2019 and Hospice care - Home Care & Hospice Network

Dr. Steven Landers: Hospice SFP Could Spread Misinformation About Quality

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

It might make them even fearful about hospice care, which is the last thing we want to see happen. At the same time, [CMS’] implementation misses likely lots of truly poor performing hospices that should be called out and addressed.” Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Hospice

Hospice 2025 2019 Care at home

CMS Names First Hospice Special Focus Program Cohort, Delays List of Future Candidates

Hospice News

DECEMBER 23, 2024

We are not publishing the candidate list at this time, but we are sharing the underlying data used to create both lists to allow for external review, thereby ensuring transparency in the process by which low-performing hospices are identified, the agency indicated on its website. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Hospice

Hospice 2019 Care at home Medicare

CMS Unresponsive to Congressional SFP Concerns

Hospice News

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Congress mandated the SFP in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 , which contained language from the Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments (HOSPICE) Act. The SFP program was developed in response to July 2019 reports on hospice quality from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in the U.S.

Medicare

Medicare 2025 2023 2019

Reps. Van Duyne, Panetta Introduce Bill to Reform Hospice Special Focus Program

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Congress mandated the SFP in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 , which contained language from the Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments (HOSPICE) Act. This was in response to July 2019 reports on hospice quality from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in the U.S.

2027

2027 Hospice Care at home 2019

Leadership Transitions at 4 Hospice Providers

Hospice News

MARCH 4, 2025

The leadership team is solid, the team is experienced and has a culture of compassion, caring and innovation. Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, established in 1983, rebranded as Helios Care in 2019. Helios Care now serves three counties in New York.

Hospice

Hospice 2006 2025 Palliative care

Preventing Adverse Drug Events in Hospice Care

Hospice News

MARCH 15, 2024

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can have an impact on mortality and morbidity among seriously ill patients, according to researchers of a 2019 study published in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy. Identification of risk factors for ADRs may prevent occurrences in the complex palliative care patient.”

Events

Events Hospice care Hospice Palliative care

Hospice CARES Act Would Update Medical Reviews, Seek to Reduce Audits

Hospice News

JULY 12, 2024

The forthcoming Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act from U.S. Blumenauer announced the bill in June at the Hospice News Elevate conference in Washington D.C. 1, 2019 and Dec. Oftentimes, they live longer,” Blumenauer said at Elevate. House of Representatives.

Hospice care

Hospice care 2027 Hospice End-of-life care

Dementia Patients Less Likely Than Others to Receive Hospice Care

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Because of hospice’s requirement for a prognosis of less than six months, people’s focus on their symptom relief and their access to hospice care is tied to their understanding of their remaining survival time,” the authors indicated in the study. days for the overall hospice population.

2002

2002 Hospice care 2019 Hospice

Hospice Regulations May Be Adversely Affecting Dementia Patients

Hospice News

MAY 27, 2022

Designed to prevent misuse of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, these efforts may have had unintended consequences. Researchers from George Washington University and the University of Chicago examined data from more than 11 million unique hospice care episodes that occurred between 2008 and 2019.

Hospice

Hospice 2014 2019 2008

RAND Corp.: Families Report Better Care from Nonprofit Hospices

Hospice News

MARCH 3, 2023

RAND researchers analyzed Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey data from 653,208 caregivers whose family members received care from 3,107 hospices between April 2017 and March 2019. hospices between 2019 and 2020. The remaining 3% were government organizations. The post RAND Corp.:

2017

2017 2019 Hospice 2020

New Executives Tapped At Hospice Organizations Across Country

Hospice News

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Cameron Muir has been named as the new CMO of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI). His new title signals the organization’s strategic plans to reshape hospice care delivery through patient-centered, innovative approaches, according to NPHI CEO Tom Koutsoumpas. “We

Hospice

Hospice 2002 2019 Bereavement

St. Croix Expands in Midwest with 2 De Novos

Hospice News

APRIL 21, 2023

Croix Hospice cares for over 4,000 patients from more than 60 locations in 10 Midwestern states. “Health care providers have been closing their doors across rural America, and Iowa is no exception,” Kim Kirschbaum, St. In 2019, people 65 or older represented 17.5% All told St. of the state’s population. The post St.

2019

2019 2021 Medicare Hospice care

Former Hospice Executive Facing Federal Wage Fixing Charges

Hospice News

APRIL 13, 2023

Justice Department has indicted Eduardo Lopez, a former hospice executive and current senior vice president of a private equity firm, for violations of the Sherman Act. Lopez is charged with agreeing to “suppress and eliminate competition” for nursing services between March 2016 and May 2019, the U.S. Justice Department has indicated.

2017

2017 2019 Hospice 2016

Several Large Hospice Providers See Leadership Transitions

Hospice News

JANUARY 13, 2025

The nonprofit organization has grown into one of the largest hospice providers in the nation. Empath in 2024 completed an affiliation process with Trustbridge, which offers palliative care, hospice care, support services and more. Empath serves 1 in 5 hospice patients across Florida, the company reported.

Hospice

Hospice 2008 2025 2007

Hospice Medical Director Receives 50-Month Prison Sentence for $150M Fraud

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

A federal judge has sentenced Jesus Virlar-Cadena, formerly a medical director for the Texas-based hospice company Merida Group, to 50 months in prison for his role in a $152 million scheme. The Texas Medical Board suspended his medical license in 2019, when he pleaded guilty to the fraud charges.

Medical director

Medical director Hospice 2019 Hospice companies

VA Study Finds 95% Increase in Palliative Care Utilization When Patients Have Access to Social Workers

Hospice News

JANUARY 16, 2023

Patients are more likely to receive palliative care if they can access social workers through their primary care providers, Veterans Health Administration (VA) research has found. For instance, the VA allows patients to receive hospice care concurrently with other medical treatments.

Social worker

Social worker Palliative care Palliate Social work

St. Croix Hospices Opens Wisconsin De Novo

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

of Wisconsin’s overall population during 2019, according to the U.S. More than 35,000 people received hospice care in Wisconsin in 2021, according to the U.S. Croix cares for over 4,000 patients from 60 locations in 10 Midwestern states. ” Adults 65 and older accounted for 17.5%

Hospice

Hospice 2030 2012 2019

St. Croix Hospice Leverages Predictive Analytics to Boost Quality

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Croix Hospice recently unveiled data showing how the company leveraged predictive analytics technology to improve quality outcomes. In 2019 the Minnesota-headquartered hospice provider began utilizing a predictive analytics tool from Medalogix. Croix Hospice. Through the predictive analytics data, hospice patients at St.

Hospice

Hospice 2009 2019 Social worker

LifeTouch to Merge with Arkansas Hospice

Hospice News

MAY 1, 2023

In 2019, LifeTouch was in the red for a similar amount. Williamson Hospice House, because few patients in their region were receiving care outside of their homes. In its place, the organization made agreements with local hospitals to provide inpatient hospice care in their facilities.

Hospice

Hospice 2018 2017 2020

CMS Seeks Answers on Hospice Utilization Trends, Spending

Hospice News

APRIL 7, 2023

.” One key set of data pertains to the utilization of continuous home care (CHC), general inpatient care (GIP) and inpatient respite care (IRC). The non-hospice Part A and Part B spend in particular reached rose to $883 million last year, a 28.9% bump from FY 2019.

Hospice

Hospice 2019 2022 Medicare

Health Care Orgs Face Liability If End-of-Life Wishes Not Upheld

Hospice News

JUNE 17, 2022

One of the defining principles of hospice care is honoring the wishes of terminally ill patients. Now, with increasing frequency, a health care provider’s failure to honor those directives can lead to litigation or penalties by regulators. This can prevent or delay hospice care for individuals who chose to receive it. .

Resuscitation

Resuscitation Document 2017 2019

Hospices Likely to See ‘Uptick’ in RAC Audits

Hospice News

JULY 21, 2023

Kelly Grahovac, general manager ,The Van Halem Group As utilization climbs, so does the amount of dollars CMS spends on hospice care, spurring agencies to step up enforcement in an effort to control costs. Medicare hospice expenditures rise by about $1 billion annually, according to CMS. million.

Hospice

Hospice 2019 Document Medicare

Sanford Health, Good Samaritan Society’s Mobile Clinic Offers Support to Hospice Patients

Hospice News

AUGUST 10, 2022

South Dakota-based health system Sandford Health is collaborating with the Good Samaritan Society to serve patients in their homes through a mobile clinic, which among other services offers additional support to patients in hospice. The clinic launched in 2020, initially serving 14 locations.

Assisted living

Assisted living Hospice Geriatrics Long-term care

St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care Launches New Florida Inpatient Hospice Center

Hospice News

APRIL 22, 2022

Francis Reflections Lifestage Care recently opened a new inpatient hospice care center inside the Melbourne Regional Medical Center. A swelling demand for hospice in the community spurred the unit’s development. Francis Reflections Melbourne Care Center includes a private bathroom and overnight space for loved ones.

Hospice

Hospice 2018 2030 Social worker

Homeland at Home Launches Community-Based Palliative Care Program

Hospice News

AUGUST 19, 2022

At least 49 programs statewide provided community-based palliative care during 2019, reported the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Additionally, a little more than three-quarters (76.6%) of larger hospitals in the state reported offering some type of palliative care that year, according to CAPC. Census Bureau.

Palliative care

Palliative care Palliate Medical director 2030

CMS to Sunset Hospice VBID in 2024

Hospice News

MARCH 4, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will end the hospice component of the value-based insurance design model (VBID) as of Dec. Often called the “hospice carve-in,” the program was designed to test coverage of hospice care through Medicare Advantage, in addition to some coverage of palliative care and transitional care.

2024

2024 Hospice Demo Medicare

Hospice Care Found Lacking in Assisted Living Setting

Hospice News

APRIL 22, 2024

Hospice providers should ensure that AL residents have equal access to quality services like residents in other referral settings.” Researchers from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry recently dug into hospice decedent data spanning 2019 – 2020 to examine differences in quality across various care settings.

Assisted living

Assisted living Hospice care Hospice Geriatrics

Walmart, UnitedHealth Group Launch Value-Based Health Care Partnership

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Medicare Advantage plans do not currently cover hospice care outside of the value-based insurance design model demonstration, often called the MA hospice carve-in. However, providers often work with MA plans to support upstream services like palliative care, home health, or PACE.

Medicare

Medicare 2019 2023 Palliative care

Canon Healthcare Owner Receives Prison Sentence, $42 Million Fine in Fraud Case

Hospice News

MAY 17, 2024

After three years of investigation, a federal court in Louisiana has sentenced the former owner of Canon Healthcare, Shiva Akula, to serve 240 months in prison for his involvement in health care fraud. Shiva Akula showed no regard for quality end-of-life hospice care,” said Jason Meadows, Special Agent in Charge at HHS-OIG.

Healthcare

Healthcare 2013 2016 Medicare

Top Lawmakers for Hospices to Watch in 2024

Hospice News

DECEMBER 8, 2023

Since then, he has sponsored a number of bills designed to improve the quality of hospice care as well as combat fraud in the space. He has co-led a number of bipartisan initiatives to improve program integrity within the Medicare Hospice Benefit, often in partnership with Van Duyne. Jacky Rosen Sen.

2024

2024 Hospice Palliative care Medicare

Hospices Acquired by PE Firms, Publicly Traded Companies See Increases in Dementia Patients

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

After an acquisition by a public company, hospices saw a 1.4% HCC scores are designed to predict the costs associated with a patient’s care. Patients with lower HCC scores often need hospice care for longer periods of time, though their care needs may be less intensive or complex.

2013

2013 2020 Hospice 2019

Limited Access to Post-Acute Care Fuels Readmission Rates

Hospice News

JULY 5, 2022

Bringing down acute care utilization is also a key quality indicator for providers participating in alternative payment models or demonstrations, including ACO programs and the hospice component of the value-based insurance design model (VBID).

2013

2013 Palliative care 2019 Medicare

Hospice Length of Stay: Balancing Patient Needs Against Regulatory Compliance

Hospice News

MARCH 29, 2023

In 2020, the average length of stay for Medicare patients enrolled in hospice was 97.0 days, according to a report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). days the prior year in 2019, representing the “largest increase” during the previous five years of incremental growth, NHPCO reported.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare 2013 2020

Canyon Home Care & Hospice Acquires Uintah Basin

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The deal is intended to improve care collaborations, quality and reduce reliance on expensive facility-based care for seniors in Utah, according to the company announcement. The rising demand for serious illness and hospice care coupled with rising costs of delivering are a “major concern” statewide, according to the report. “A

Home care

Home care Hospice 2030 2012

Psychedelics, Cannabis Show Promise in End-of-Life Care, But More Research Needed on the Risks

Hospice News

MAY 31, 2023

Researchers have identified a number of clinical benefits, including reduction of anxiety, depression and improved acceptance of mortality, according to a 2019 literature review in the journal Current Oncology. Fratkin, California-based palliative care specialist, stated.

End-of-life care

End-of-life care Grief Social worker Registered Nurse

Congress Mulls Bill to Extend Recertifications by Telehealth

Hospice News

MAY 8, 2024

A bill currently before Congress would extend through 2026 regulatory flexibilities related to telehealth, including the ability to recertify patients for hospice care. If a hospice is undergoing a period of enhanced oversight by the U.S. A range of stakeholders in the hospice space have voiced support for the legislation.

2026

2026 Medicare 2025 2019

As Inpatient Hospice Doors Swing Open, Others Slam Shut Nationwide

Hospice News

JUNE 1, 2023

Patient preferences are trending towards home-based hospice care, leaving some inpatient facilities between a rock and a hard place. Meanwhile, other hospices diversify and expand their inpatient service capabilities. Shifting care preferences are another driving force behind the closure, according to MercyOne.

Hospice

Hospice Grief Assisted living End-of-life care

Hospice Advocacy Groups Ask Congress for Action on Proposed 2023 Medicare Rates

Hospice News

JULY 13, 2022

“This proposal fails to thoughtfully consider the burdens and heightened costs providers are facing in order to continue doing business and provide high-quality hospice care to their patients,” the groups stated in the letter.

Medicare

Medicare 2023 Hospice Palliative care

GAO: CMS Should Update Rules for Hospices Reporting Abuse or Neglect

Hospice News

JANUARY 11, 2023

“Strengthening hospice reporting requirements to align with the requirements for nursing homes and hospitals providing extended care will provide CMS with the information necessary to ensure that hospice care providers are taking appropriate steps within the scope of their authority to protect vulnerable individuals,” GAO indicated in a report.

Hospice

Hospice Long-term care 2019 Nursing home

Hospices Stepping Up Performance on Visits-in-Last-Days-of-Life Measure

Hospice News

MARCH 14, 2024

In Calendar Year 2021, the share of hospice care days with nurse visits in the last seven days of life rose to 63%, up from 62% year over year, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). In 2019, for example, the percentage was 66%.

Social worker

Social worker 2017 Registered Nurse Hospice

[UPDATED] CMS Finalizes Hospice Special Focus Program, 36-Month Rule

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

. “CMS’ decision to progress using a flawed methodology for the SFP algorithm will threaten the ability of millions of older adults and other hospice beneficiaries to access quality hospice care,” the organizations said in the statement. CMS convened a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to help design the program.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare 2024 2019

Hospices Climbing ‘Steeper Stairs’ as UPIC, TPE Audits Spike

Hospice News

MARCH 7, 2023

million in FY 2019 But UPICs and hospice providers sometimes disagree on what constitutes an improper payment. The overpayment issues that result in millions for hospices can sometimes feel like a disconnect between data analysis and identifying problems around credible information,” Pekarske said. “The

Hospice

Hospice 2019 Medicare 2020

Dell Children’s, Hand to Hold Form Pediatric Hospice Partnership

Hospice News

JANUARY 23, 2023

Texas-based Dell Children’s Medical Center and has partnered with Hand to Hold to strengthen mental health support for families receiving home-based pediatric hospice care. The two organizations last December piloted an in-hospital support program for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families in Austin, Texas. “We

Bereavement

Bereavement Hospice 2019 Hospice care

Senate Again Takes Up Hospice, Palliative Staffing Bill

Hospice News

MAY 20, 2022

If enacted, PCHETA would support hospice and palliative care training programs for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and chaplains. Access to high quality palliative and hospice care services is vital for patients and their families,” Capito said in a statement. “As

Palliate

Palliate Hospice Palliative care Social worker

Dr. Steven Landers: Hospice SFP Could Spread Misinformation About Quality

CMS Names First Hospice Special Focus Program Cohort, Delays List of Future Candidates

Trending Sources

CMS Unresponsive to Congressional SFP Concerns

Reps. Van Duyne, Panetta Introduce Bill to Reform Hospice Special Focus Program

Leadership Transitions at 4 Hospice Providers

Preventing Adverse Drug Events in Hospice Care

Hospice CARES Act Would Update Medical Reviews, Seek to Reduce Audits

Dementia Patients Less Likely Than Others to Receive Hospice Care

Hospice Regulations May Be Adversely Affecting Dementia Patients

RAND Corp.: Families Report Better Care from Nonprofit Hospices

New Executives Tapped At Hospice Organizations Across Country

St. Croix Expands in Midwest with 2 De Novos

Former Hospice Executive Facing Federal Wage Fixing Charges

Several Large Hospice Providers See Leadership Transitions

Hospice Medical Director Receives 50-Month Prison Sentence for $150M Fraud

VA Study Finds 95% Increase in Palliative Care Utilization When Patients Have Access to Social Workers

St. Croix Hospices Opens Wisconsin De Novo

St. Croix Hospice Leverages Predictive Analytics to Boost Quality

LifeTouch to Merge with Arkansas Hospice

CMS Seeks Answers on Hospice Utilization Trends, Spending

Health Care Orgs Face Liability If End-of-Life Wishes Not Upheld

Hospices Likely to See ‘Uptick’ in RAC Audits

Sanford Health, Good Samaritan Society’s Mobile Clinic Offers Support to Hospice Patients

St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care Launches New Florida Inpatient Hospice Center

Homeland at Home Launches Community-Based Palliative Care Program

CMS to Sunset Hospice VBID in 2024

Hospice Care Found Lacking in Assisted Living Setting

Walmart, UnitedHealth Group Launch Value-Based Health Care Partnership

Canon Healthcare Owner Receives Prison Sentence, $42 Million Fine in Fraud Case

Top Lawmakers for Hospices to Watch in 2024

Hospices Acquired by PE Firms, Publicly Traded Companies See Increases in Dementia Patients

Limited Access to Post-Acute Care Fuels Readmission Rates

Hospice Length of Stay: Balancing Patient Needs Against Regulatory Compliance

Canyon Home Care & Hospice Acquires Uintah Basin

Psychedelics, Cannabis Show Promise in End-of-Life Care, But More Research Needed on the Risks

Congress Mulls Bill to Extend Recertifications by Telehealth

As Inpatient Hospice Doors Swing Open, Others Slam Shut Nationwide

Hospice Advocacy Groups Ask Congress for Action on Proposed 2023 Medicare Rates

GAO: CMS Should Update Rules for Hospices Reporting Abuse or Neglect

Hospices Stepping Up Performance on Visits-in-Last-Days-of-Life Measure

[UPDATED] CMS Finalizes Hospice Special Focus Program, 36-Month Rule

Hospices Climbing ‘Steeper Stairs’ as UPIC, TPE Audits Spike

Dell Children’s, Hand to Hold Form Pediatric Hospice Partnership

Senate Again Takes Up Hospice, Palliative Staffing Bill

Stay Connected