Hospice News

OCTOBER 26, 2023

End-of-life doulas (EOLDs) and community health workers can add an additional layer of support that can help hospices improve connections and outcomes among patients and families. The human-based doula support is best positioned as part of value-based, at-risk entities or hospice per diems.

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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.

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Hospice News

MARCH 13, 2024

As hospice program integrity remains in the spotlight, California remains the only state to take action on curbing the problem. Beginning in 2021, numerous reports emerged of unethical or illegal practices among hundreds of newly licensed hospices, particularly among new companies popping up in California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona.

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Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

While many in the hospice space agree that evolution is needed to help ensure quality end-of-life care outcomes, conflicting views swirl around how regulatory requirements and associated processes could get us there. Regulators and hospice providers share a common goal of ensuring quality end-of-life care experiences.

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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.

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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. Hospice made that happen for mom, for me, and my family.”

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Hospice News

DECEMBER 14, 2022

National health care expenditures in the U.S. trillion in 2021, according to a new analysis from the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). While health care accounted for a smaller piece of the pie, expenditures were still higher than the 17.6% share in 2019. to reach $4.3

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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% As many as 72.2%

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Hospice News

JULY 15, 2022

The return of sequestration is adding to the financial storms brewing in hospice, as providers contend with rising costs of delivering patient care, inflation and lackluster reimbursement. After a moratorium during the pandemic, Medicare sequestration resumed July 1. It is as if our value has been completely ignored.”.

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Hospice News

JULY 25, 2022

A federal court has sentenced Liana Karapetyan, former co-owner of California-based ANG Health Care, Excel Hospice, and Excel Home Healthcare, to 18 years in prison for hospice fraud and anti-kickback violations. Atoyan was co-owner of the hospice and home health businesses and has pled guilty for his role in the scheme. “In

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Hospice News

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Gavin Newsom (D) recently approved legislation that expands upon last years’ moves to strengthen hospice oversight in the state, among other enforcement actions. The bills — Senate Bill 664 and Assembly Bill 1280 — followed a Los Angeles Times investigation into alleged misconduct among hospice providers statewide. California Gov.

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Hospice News

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

OpusCare of Florida recently opened a new inpatient hospice facility near the state’s southern tip. OpusCare received a greenlight to launch the center from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which awarded the organization a certificate of need for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Census Bureau projected.

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Hospice News

DECEMBER 22, 2022

These cover the innovative partnerships, new technologies, pediatric care, health equity and other key developments in the hospice space. Pandemic Pushes Death Doula Awareness, Hospices Seek Strengthened Ties. In 2019, the organization had just 200 members.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 2, 2023

The number of hospice volunteers plunged during the first two years of the pandemic, and many are still working to rebuild their ranks. Many hospices saw volunteer volumes dip drastically as they suspended activities during the pandemic. We calculated out $76,514 around volunteer cost savings last year,” Conway told Hospice News.

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Hospice News

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

Offering hospice can be a gamechanger for skilled nursing and assisted living operators looking to stand out from competitors and improve patient reach. Home-based care, including hospice, has become an increasingly attractive space for facility-based health care providers of all walks. Among the 1.6

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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.

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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.

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Hospice News

AUGUST 17, 2023

The home-based care provider has widened its footprint across the Pacific Northwest area, accelerating its expansion plans during the last four years. Recent growth has included the addition of eight locations in 2019 in that region. Established in 2004, the Washington-based personal care organization was founded by owner Merri Klein.

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Hospice News

MAY 22, 2023

Though older Asian-American adults may be less likely to discuss pain and symptom management needs with their health care professionals, they may be more receptive to the psychosocial support included in hospice and palliative care, according to recent research from VITAS’ Healthcare. between 2010 and 2019.

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Hospice News

DECEMBER 21, 2022

Hospice leaders have kept their eyes on four key numbers as 2022 progressed: clinical capacity, length of stay, labor costs and utilization. A fifth, the rising number of new hospices in certain states, has emerged as a priority in recent weeks. These metrics are key to understanding what hospices experienced this year.

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Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2023 will phase out dual-eligibility special needs look-alike plans within Medicare Advantage. Some hospice patients rely on these plans for other health needs, such as nursing home costs. Close to 12 million people in the United States qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

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NHPCO

APRIL 17, 2023

For Immediate Release April 17, 2023 (Alexandria, VA) The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) published the following statement in response to a recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule that would update key components of hospice reimbursement and regulations in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.

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Hospice News

MAY 13, 2022

Bluegrass Care Navigators names clinical services COO. based hospice provider Bluegrass Care Navigators has named Stephanie Greene as its new chief operating officer of clinical services. She succeeds Cassie Mitchell, who left the organization to become CEO of Colorado-based HopeWest Hospice. Lexington, Ky.-based

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NHPCO

OCTOBER 5, 2023

For Immediate Release October 5, 2023 Photo Link (Alexandria, Va) – This week the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) honored standout members of the hospice and palliative care community during the 2023 NHPCO Annual Leadership Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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The Caregiving Years Training Academy

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023

A few weeks ago, I wrote that family caregivers solve the direct care workforce shortage. That insight led me to wonder: If we’re doing what a home health aide in a home health or hospice organization would do, why aren’t we being reimbursed? A traditional Medicare plan wouldn’t allow the flexibility to reimburse a family caregiver.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 5, 2023

A significant number of health care providers may not understand federal rules for billing advance care planning, contributing to an estimated $42.3 million in improper payments in 2019. OIG found that — out of a sample of 691 ACP claims from 2019 — close to 70% (466) did not comply with requirements.

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Hospice News

JANUARY 12, 2023

A federal court has sentenced Akop Atoyan, former co-owner of three California home health and hospice agencies, to 25 months in prison for health care fraud and kickback schemes. He and his wife Liana Karapetyan owned ANG Health Care, Excel Hospice, and Excel Home Healthcare in the Sacramento area.

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AAHPM (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative)

AUGUST 11, 2023

By Lama El Zein There is an increasingly broad push for a movement towards improving the quality of care at a lower cost for everyone, but especially for patients with serious illnesses, given the historically high cost of their care. The Myth Regarding the High Cost of End-of-Life Care. Am J Public Health.

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Hospice News

AUGUST 18, 2022

Maryland-based hospice and palliative care provider Gilchrist recently formed a joint venture with the hospital system Luminis Health to expand the full scope of senior and geriatric care in the state’s southern region. You can’t do that if you don’t contract and work with someone to provide hospice care.

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