Hospice News

MARCH 15, 2024

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended to Congress a freeze on hospice payment increases starting in 2025. In its annual report to Congress, MedPAC urged policymakers to eliminate hospice base-rate increases for 2025. The 2021 aggregated Medicare hospice margin was 13.3%, according to MedPAC.

2025 225

2025 2002 Hospice Medicare 225

Hospice News

APRIL 12, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed 2025 hospice rule contains clarifications on which physicians may certify patients for hospice enrollment. Clarification from CMS in these areas will be helpful to hospices, physicians and those reviewing hospice records for compliance.”

2025 278

2025 Medical director Hospice Document 278

Hospice News

MAY 31, 2024

1, 2025, CMS will implement some revisions to the program. “In Starting in 2025, the MEOS payment will increase to $110 per member, per month, up from $70 in the program’s first year. For dually-eligible patients, the payment for 2025 will be $140. Effective Jan. The PBP payments are linked to spending targets.

2025 274

2025 Care coordination Care coordinator Medicare 274

Hospice News

MARCH 29, 2024

The 2025 proposed hospice rule is raising some questions along with payment rates. increase in hospice per diems for 2025. The agency also proposed two new quality measures and 2025 implementation of the Hospice Outcome and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment tool to replace the Hospice Item Set.

2025 279

2025 Medicare Medical director Palliate 279

Hospice News

MAY 1, 2024

The impending demise of the hospice component of U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ value-based insurance design (VBID) model has largely been met with a sense of relief by providers as they plan new initiatives for palliative care in 2025. That problem was mirrored in the environment outside of the program.

Palliative care 227

Palliative care Palliate Hospice Medicare 227

Hospice News

OCTOBER 3, 2024

A coalition of hospice, home health and palliative care organizations has called on Congress to extend temporary telehealth flexibilities implemented during the pandemic. 31, these flexibilities allowed hospices to perform routine home care visits virtually and conduct face-to-face recertification visits. Currently set to expire Dec.

2026 298

2026 Hospice 2025 Chaplain 298

Hospice News

AUGUST 19, 2024

If enacted, the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act could open up reimbursement pathways for high-acuity palliative services during a time when demand and costs are rising. But things that we didn’t understand were palliative actually are services many hospices are providing to communities.

Hospice care 316

Hospice care 2026 Hospice Palliate 316

Hospice News

JULY 31, 2024

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has approved its 2025 state budget that includes outlays to support palliative care services for children. for Pediatric Palliative Care appeared first on Hospice News. The state’s budget included $14.7 million for maternal and child health, including $10.4 Mariano (D-Quincy). million in 2021.

Palliative care 247

Palliative care Palliate 2025 Bereavement 247

Hospice News

JULY 17, 2024

Tuesday Health CEO Jim Wieland told Hospice News. The company expects to develop similar partnerships in Ohio markets as well as two to three other states by early 2025, according to Weiland. The post Startup Tuesday Health Unveils Palliative Care Partnership with CareSource appeared first on Hospice News.

Palliative care 290

Palliative care Palliate 2025 Palliative care resources 290

Hospice News

AUGUST 13, 2024

A new hospice nursing recruitment effort has launched in the New England region after being stalled by the pandemic. The recruitment initiative is the fruit of a collaboration between Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (VNH) and the Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care Alliance of New Hampshire (the Alliance).

Hospice nursing 216

Hospice nursing Hospice 2025 Nursing 216

Hospice News

APRIL 8, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2025 proposed hospice rule contained requests for information (RFIs) that could signal changes in the agency’s thinking on key issues. Through RFIs, CMS tries to take the pulse of providers’ positions on certain questions that could impact the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

2025 281

2025 Hospice Palliative care Medicare 281

Hospice News

AUGUST 2, 2024

The agency’s 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule contains a provision that would establish a new “prepaid shared savings” option for Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) participants. Though the model is focused on primary care, it could help more patients receive hospice and palliative care when appropriate, according to CMS.

Palliative care 260

Palliative care Palliate 2030 2025 260

Hospice News

JUNE 3, 2024

Hospice industry organizations have voiced support for proposed updates to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys, but raised questions on the implementation timeline. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included the updates in its proposed hospice payment rule for 2025.

2025 245

2025 2026 Hospice Palliative care 245

Hospice News

MAY 31, 2024

The agency’s 2025 proposed hospice rule featured a series of requests for information (RFI) on issues like health equity, social determinants of health and future quality measures. The RFIs contain further questions about the utilization of higher-cost palliative treatments under the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

2025 281

2025 Hospice Medicare 2024 281

Hospice News

MARCH 19, 2024

Connecticut legislators recently introduced a bill that aims to create a statewide pediatric hospice and palliative program. Connecticut Children’s provides a range of 30 pediatric services, including hospice, and has more than 40 locations in its home state, New York and Massachusetts. The plan would have to be completed by Jan.

Palliative care 246

Palliative care Palliate Hospice Bereavement coordinator 246

Hospice News

JULY 23, 2024

As dementia-related illnesses continue to rise among hospice patients, caregivers and providers alike are working judiciously to best find ways to support patients and their families in navigating these new diagnoses. The post Why Palliative Care Providers Are Adopting the GUIDE Model appeared first on Hospice News.

Palliative care 278

Palliative care Palliate 2025 2017 278

Hospice News

AUGUST 23, 2024

Julia Hospice & Palliative Refuels De Novo Plans Pennsylvania-based Julia Hospice & Palliative (JHPC) has reignited plans to launch a de novo after experiencing pandemic-related setbacks. Dubbed Julia House, the facility will provide inpatient hospice and serve as an outpatient palliative care clinic.

Hospice 284

Hospice 2002 End-of-life care Rehabilitation services 284

Hospice News

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Careful management of the hospice aggregate cap is key to providers’ sustainability as regulatory scrutiny continues to heat up. The cap is designed to prevent overuse of hospice, put controls on Medicare spending and foster greater access to care among patients. In 2025, this will rise to $34,465. For Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S.

2025 245

2025 Hospice Hospice discharge Medicare 245

Hospice News

JUNE 11, 2024

Federal regulators should increase scrutiny of private equity activity in the hospice space, according to the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI). We wish to emphasize that it is not NPHI’s position to oppose all PE associated activity in the hospice market,” the organization indicated in its comments.

Hospice 306

Hospice 2025 Medicare 2022 306

Hospice News

JUNE 24, 2024

1, 2025, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center will begin implementing a payment model for primary care known as the Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) Primary Care Flex Model under the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The role of a palliative care provider is crucial in this model.

Palliative care 255

Palliative care Palliate Demo Medicare 255

Hospice News

MARCH 23, 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending the value-based insurance design demonstration for calendar years 2025 to 2030, including the hospice component. The hospice component of VBID, also called the MA carve-in, launched in 2021 and was originally slated to complete after four years. It makes sense.

2030 316

2030 Demo 2025 Hospice 316

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 Demo Medicare 331

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) on Thursday announced a new name for their recently combined organization. Among these is a tool to help consumers find home health, hospice and palliative care providers within their communities.

2025 321

2025 Rehabilitation services Palliative care Care at home 321

Hospice News

JULY 23, 2024

The Medicare Hospice Benefit is ripe for change nearly four decades after its establishment, but moving the needle will include a heavy lift around evolving regulations. This is according to Bill Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). But hospice has moved into a new era.

Hospice 316

Hospice 2025 Medicare End-of-life care 316

Hospice News

JANUARY 12, 2024

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has voted to recommend a freeze on hospice payment increases starting in 2025. This recommendation is offered at a time when hospice care costs have risen faster than any inflation update provided by CMS,” Dombi told Hospice News in an email. “A

2025 278

2025 Hospice Medicare End-of-life care 278

NHPCO

MARCH 28, 2024

proposed rate increase for hospices is not enough to support the continued delivery of hospice care amidst rising cost pressures and ongoing workforce constraints affecting hospices nationwide,” said NHPCO COO and Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. “The We know that hospice care has demonstrated $3.5

2025 78

2025 Hospice End-of-life care 2024 78

Hospice News

MARCH 20, 2024

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has unveiled a new primary care-oriented Accountable Care Organization (ACO) payment model that holds opportunities for hospices. Though the model is focused on primary care, it could help more patients receive hospice and palliative care when appropriate, according to CMS.

Palliative care 147

Palliative care Palliate Medicare 2025 147

Hospice News

APRIL 25, 2024

(NYSE: CHE) subsidiary VITAS Healthcare is ramping up its strategic growth plans in both hospice and palliative care amid rising demand for these services. VITAS earlier this month completed its $85 million acquisition of Covenant Health and Community Services’ hospice operations and one assisted living facility location.

Palliative care 147

Palliative care Palliate Hospice 2024 147

Hospice News

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Errors or other inconsistencies with the payment cap can have significant consequences for providers, and sales and marketing staff can help hospices achieve a healthy balance. The cap is designed to prevent overuse of hospice, put controls on Medicare spending and foster greater access to care among patients.

Hospice 205

Hospice Assisted living 2025 Care at home 205

Hospice News

MAY 16, 2024

Hospices that fail to shed a brighter light on their quality outcomes and staff training could avoid being left in the dark about their future compliance risks as new standards take shape in the forthcoming Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation Tool (HOPE) tool.

Hospice 289

Hospice Document 2025 Medicare 289

Hospice News

MAY 23, 2024

As hospice and palliative care providers move further into value-based care, data is becoming paramount to building payer and referral partner relationships. Key data points include performance on the Hospice Item Set, the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys and other quality measures.

Hospice 256

Hospice 2025 Medicare Palliative care 256

Hospice News

AUGUST 9, 2024

Hospice budgeting practices hinge on several factors, according to Matt Chadwick, CFO of Well Care Health. He shared his thoughts at the National Association of Home Care & Hospice’s (NAHC) Financial Management Conference in Las Vegas. You are going to see more regulations,” Doak said at the conference.

Hospice 277

Hospice 2025 End-of-life care Palliative care 277

Hospice News

JANUARY 3, 2024

The Value in Health Care Act would extend the 5% incentive into 2024 and 2025 — a move that could foster greater opportunities for palliative care providers working in alternative payment systems, according to David Pittman, director of communications and regulatory affairs at the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS).

Palliative care 282

Palliative care Palliate 2015 2025 282

Hospice News

JULY 18, 2023

The two-and-a-half-year clinical trial is expected to launch in autumn 2025. The post Penn Medicine Sets Out to Identify Best Palliative Care Models appeared first on Hospice News. Halpern, the John M. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is financing the study through a $27.5 million grant.

Palliative care 243

Palliative care Palliate 2025 Hospice 243

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

It will also narrow its 2025 exposure to part D risk and delay the onboarding of one class of 2025 position partner given local payer dynamics. Pursuing this long-term vision has required some tough near-term decisions to exit selected partnerships and narrow the footprint of health plans we will work with in 2025.

2025 162

2025 2024 Palliative care Medicare 162

Hospice News

DECEMBER 15, 2022

In this Voices interview, Hospice News sits down with Deanna Heath, VP of Hospice, KanTime, to talk about the potential impact of the Value-based Insurance Design (VBID) model on today’s hospice landscape. Hospice News: What career experiences do you most draw from, in your role today?

Palliative care 261

Palliative care Palliate Hospice 2003 261

Hospice News

MAY 29, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may not have accounted for the financial and administrative burdens associated with its implementation of the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) Tool. In the proposed rule, CMS significantly underestimated the burden and costs hospices will incur to comply with HOPE requirements.

2025 292

2025 Social worker Chaplain Palliative care 292