Hospice News

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Regulators recently extended certain temporary telemedicine waivers granted during the pandemic, with some flexibilities now sunsetting in 2025 rather than the end of this year. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced the extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications until Dec. 31, 2025.

2025 312

2025 Hospice 2024 2008 312

GeriPal

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Summary Transcript CME Summary We recently published a podcast on palliative care for kidney failure, focusing on conservative kidney management. Today we’re going to focus upstream on the decision to initiate dialysis vs conservative kidney management. As background, we discuss Manju Kurella Tamura’s landmark NEJM paper that found, contrary to expectations, that function declines precipitously for nursing home residents who initiate dialysis.

2009 233

2009 Article Nursing home Medicare 233

Sustainable Caregiving

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

The holiday season brings unique challenges for caregivers, often amplifying the stress, emotions, and responsibilities that come with both caregiving and festivities. This time of year can evoke a mix of joy and uneasiness, with caregiving adding layers of complexity to holiday plans. Yet, it’s possible to create meaningful moments while prioritizing well-being.

Sustainable caregiving 244

Sustainable caregiving Caregiver 244

Life & Death Matters

MARCH 20, 2024

In the quiet moments between life and death, I’ve witnessed the raw essence of humanity. It’s not just about symptom management and care planning; it’s about holding space for souls who have lived experience with trauma, substance use disorders, and homelessness—the marginalized, the racialized, the invisible. It is meeting them where they are at and […] The post Dying on the Street – Reflections of a Street Nurse, written by Shelley Tysick appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

Nursing 298

Nursing Palliative care Palliate Hospice 298

Advertisement

Healthcare communication has evolved from handwritten notes and paper charts to digital tools like EHRs, telemedicine, and AI-powered platforms. This blog explores how these advancements improve patient outcomes, streamline care delivery, and enhance provider collaboration. Learn about the role of mobile health (mHealth) apps, secure messaging, and social media in bridging communication gaps.

Healthcare

HopeHealth

JULY 17, 2024

If your loved one has dementia, here’s what to keep in mind at each stage — and how to create moments of connection along the way. The post 5 stages of dementia: What to expect & how to connect appeared first on HopeHealth.

Hospice care 278

Hospice care Hospice Blog 278

Aging Life Care Association

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Does your aging parent need help? As an Aging Life Care™ advisor, I know how fiercely older adults cling to their independence. Many feel that their adult children don’t understand them or are making something out of nothing — a fall, a burnt pot, a call from the police station. They make promises to ask for … Continue reading Seven Signs That an Aging Parent Needs Help → The post Seven Signs That an Aging Parent Needs Help appeared first on Aging Life Care Association.

Caregiver 272

Caregiver 272

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Research has uncovered common threads of quality impacts among the largest hospices nationwide as providers employ a range of initiatives to uproot the underlying causes of staff and family caregiver dissatisfaction. Strong communication, streamlined operational processes and an encouraging organizational culture are three significant drivers of positive end-of-life experiences for families and staff alike, according to Diana Franchitto, president and CEO of HopeHealth.

Caregiver 312

Caregiver Hospice Chaplain Grief 312

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

The soon-to-be-implemented hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) could produce misinformation that could interfere with access to care. The program, set to begin Jan. 1, 2025, could potentially lead patients away from quality providers and into the arms of bad actors in the space, according to Dr.

Hospice 312

Hospice 2025 2019 Care at home 312

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, currently winding its way through Congress, would likely increase access to hospice and palliative care for veterans, if enacted. The omnibus veterans’ benefits reform bill contains two provisions in particular that could influence hospice and palliative care utilization.

Palliative care 299

Palliative care Palliate Geriatrics Hospice 299

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Congress has passed Gerald’s Law, which would close a hospice-related loophole in veterans’ benefits. When eligible veterans die, many of their families are entitled to a financial benefit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to defray some of the costs of funerals and cremation or burial. However, when a veteran transitions from a VA facility to hospice, they lose access to that benefit.

Hospice 328

Hospice Books Care at home Palliative care 328

Advertiser: Celo

Let's discuss the trusty pager—an old favorite that’s losing its shine in hospitals and clinics. While once a staple in hospitals and clinics, pagers now present significant limitations that hinder rather than facilitate communication among healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals are constantly on the move, and they need communication tools that can keep up with their fast-paced lives.

Healthcare

Hospice News

DECEMBER 3, 2024

The house call provider Bloom Healthcare has leveraged its integrated palliative-primary care model to achieve substantial reductions in hospitalizations and health care costs. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently recognized Bloom as a top performing High-Needs Accountable Care Organization under the agency’s Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) model.

Palliative care 279

Palliative care Healthcare Palliate Medicare 279

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

Stakeholders and policymakers who shape the hospice industry are making connections between a provider’s tax status and quality indicators. Their perceptions could have significant repercussions on the outlook of hospice investments. More private equity (PE) investors have stepped into the hospice and home health space in recent years. This trend extends across the broader health care continuum, as certain types of owners — notably private equity entities — have come under scrutiny from lawmaker

Hospice 299

Hospice Geriatrics 2018 Care at home 299

Hospice News

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Reaching breast cancer patients with varying needs can be a challenging feat for palliative care providers. Their referral strategies often hinge on how palliative services can help improve outcomes. Palliative care providers help address patients’ various nonmedical, emotional, caregiver and social determinants of health needs, a key point to highlight when seeking to build stronger referral relationships and expand the reach of their services, according to Dr.

Palliative care 290

Palliative care Palliate Social worker 2018 290

Hospice News

OCTOBER 29, 2024

The California-based hospice provider YoloCares has recently received nearly $1.14 million in funding to launch a new residential hospice shelter for homeless populations. Branded as Joshua’s House, the funds were approved by local board officials in Sacramento County, California, and will support the site’s construction. The location is set to open in April 2025 and will feature six three-bedroom homes for terminally ill homeless individuals in need of food, clothing, shelter and end-of-life ca

2030 279

2030 2025 Grief End-of-life care 279

Advertisement

Want to learn how to retain your caregivers & improve caregiver retention X3? The home care industry is experiencing turnover rates of over 80%. How are you ensuring your agency is retaining caregivers? This FREE eBook from Smartcare Software is packed with industry secrets needed to keep your caregivers happy, engaged, and retained, unlocking the full potential of your agency.

Caregiver

Hospice News

DECEMBER 2, 2024

New Day Healthcare LLC recently secured a $125 million senior credit facility with First Citizens Bank. That capital access will support the company’s acquisition pipeline in home health, hospice and personal care. Part of the funds will be utilized to complete the acquisition of four facilities, as well as several other transactions under consideration, according to CEO and Founder G.

Hospice 277

Hospice 2020 Personal care Healthcare 277

Hospice News

OCTOBER 28, 2024

The presence of an embedded palliative care practitioner in the emergency department can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. A pilot program at the Michigan-based Corewell Health system in which a palliative physician was embedded in the ED effectively reduced inpatient mortality, readmissions, intensive care unit utilization and the total cost of care, while also boosting staff satisfaction, Lisa VanderWel, senior director for Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care, sa

Palliative care 288

Palliative care Palliate Presentation Events 288

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Hospice of the Chesapeake has unfurled a new dementia care program aimed at providing improved emotional, educational and practical support for patients and their caregivers as their conditions progress. Demographic trends were among the key factors that drove the program forward, said Monica Escalante, chief strategy and information officer at Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Hospice 278

Hospice Palliative care Geriatrics Caregiver 278

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Hospices’ public outreach efforts have evolved in recent years, with providers finding new strategies to dispel myths that have long impeded access to care. Nearly half, or 49.1%, of all Medicare decedents utilized hospice services in 2022, reported the National Alliance for Care at Home. National hospice utilization rates have hovered around this vicinity for the past decade, with 44% of decedents receiving these services in 2010, the Alliance report found.

Hospice 264

Hospice Grief 2010 Palliative care 264

Advertisement

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is transforming healthcare by enabling providers to track patient health outside traditional clinical settings. This blog explores the role of technology in RPM, including wearable devices, mobile apps, and connected medical tools that collect and share real-time data. Discover how RPM expands care access, improves outcomes, enhances patient engagement, and reduces costs by shifting from reactive to proactive care.

Healthcare

Hospice News

OCTOBER 28, 2024

Hospices have grown increasingly frustrated by fraudulent operators in the space and how their activities affect legitimate operators’ financial health. This is the second of a two-part Hospice News series that explores how fraud, waste and abuse in the hospice space could create headwinds for the industry at large. Fraudsters misspend millions of Medicare dollars annually, though the actual hospice-specific amounts are difficult to determine, regulators previously told Hospice News.

Hospice 290

Hospice Medicare Palliative care Palliate 290

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently elaborated on its plans to expand public education campaigns designed to help protect hospice beneficiaries from fraudulent actors in the space. Program integrity concerns have heated up in the hospice industry. Swarms of new hospices have emerged in certain regions in recent years, with some unscrupulous operators receiving federal funding through illegitimate business practices.

Webinar 279

Webinar Medicare Hospice 2023 279

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

The past year has seen a slew of regulatory developments aimed at improving quality and combatting fraud in the hospice industry. The drive by regulators and members of Congress to strengthen oversight is fueled by two main factors. The first was two July 2019 reports on hospice quality from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

2024 289

2024 Hospice 2025 Medicare 289

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) has launched a volunteer-based hospice service for terminally ill incarcerated individuals. The program is part of a wider trend to improve end-of-life experiences as swelling aging inmate populations increase demand. Volunteers in NDCS’ hospice program provide bedside companionship, emotional support and assistance with daily activities of life.

Hospice 288

Hospice 2030 Social worker 2019 288

Speaker: Jack Clough, Chief Growth Officer

Download our 30-minute webinar where we delve into real-life examples of HIPAA violations and preventative measures every organization should know! You will learn: The critical factors that lead to HIPAA violations and how to identify them. Three compelling real-life cases of organizations that faced severe HIPAA penalties. Proven strategies to safeguard YOUR organization against HIPAA violations.

Download

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Blue Ridge Care has unveiled its new Center for Hope & Healing, a facility dedicated to offering comprehensive grief care. The Virginia-based nonprofit hospice, palliative care and PACE provider financed the center through philanthropic donations. The facility is located in the same building as Blue Ridge’s PACE program, according to CEO Jason Parsons.

Bereavement 264

Bereavement Grief Palliative care Palliate 264

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Jimmy Panetta (D-California) have introduced a bill that would reform aspects of the hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). If enacted, the Enhancing Hospice Oversight and Transparency Act also would increase the penalty for hospices that do not report quality measure data to 10% by 2027, up from 4% currently. The SFP has the authority to impose enforcement remedies against hospices with poor performance based on its algorithm.

2027 290

2027 Hospice Care at home 2019 290

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Today’s hospice leaders need to take a wide view into the range of challenges facing their interdisciplinary care teams, according to Dr. Andrew Mayo, chief medical officer at St. Croix Hospice. Mayo joined St. Croix Hospice in 2014 as an associate medical director. The Minnesota-headquartered hospice provider is a portfolio company of the private equity firm H.I.G.

Hospice 264

Hospice 2014 End-of-life care Document 264

Hospice News

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) is projecting strong hospice growth in the next year fueled in part by investments in technology and workforce development. The company is currently awaiting for the proverbial dust to settle following its victory in a recent lawsuit and the forthcoming new presidential administration. 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 y

2025 269

2025 Hospice 2022 Medicare 269

Advertisement

Explore essential topics in this ebook, including what constitutes PHI and how to identify it using 18 indicators. Gain insights into the importance of safeguarding PHI to protect patient privacy and learn about the severe consequences of HIPAA violations. Discover practical strategies for securely exchanging PHI within your healthcare organization, including assessing risks and implementing effective safeguards.

Information

Hospice News

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Two states Massachusetts and Oregon rise above the rest when it comes to access to palliative care. This is according to the new rankings from the Center to Advance Palliative Care, America’s Readiness to Meet the Needs of People with Serious Illness Scorecard. The scorecard ranks each state’s capacity to deliver high-quality care to people facing serious illness on a five-star scale by evaluating five domains, according to Stacie Sinclair, the associate director for policy and car

Palliative care 306

Palliative care Palliate Information Caregiver 306

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Hospice utilization has tripled among patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) during the past two decades. The trend has ignited concerns about these patients’ lengths of stay, as well as praise for hospices’ cost-savings potential. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers analyzed Medicare fee-for-service claims spanning between 1999 and 2019, including data on hospice billing, patient enrollment, hospitalizations, health costs and chronic conditi

Medicare 299

Medicare Hospice 2019 2023 299

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Palliative care providers that form collaborative partnerships with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) may be lending to a landmark downward trend in health care spending in the value-based payment landscape. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that its Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) yielded more than $2.1 billion net savings in 2023 — the largest amount in the program’s inception more than a decade ago, according to the agency.

Palliative care 277

Palliative care Palliate Medicare 2030 277

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. Dubbed as the National Alliance for Care at Home, the rebranding came with a new logo and website, marking the latest step in the merger of two of the nation’s largest home health and hospice advocacy groups.

2025 325

2025 Rehabilitation services Palliative care Care at home 325

Advertisement

Explore the risks posed by non-compliant consumer apps like Instagram and WhatsApp in healthcare settings. Learn about potential HIPAA penalties and use a self-evaluation flowchart to determine your organization's need for HIPAA-compliant messaging. Discover straightforward steps to implement secure communication solutions efficiently, ensuring compliance and protecting patient data effectively.

Home care