Hospice News

MARCH 15, 2024

Documentation errors and a fragmented health system pose the greatest risks for adverse drug events among hospices. McPherson also serves on the board of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). They also need to know which side effects are more concerning and should prompt a call to the hospice.”

Events 299

Events Hospice care Hospice Palliative care 299

Hospice News

MAY 27, 2022

Regulators have been zeroing in on longer lengths of stay in hospice, but patients with dementia may be caught in the crossfire. . Two policy changes have corresponded with reductions in hospice enrollment among dementia patients, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found.

Hospice 364

Hospice 2019 2008 2014 364

Hospice News

JANUARY 13, 2025

New executives have stepped into c-suite and other roles at some of the nations largest hospice organizations as 2025 kicks off. Johnson will oversee the work of Empaths several foundations Suncoast Hospice Foundation, Tidewell Foundation, Hospice of Marion County Foundation and Trustbridge Hospice Foundation.

Hospice 147

Hospice 2008 2007 2025 147

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. Hospice News / Merz Photography Hospice News / Merz Photography Rep. Hospice News photo by Merz Photography.

Hospice care 270

Hospice care 2027 Hospice End-of-life care 270

Hospice News

MARCH 3, 2023

The families of patients who received care from nonprofit hospices give their providers higher marks on quality than those who went with for-profits, a RAND Corp. The relative value of nonprofit and for-profit providers has been a longstanding discussion in the hospice community. hospices between 2019 and 2020.

2017 338

2017 2019 Hospice 2020 338

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Patients with dementia are less likely to receive hospice in their last month of life than those who have other diagnoses, 12.5% The Medicare Hospice Benefit initially was designed around the needs of cancer patients, but now the number of patients with other diagnoses is growing — some with less predictable disease patterns.

2002 246

2002 Hospice care 2019 Hospice 246

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.

Hospice 290

Hospice 2002 2019 Bereavement 290

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 331

2024 Hospice Medicare Demo 331

Hospice News

MAY 1, 2023

On June 1, LifeTouch Hospice will merge with Arkansas Hospice. Both hospices are owned and operated by the SHARE Foundation, a nonprofit, faith-based organization. The hospice last year served 430 patients in a five-county region of Arkansas. In 2019, LifeTouch was in the red for a similar amount.

Hospice 264

Hospice 2018 2017 2020 264

Hospice News

DECEMBER 8, 2023

Hospice providers will be looking to Congress in 2024 to address issues related to program integrity, quality improvement and industry-wide workforce pressures. As legislative efforts develop, hospices may want to focus their attention on a few key legislators. We don’t have confidence in the algorithm that they proposed.

2024 298

2024 Hospice Palliative care Medicare 298

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 264

Hospice 2009 2019 Social worker 264

Hospice News

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Calls have grown louder for an overhauled design of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, but the path towards change is riddled with contrasting views over regulation, policy and payment structures. One part of the issue is that hospice reimbursement has not kept pace with evolving patient needs, Grant said.

Medicare 289

Medicare Hospice 2020 2019 289

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 246

2017 2019 Hospice 2016 246

Hospice News

DECEMBER 12, 2023

Program integrity issues that have heated up in the hospice space during the past five years reached a boiling point in 2023. Hospice providers have seen an array of increased regulatory oversight in 2023. There is scrutiny on hospice care [that’s] setting the stage for the next phase of what hospice oversight looks like.

2023 317

2023 Hospice 2024 Medicare 317

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Croix Hospice has expanded in Wisconsin, opening its 14th location in the state. “We have been serving the state of Wisconsin for many years, continuing our long tradition of exceptional patient care,” St. . Croix Hospice CEO Heath Bartness said in a press release. ” Adults 65 and older accounted for 17.5%

Hospice 245

Hospice 2030 2012 2019 245

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 286

Medical director Hospice 2019 Hospice companies 286

Hospice News

APRIL 7, 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking answers from the hospice community — including some around utilization patterns and non-hospice spending. The recently proposed 2024 hospice payment rule contained a 2.8% In Fiscal Year 2022, routine home care accounted for 98.8% of hospice days and 93.7%

Hospice 264

Hospice 2019 2022 Medicare 264

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its 2024 home health rule, including the implementation of a hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). The rule also finalizes the proposed “36-month”rule for hospice providers. The requirement mirrors a regulation that has existed for several years for home health agencies.

Hospice 312

Hospice Medicare 2024 2019 312

Hospice News

JULY 21, 2023

As federal regulators intensify their focus on hospices, operators may begin seeing an influx of Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) activity. billion directly related to health care fraud abuse. Medicare hospice expenditures rise by about $1 billion annually, according to CMS. The president’s budget was approved for $2.5

Hospice 246

Hospice 2019 Document Medicare 246

Hospice News

MARCH 29, 2023

Though evidence shows that longer hospice stays reduce costs, providers are still walking a regulatory tightrope. On one hand, longer hospice stays can lead to improved patient and family satisfaction and greater cost saving opportunities. Young told Hospice News. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S.

Hospice 279

Hospice Medicare 2013 2020 279

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 246

Hospice 2018 2030 Social worker 246

Hospice News

MARCH 14, 2024

Hospices, in aggregate, are showing improvement on the quality measure for visits in the last days of life. 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).

Social worker 290

Social worker 2017 Hospice Registered Nurse 290

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Utah-based Canyon Home Health & Hospice recently acquired Uintah Home Health and Hospice for an undisclosed amount, growing its footprint in the Beehive State state. Uintah Home Health and Hospice patients began receiving services under the Canyon umbrella earlier this month. Its hospice utilization rate reached 60.5%

Home care 241

Home care Hospice 2030 2012 241

Hospice News

MAY 20, 2022

have reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act (PCHETA), designed to bolster the field’s shrinking workforce with federal support. . If enacted, PCHETA would support hospice and palliative care training programs for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and chaplains.

Palliate 264

Palliate Hospice Palliative care Social worker 264

Hospice News

JULY 13, 2022

More than a dozen hospice advocacy groups have called on congressional leadership to intervene in a proposed 2.7% This proposal ultimately jeopardizes the ability of hospices to continue providing access to appropriate, high-quality care to all Americans who need it,” the letter indicated. per diem rate increase.

Medicare 264

Medicare 2023 Hospice 2019 264

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 246

Hospice Grief Assisted living End-of-life care 246

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. So a lot of our providers are really encouraged to follow the residents throughout their lifespan.”.

Assisted living 246

Assisted living Hospice Geriatrics Long-term care 246

Hospice News

JANUARY 11, 2023

Hospices should be required to report all instances of abuse and neglect, even if the perpetrator was not an employee, the U.S. This would bring the hospice rules in line with those used in long term care. The post GAO: CMS Should Update Rules for Hospices Reporting Abuse or Neglect appeared first on Hospice News.

Hospice 246

Hospice Long-term care 2019 Nursing home 246

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

Hospices tend to see an increase in dementia patient admissions as well as home-based utilization following an acquisition by a private equity firm or a publicly traded company. 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.

2013 262

2013 2020 Hospice 2019 262

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

While the hospice community has generally embraced the concept of a Special Focus Program (SFP) to address quality concerns, some are troubled by the government’ methodology for identifying providers. About a quarter of them don’t report HCI data,” Atkins told Hospice News. “A

Hospice 291

Hospice 2024 Medicare 2022 291

Hospice News

JANUARY 25, 2023

Hospices are increasingly leveraging technology and pharmaceutical partnerships to better address the needs of patients and families and improve financial and operational efficiencies. Hospices have leaned heavily on technology during the pandemic, turning to telehealth to remain connected to patients and their families.

Hospice 279

Hospice Vital signs 2019 End-of-life care 279

Hospice News

AUGUST 2, 2022

Bolstered by recent acquisitions, Addus Homecare’s (NASDAQ: ADUS) hospice segment is holding its own against labor headwinds and inflation. For example, the company’s $85 million acquisition of Illinois-based hospice provider JourneyCare Inc., million, with hospice accounting for 20%, CFO Brian Poff reported in the earnings call.

Hospice 243

Hospice 2022 2021 2023 243

Hospice News

JULY 14, 2022

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Somerset health system is halting inpatient services at its Pennsylvania-based hospice facility, effective Aug. Closure of the In Touch Hospice center has inflamed the community, with cries growing louder to urge UPMC to reconsider the move.

Hospice 246

Hospice 2009 2030 End-of-life care 246

Hospice News

OCTOBER 4, 2023

The four lawmakers contend that the SFP, as currently designed, would not adequately identify poor performing hospices in need of the program. 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.

Hospice 278

Hospice Medicare 2024 2019 278

Hospice News

MARCH 7, 2023

Hospice program integrity has been in the spotlight for at least the past two years, often with high financial stakes for providers. Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC) and Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) audits are designed to key regulatory safeguards against bad actors in the hospice industry. Stakes around UPICs The U.S.

Hospice 246

Hospice 2019 Medicare 2020 246

Hospice News

JANUARY 17, 2023

Home health and hospice provider Enhabit, Inc. He most recently served as a partner at Bradley, Arant, Boult, Cummings LLP, where he provided legal advice to health care, banking and environmental companies, among others. The company’s more than 10,000 employees provide care from 105 hospice and 252 home health locations in 34 states.

Medical director 246

Medical director Hospice 2006 Palliative care 246

Hospice News

AUGUST 24, 2023

Increased hospice oversight aimed at curbing fraud in the industry could come with a mixed bag of financial and operational impacts for providers. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has honed in on hospice program integrity, rolling out a swath of new measures to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in the space.

Hospice 246

Hospice Document 2012 2016 246