Hospice News

AUGUST 14, 2023

Past payment model demonstrations that included community-based palliative care offer a window into how these services could generate cost savings and improved quality. Among those demos is the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM), which ran between 2016 and 2021. An analysis from the U.S.

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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. of terminal diagnoses in 2020, while cancer accounted for 7.2%.

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Hospice News

MARCH 4, 2024

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! Palliative care” is becoming a buzz word in health care, even if many people don’t understand the loosely defined term.

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Hospice News

OCTOBER 4, 2022

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is developing new reimbursement pathways for palliative care. As part of that process, CMMI is applying elements of its Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM) demonstration, which ended Dec. 31, 2021, according to a new CMMI white paper. To date, the U.S.

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Hospice News

JULY 12, 2023

The Kidney Care Choices (KCC) model is among the reimbursement streams that is widening payment for palliative care services. It could also help improve utilization of serious illness and end-of-life care. Patients with chronic kidney disease can often receive fragmented care and expensive treatments.

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Hospice News

DECEMBER 21, 2023

The hospice and senior care provider Helios Care is partnering with the integrated health system Bassett Healthcare Network to bring more extensive access to hospice and palliative care to patients in central New York. Formerly known as Catskills Area Hospice and Palliative Care, the organization rebranded as Helios in 2019.

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Hospice News

JULY 31, 2023

Hospice care saves Medicare roughly $3.5 billion for patients in their last year of life, according to a joint report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and NORC at the University of Chicago. “The Additionally, the U.S.

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Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act to the Senate designed to promote greater access to those services among Medicare beneficiaries. Yet, societal factors and poor coordination among health care providers can limit its effectiveness and utilization. Warner (D-Va.)

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Hospice News

MARCH 1, 2024

A growing body of research touts the benefits of palliative care for patients, families, and even providers. Palliative Care News spoke with experts in the field to unpack the reasons behind those results and identify the obstacles that are getting in the way of a more effective approach. “It’s not blood pressure.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 3, 2024

Lawmakers recently introduced the Value in Health Care Act, which, if enacted, could create inroads toward improved palliative care reimbursement. These changes are designed to increase participation in value-based payment programs designed to improve quality outcomes and lower costs of care.

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Hospice News

AUGUST 17, 2022

Medicare claims for unrelated services creates serious financial and legal risks for hospice providers — even if they are not the ones who sent the bill. During recent years, payouts for non-hospice services provided to Medicare beneficiaries have tipped into the billions. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

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Hospice News

MAY 13, 2024

This article details recent key research findings on hospice care, including the effects of telehealth utilization among terminally ill pediatric patients, along with barriers to improved goal-concordant end-of-life care in Asia, Canada and Europe. The data comes at a time of regulatory flux around telehealth rules.

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Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Rising demand and demographic tailwinds are propelling rapid growth in both the hospice and palliative care markets. A large concern is whether there will be enough hospice and palliative care providers to keep pace with demand, according to Brian Tanquilut, equity analyst in health care services at investment banking company Jeffries LLC.

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Hospice News

MAY 18, 2023

Providers are seeking to better understand the scope of health care disparities to find where the greatest areas of needs exist among underserved populations. But defining the range of communities that specifically lack access to hospice and palliative care can be a moving target. Hospice News photo.)

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Hospice News

AUGUST 19, 2022

State laws passed during the last 10 years to promote palliative care have had little impact to date, according to sources interviewed by Hospice News. A hospice- and palliative care-themed license plate may not result in Medicaid coverage or improved Medicare reimbursement models. It won’t solve the staffing shortage.

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Hospice News

AUGUST 7, 2023

To meet growing demand, more outpatient palliative care clinics and programs are cropping up. Insurance companies and Medicare are also starting to recognize the cost savings and improved patient outcomes the clinics can provide. “I The patient will then be referred to an outpatient clinic or home-based provider for further care.

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Hospice News

APRIL 23, 2024

A huge need exists for neuropalliative care, Dr. Claire J. Creutzfeldt at the Harborview Medical Center’s Department of Neurology told Palliative Care News. Palliative care offers support for a variety of symptoms through interdisciplinary care. But, in addition, stroke leaves people with huge changes in identity.

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Hospice News

JUNE 14, 2023

A growing number of patients with various dementia-related conditions will need end-of-life care in coming years. Many of these patients could benefit from receiving hospice care sooner and longer, but regulatory requirements can make that a challenging feat for providers, she said.

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Hospice News

MARCH 27, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded a Condition of Participation pertaining to disaster preparedness planning. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in preparedness when it comes to hospice and palliative care. COVID-19 caused widespread disruption across the health care system, including among hospices.

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Hospice News

AUGUST 11, 2023

Increasingly, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have found real value in offering community-based palliative care as a supplemental benefit. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has allowed MA health plans to cover supplemental benefits for eligible patients. Since 2018, the U.S. In January 2023, 30.19 million of the 59.82

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Hospice News

DECEMBER 6, 2023

A look back at Palliative Care News’ five most-read stories this year paints a picture of trends shaping the serious illness care space. Securing reimbursement — and the promise of value-based contracts — continues to be top of mind for many palliative care providers as they look ahead to 2024.

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Hospice News

MAY 9, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on continuing evidence of hospice fraud and quality issues. Recent evidence indicates that more of these providers are being enrolled in Medicare despite CMS’ efforts to date on curbing fraud and abuse. Coupled with the fraud issue are those associated with quality of care.

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Hospice News

MAY 1, 2023

Recognition of palliative care’s value has been steadily gaining among stakeholders in the form of improved patient outcomes and cost savings through reduced hospitalizations. Traditional Medicare only covers physician consults and doesn’t support the full range of interdisciplinary care.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 19, 2024

Unity Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Houston has unveiled a five-year general inpatient (GIP) service agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health. The hospice will provide GIP care across the health system’s four hospitals. Unity Hospice and Palliative Care serves 13 counties in Texas.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 12, 2024

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has voted to recommend a freeze on hospice payment increases starting in 2025. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The 2021 aggregated Medicare hospice margin was 13.3%, according to MedPAC.

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Hospice News

JULY 3, 2023

and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently re-introduced legislation designed to expand the palliative care workforce. The bipartisan-supported Provider Training in Palliative Care Act aims to increase the number of clinicians trained in palliative care as long-standing labor shortages continue to hinder access. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.)

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Hospice News

MARCH 29, 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a 2.6% To continue providing the high level of care our patients and their families deserve, hospices require a payment rate that accurately reflects the current economic challenges. We know that hospice care has demonstrated $3.5 Hospice care saves Medicare roughly $3.5

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Hospice News

MARCH 6, 2024

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation have been in communication with lawmakers in hopes of keeping the funds within the hospice program. “We for next year.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 17, 2024

Hospice providers, industry groups and other stakeholders recently penned a letter urging Congress to improve payment infrastructures that would increase access to end-of-life care among rural populations. So, for access to rural care, we’re going to have to depend on smaller rural programs.

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Hospice News

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

Unmet caregiver needs are a top issue to address in developing end-of-life care models encircling the Medicare landscape. It’s about the] choices they have to make day-to-day,” Rawal said at the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC)–Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) Leadership Summit.

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Hospice News

NOVEMBER 16, 2022

NYSE: HCA) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) recently added a new graduate fellowship in hospice and palliative care medicine to their existing repertoire of training programs. Demand for culturally diverse hospice and palliative care in Florida is growing as minority aging populations swell. Treu will lead the new program.

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Hospice News

OCTOBER 26, 2023

EOLDs have had a growing presence in the serious illness and end-of-life care space, but their services are not reimbursed by Medicare or other insurance, according to Jane Euler, co-founder and chief doula of Present for You LLC. However, building these collaborations has come with financial barriers.

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Hospice News

APRIL 28, 2023

Ohio-based palliative care provider Pure Healthcare is collaborating with the nonprofit managed care organization CareSource to implement a new care management model designed to support chronically ill patients. We feel the innovation is really the marriage of that enhanced care management model. It serves more than 2.3

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NHPCO

MARCH 11, 2024

For Immediate Release March 7, 2024 (Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its We Honor Veterans (WHV) program responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) clarification on concurrent care eligibility for Veteran beneficiaries.

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Hospice News

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

The study , published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, examined home health and hospice care outcomes during the last three years of life among more than 2.1 million Medicare decedents who died in 2019. used home health care and 63.3% Of those with dementia, 54.8% utilized hospice. Of the nearly 1.2

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NHPCO

JULY 28, 2023

For Immediate Release July 28, 2023 New Research Shows Hospice Produces Better Outcomes, Lower Medicare Costs (Washington, D.C. billion in Medicare savings in 2019, while also providing multiple benefits to patients, families, and caregivers. billion less than it would have been had they not received hospice care.

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NHPCO

MARCH 21, 2023

For Immediate Release March 22, 2023 New Research Shows Hospice Care Reduces Medicare Costs Hospice Care Contributed to $3.5 billion in savings for Medicare in 2019, while providing multiple benefits to patients, families, and caregivers. Hospice stays of six months or more result in savings for Medicare.

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