a Medicare Care Choices 2.0

Medicare 162
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How Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley Built a Collaborative Care Model Without Medicare Certification

Hospice News

After more than a decade working in hospice leadership, Alli Collins came across something she had never seen before — a financially viable, all-volunteer provider that is not Medicare-certified. I’ve spent well over a decade in the Medicare-certified side of the world. She never instituted a Medicare provider number.

Medicare 246