Home care and Medicare - Home Care & Hospice Network

Longer Hospice Stays Lead to Larger Medicare Cost Savings

Hospice News

MARCH 22, 2023

Despite years of scrutiny over the duration of hospice care, new data show that longer stays reduce health care costs in the last year of life by as much as 11%. All told, hospice care — regardless of length of stay — saves Medicare approximately $3.5 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S.

Medicare

Medicare Hospice End-of-life care Article

Diverse Utilization, Cost Trends Shaping Hospice Care Delivery

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

of Medicare hospice decedents terminal conditions in 2023, according to a recent joint report by the Alliance and the Research Institute for Home Care. With the] number of Medicare hospice users, we are seeing major increases over years, as you expect with an aging population, Ware said during a recent webinar.

Hospice care

Hospice care Webinar Hospice 2023

Leadership Transitions at 4 Hospice Providers

Hospice News

MARCH 4, 2025

Former NAHC President Joins New Day Healthcare, Law Firm Bill Dombi has recently stepped into two new roles following his retirement as president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Dombi has litigated home health care policy matters since 1976.

Hospice

Hospice 2006 2025 Palliative care

Medicare Home Health Cuts Could Have Ripple Effect on Hospice, Palliative Care

Hospice News

JULY 14, 2022

Margin pressures from the proposed cuts to Medicare home health rates could impact palliative care and hospice. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in June released its proposed home health reimbursement rule for 2023, which included a 4.2%

Medicare

Medicare Palliative care Palliate Hospice

PalliCare: Independence, Staff Autonomy, Neutrality Drive Texas-Based Agency

Hospice News

MARCH 19, 2025

As a result of their joint efforts, PalliCare became the first company in northeast Texas to offer community-based palliative care. The organization currently employs nurse practitioners, physicians, nurses, and other specialists who provide in-home care services for patients with serious illnesses.

2025

2025 Palliative care Palliate Medicare

Advanced Home Care Acquires Dignity Hospice

Hospice News

MAY 25, 2023

Massachusetts-based Advanced Home Care has acquired Dignity Hospice Care for an undisclosed amount. The transaction follows Advanced Home Care’s acquisition of Dignity Home Care late last year. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Census Bureau projections.

Home care

Home care Hospice 2030 2012

Hospice Leaders: Change Must Come to the Medicare Hospice Benefit

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. Part of the problem is that the [Medicare] Hospice Benefit is 40 plus years old.

Medicare

Medicare Hospice 2020 2019

New Day Healthcare Acquires Good Samaritan Society’s Hospice Operations

Hospice News

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Good Samaritan Societys hospice program includes pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual care, palliative care and other home-based services. The faith-based organization also provides home health, home care and telehealth services. Hospice utilization rates hovered at 49.1%

Healthcare

Healthcare Hospice 2025 2020

Key Research Trends: Long Hospice Stays, Palliative Care Save Medicare Dollars

Hospice News

JULY 13, 2023

This is the first of a two-part service that will detail key findings from recent research on hospice care, featuring numbers that could influence they ways hospices communicate and operate. Hospices’ cost-savings potential A study published in March revealed that hospice saved Medicare roughly $3.5

Medicare

Medicare Palliative care Palliate Hospice

Quality Data, Cost Control: Hospices’ ‘True North’ in Medicare Advantage

Hospice News

AUGUST 16, 2023

Medicare Advantage plans are connecting the dots between quality scores and care delivery costs. When choosing a hospice to work with, payers in the Medicare Advantage (MA) realm zero in on providers’ quality scores and its patient population growth potential, according to Frontpoint Healthcare CEO Brent Korte.

Medicare

Medicare Hospice Document 2022

Hospice, Palliative Care Groups Call for Telehealth Codes on Medicare Claims

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

A coalition of hospice and palliative care industry groups has urged lawmakers to make billing codes for telehealth available on Medicare hospice claim forms. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop and implement Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes or modifiers for telehealth visits. .

Medicare

Medicare Palliative care Palliate Hospice

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

Hospice News

JULY 13, 2022

bump in Medicare payments, which they say is insufficient in light of COVID-19 and staffing headwinds. 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. Congress should urge [the U.S.

Medicare

Medicare 2023 Hospice Palliative care

New Day Healthcare Acquires Intrepid USA’s Missouri, Texas Hospice Assets

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

The company provides hospice care at home through its location in Joplin, Missouri. New Day launched in 2020 by a group of former hospice and home health professionals. The organization, through several home care brands, offers hospice, home health and personal care, along with pediatric services and clinical decision support.

Healthcare

Healthcare Hospice 2020 Care at home

3 Reasons Continuous Home Care Utilization is Falling

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Utilization continuous home care has dropped precipitously during the past decade, with labor pressures, regulatory scrutiny and billing challenges as contributing factors. Continuous home care (CHC) represented 0.9% Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This is down from 1.8%

Home care

Home care 2013 Document Medicare

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

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Hospices flagged by the SFP also will be surveyed every six months rather than the current three-year cycle and could face monetary penalties or expulsion from the Medicare program. When it comes to end-of-life care, you only have one chance to get it right,” Van Duyne said in a statement emailed to Hospice News.

2027

2027 Hospice Care at home 2019

Los Angeles Hospice Home Care Launches Scholarship Program for Aides

Hospice News

MAY 30, 2023

Los Angeles-based Hospice Home Care recently rolled out a scholarship program for hospice aides in a move towards building career pathways and improving retention. As with other health care workers, burnout has been a contributing factor. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Census Bureau.

Home care

Home care Hospice aide Hospice Social worker

The Problematic State of Health Equity in Hospice

Hospice News

APRIL 22, 2025

Peeling back problematic barriers Caucasians and individuals in urban areas have historically been the largest patient populations to access hospice care. White Medicare decedents represented 86% of individuals who utilized hospice in 2023, reported the National Alliance for Care at Home. in 2023, compared to 17.9%

Hospice

Hospice End-of-life care Medicare Hospice care

Eden Health Acquires A Plus Hospice Care

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Eden Health of Northern Nevada, dba Eden Hospice, has acquired A Plus Hospice Care in its home state. Through the transaction, A Plus Hospice Care patients will have access to Eden Health’s additional services, including home health, home care and palliative care. Financial terms were undisclosed.

Hospice care

Hospice care Hospice 2022 Medicare

Family Resource Home Care Expands with Companion Care Acquisition

Hospice News

AUGUST 17, 2023

Washington-headquartered Family Resource Home Care recently acquired personal care provider Companion Care, Inc., adding to its growing footprint in its home state. We are thrilled to announce our acquisition of Companion Care, Inc., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Companion care

Companion care Home care 2004 Housekeeping

CMS Will Not Resume Implementation of Hospice SFP in 2025

Hospice News

MARCH 25, 2025

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pledged that it would not resume implementation during 2025. Enforcement actions could include expulsion from the Medicare program, as well as other penalties. A federal court has ordered a stay on litigation intended to block the hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) after the U.S.

2025

2025 Hospice Medicare 2024

Hospice M&A Going Strong, But Non-Medical Home Care a Rising Star

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

While hospice and home health M&A continue to burgeon, non-medical home care is starting to slip out from under their shadows. Deal volume for non-medical home care companies outstripped that for hospice or home health during the first half of the year. The case for non-medical home care investment.

Home care

Home care Hospice 2021 Homecare

The Senior Living Opportunity for Hospices

Hospice News

APRIL 11, 2025

Alivia Care emerged in 2020 when Community Hospice & Palliative Care, now an affiliate, formed a larger company with a broader range of services. The nonprofit provides home care, hospice, advance care and supportive and palliative care across northern Florida and southern Georgia.

Assisted living

Assisted living Hospice 2025 Homecare

The Nuts and Bolts of Enhabit’s 2025 Hospice Growth Strategy

Hospice News

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Enhabit anticipates a nice bump in patient census across both its home health and hospice service lines in 2025, positioning the company for stronger growth than experienced in the last year, according to President and CEO Barb Jacobsmeyer. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Nine other de novos are also on the horizon.

2025

2025 Hospice 2022 Medicare

Canyon Home Care & Hospice Acquires Uintah Basin

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Uintah Home Health and Hospice patients began receiving services under the Canyon umbrella earlier this month. The home health and hospice provider is part of the home care service line of Uintah Basin Healthcare. Utah holds the highest rate of hospice utilization among Medicare decedents nationwide.

Home care

Home care Hospice 2030 2012

Citing Rising Staffing Costs, Stillwater Hospice and Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice Merge

Hospice News

MARCH 1, 2023

Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice (KHCH) has merged with Stillwater Hospice amid mounting financial pressures. The two Indiana-based nonprofit hospices joined forces to ensure continued access to end-of-life care in the Kosciusko County area. Hospice utilization among Medicare decedents in Indiana reached a rate of 47.3%

Home care

Home care 2001 Hospice Palliative care

Texas Hospice Physician Settles Fraud Case for Nearly $500K

Hospice News

MARCH 12, 2025

John Patterson agreed to pay $486,626 to resolve allegations of kickback payments received from Nursemind Home Care. Patterson is accused of certifying patients for hospice care who did not have a terminal condition and were not eligible to receive these services.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare 2021 Hospice care

New Day Healthcare Acquires Patient Recovery Home Healthcare Services

Hospice News

MARCH 12, 2025

Patient Recovery Home Healthcare has been in operation for 15 years and will not rebrand post-acquisition. New Day is pleased to welcome Patient Recovery Home Healthcare to our expanding home care platform, said Matthew Griffith, chief development and strategy officer for New Day, in a statement. Census Bureau.

Home healthcare

Home healthcare Healthcare Senior care 2022

‘Signs of Life’: The 2025 Hospice M&A Outlook

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

An estimated six hospice deals took place in Q3, with six home health and 11 home care also completed, Mertz Taggart reported. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)] has put a broad brush on every provider to make sure no one gets overlooked in the process.

2025

2025 Hospice 2024 2020

New Day Healthcare Acquires Christian Senior Care Services

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

This transaction significantly expands our personal care services footprint in the nation’s fourth largest metropolitan statistical area, G. Having expanded PCS services in Houston allows us to engage a full home care continuum, furthering our longitudinal care strategy. Seniors 65 and older represent 13.8%

Senior care

Senior care Healthcare 2024 Personal care

Film ‘Caregiving’ Aims to Amplify Awareness, Ignite Systemic Change

Hospice News

APRIL 9, 2025

Youre in it and just trying to navigate a complex system, whether its dealing with Medicare or Medicaid, or your health insurance, or knowing what nonprofits in your area might be able to provide, how friends and neighbors and family members can support you. This almost constant hustle to provide the best care.

Caregiver

Caregiver 2025 Palliative care Bathing

Choice Health CEO Jackson: Instant Care Deal an Extraordinary Opportunity in Non-Medical Home Care

Hospice News

OCTOBER 14, 2022

Instant Care provided an extraordinary opportunity to move into non-medical home care in one of the most desirable markets in the United States.”. Veterans programs and managed care organizations also have become more involved in the space. As of 2019, the U.S.

Home care

Home care 2003 Rehabilitation services Housekeeping

CMS Revises Hospice Physician Enrollment Guidance to Avoid ‘Disruptive’ Impacts

Hospice News

JUNE 7, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its guidance on the recently implemented hospice certifying physician Medicare enrollment requirement. The regulations stipulate that the attending physician must only certify a patient’s terminal illness for the initial hospice Medicare benefit period.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare 2024 Palliative care

Inside Hospice Organizations’ Special Focus Program Lawsuit Against HHS

Hospice News

JANUARY 17, 2025

A group of providers and state associations are plaintiffs in the suit, including Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice, Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care, Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina, South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association and Houston Hospice.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare Care at home Hospice care

CMS Delays Start of Hospice Physician Enrollment Requirement

Hospice News

APRIL 26, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed the implementation of hospice certifying physician Medicare enrollment requirements. CMS delayed the date to enroll in or opt out of Medicare until June 3 for physicians who certify hospice services.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare Medical director 2024

Hospice’s Post-VBID Value-Based Outlook

Hospice News

AUGUST 15, 2024

The post-Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in landscape could include wider value-based reimbursement avenues in the hospice space, leading providers to pivot into MA payer relationships. a hospice and home care consulting company. You need to be at the table with Medicare Advantage plan negotiations and make yourself known. “You

Demo

Demo 2030 Medicare 2025

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

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

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 requirement mirrors a regulation that has existed for several years for home health agencies.

Hospice

Hospice Medicare 2024 2019

Hospice Regulations May Be Adversely Affecting Dementia Patients

Hospice News

MAY 27, 2022

These include the audit system created by Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014, and the two-tiered reimbursement for routine home care that reduced payment amounts after 60 days. Due to rising utilization, Medicare hospice expenditures increase by about $1 billion annually.

Hospice

Hospice 2014 2019 2008

[UPDATED] NAHC-NHPCO Alliance Taps Dr. Steven Landers as First CEO

Hospice News

AUGUST 26, 2024

The Alliance hinted that it was inching closer to a leadership decision earlier this month after completing an affiliation in June between the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S.

Geriatrics

Geriatrics Palliative care 2025 Medicare

End-of-Life Care Delivery ‘Ripe for Reform’ in Rep. Blumenhauer’s Hospice CARE Act

Hospice News

JUNE 26, 2024

The bill, if enacted, would introduce much needed and long overdue changes to the Medicare Hospice Benefit, according to Blumenhauer. The area of end-of-life care was ripe for a pilot project. It’s being able to push Congress … to reform the [Medicare] Hospice Benefit, which hasn’t really had an overview since 1982.

End-of-life care

End-of-life care Hospice care Hospice Medicare

Congress Grills HHS on Hospice Program Integrity

Hospice News

MARCH 21, 2024

Members of Congress are raising questions about the continued Medicare certification for new hospices in areas rife with fraud. Investigations have shown that potentially hundreds of newly licensed hospices have bilked Medicare of millions of dollars during the past several years, all while providing egregiously poor care or none at all.

2010

2010 Hospice Medicare 2024

U.S. Health Care Expenditures to Reach $7.1 Trillion by 2031; Hospice Spending to Double by 2032

Hospice News

JUNE 14, 2023

The nation’s total health care spend is expected to swell by 5.4% Meanwhile, Medicare hospice spending is expected to more than double by 2032. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary also project that health care expenditures will represent 19.6% These data from the U.S.

Medicare

Medicare Hospice 2022 2021

CMS 2025 Proposed Rule Signals Changes to Quality Measurement, Omits Program Integrity Actions

Hospice News

MARCH 29, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a 2.6% We know that hospice care has demonstrated $3.5 billion in annual savings for Medicare, which underscores the critical importance of investing in hospice to ensure continued beneficiary access to quality end-of-life care.”

2025

2025 Medicare Medical director Palliate

NAHC President Bill Dombi: Hospices in for a ‘Bumpy Ride to New Era’

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

Hospice 2025 Medicare End-of-life care

Longer Hospice Stays Lead to Larger Medicare Cost Savings

Diverse Utilization, Cost Trends Shaping Hospice Care Delivery

Trending Sources

Leadership Transitions at 4 Hospice Providers

Medicare Home Health Cuts Could Have Ripple Effect on Hospice, Palliative Care

PalliCare: Independence, Staff Autonomy, Neutrality Drive Texas-Based Agency

Advanced Home Care Acquires Dignity Hospice

Hospice Leaders: Change Must Come to the Medicare Hospice Benefit

New Day Healthcare Acquires Good Samaritan Society’s Hospice Operations

Key Research Trends: Long Hospice Stays, Palliative Care Save Medicare Dollars

Quality Data, Cost Control: Hospices’ ‘True North’ in Medicare Advantage

Hospice, Palliative Care Groups Call for Telehealth Codes on Medicare Claims

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

New Day Healthcare Acquires Intrepid USA’s Missouri, Texas Hospice Assets

3 Reasons Continuous Home Care Utilization is Falling

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

Los Angeles Hospice Home Care Launches Scholarship Program for Aides

The Problematic State of Health Equity in Hospice

Eden Health Acquires A Plus Hospice Care

Family Resource Home Care Expands with Companion Care Acquisition

CMS Will Not Resume Implementation of Hospice SFP in 2025

Hospice M&A Going Strong, But Non-Medical Home Care a Rising Star

The Senior Living Opportunity for Hospices

The Nuts and Bolts of Enhabit’s 2025 Hospice Growth Strategy

Canyon Home Care & Hospice Acquires Uintah Basin

Citing Rising Staffing Costs, Stillwater Hospice and Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice Merge

Texas Hospice Physician Settles Fraud Case for Nearly $500K

New Day Healthcare Acquires Patient Recovery Home Healthcare Services

‘Signs of Life’: The 2025 Hospice M&A Outlook

New Day Healthcare Acquires Christian Senior Care Services

Film ‘Caregiving’ Aims to Amplify Awareness, Ignite Systemic Change

Choice Health CEO Jackson: Instant Care Deal an Extraordinary Opportunity in Non-Medical Home Care

CMS Revises Hospice Physician Enrollment Guidance to Avoid ‘Disruptive’ Impacts

Inside Hospice Organizations’ Special Focus Program Lawsuit Against HHS

CMS Delays Start of Hospice Physician Enrollment Requirement

Hospice’s Post-VBID Value-Based Outlook

CMS to Sunset Hospice VBID in 2024

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

Hospice Regulations May Be Adversely Affecting Dementia Patients

[UPDATED] NAHC-NHPCO Alliance Taps Dr. Steven Landers as First CEO

End-of-Life Care Delivery ‘Ripe for Reform’ in Rep. Blumenhauer’s Hospice CARE Act

Congress Grills HHS on Hospice Program Integrity

U.S. Health Care Expenditures to Reach $7.1 Trillion by 2031; Hospice Spending to Double by 2032

CMS 2025 Proposed Rule Signals Changes to Quality Measurement, Omits Program Integrity Actions

NAHC President Bill Dombi: Hospices in for a ‘Bumpy Ride to New Era’

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