Hospice News

OCTOBER 2, 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been gradually implementing changes to the hospice survey process and enforcement remedies, including civil monetary penalties in some instances. The monetary penalties were among seven enforcement remedies introduced through the HOSPICE Act and subsequent CMS rules.

Hospice 273

Hospice Medicare 2019 Palliative care 273

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Though hospice is a smaller segment for Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. Aveanna’s home health and hospice segment has had mixed results thus far this year, but saw recent improvement, along with its other service lines, last quarter. It provides home health, hospice, private duty and personal care. million, a 6.3%

Hospice 277

Hospice 2022 In-home health Healthcare 277

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

Assessing clinician satisfaction and streamlining onboarding can pay off for hospices when it comes to staff retention. Hospices have poured dollars into retention amid widespread workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic. It impacts clinical capacity and our ability to serve patients.” Hospice News photo).

Definition 289

Definition Hospice Social worker Registered Nurse 289

Hospice News

MARCH 14, 2024

NASDAQ: AVAH) has seen improvement within its hospice and home health segment. The last two years have brought some turbulence in Aveanna’s hospice and home health admissions and revenues. The business we’re most proud of is the rebound of our home health and hospice business,” Shaner said in today’s earnings call. “A

Hospice 162

Hospice 2024 2023 Healthcare 162

Hospice News

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Having a greater understanding around the impacts of trauma and abuse can help hospices improve end-of-life experiences for patients and working conditions for staff. Training and education are keys to caring for patients and employees with unique needs impacted by trauma and abuse.

Information 288

Information Hospice care Hospice Social worker 288

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.

Healthcare 278

Healthcare Palliate Hospice Bereavement 278

Hospice News

MAY 19, 2022

Hospice providers and patients are having difficulty procuring medications due to nationwide drug shortages, threatening quality of care and patients’ access to hospice. Medication shortages can serve as a barrier to transitioning to hospice,” Paglino told Hospice News in an email. NYSE: CHEM).

Hospice 355

Hospice 2014 2016 End-of-life care 355

Hospice News

OCTOBER 27, 2023

With burnout as a major cause of turnover, hospices are applying technology to take some of the pressure off of staff in hopes of boosting retention. Though complete and accurate documentation is essential to regulatory compliance, patient safety and securing payment, the sheer amount of it is taxing for staff.

Hospice 279

Hospice 2009 Document Medical director 279

Hospice News

JUNE 20, 2023

Patient data protection and telehealth compliance are key pieces for hospices to bear in mind when navigating technology partnerships in a post-pandemic regulatory landscape. Hospices are facing regulatory concerns since the COVID-19 public health emergency ended (PHE) on May 11 that have centered around telehealth.

Hospice 349

Hospice 2024 Information Medicare 349

Hospice News

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Hospice patients are often concerned about the future wellness of their pets as they near the end of life, and some providers are working with organizations that help address those needs as an ancillary service. The organization also deploys volunteers to help families care for animals in the home. “In

Hospice 264

Hospice Feeding Download Document 264

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

hospice providers have the same problem — a workforce shortage — many seek to address it using unique solutions. Worsening workforce shortages have been keeping hospice leaders awake at night for several years running. Hospices, in turn, have taken new steps to gain or keep their staff, particularly clinicians. Though most U.S.

Hospice companies 289

Hospice companies Hospice 2011 2022 289

Hospice News

AUGUST 7, 2023

As regulatory agencies crack down on hospice spending, providers can benefit from recognizing the links between revenue cycle management and compliance. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has ramped up auditing activity tied to longer stays and more expensive levels of care such as GIP. For example, the U.S.

Hospice 246

Hospice Medicare Document Home care 246

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Both opportunities and challenges exist for hospice providers as regulators zero in on program integrity. Hospices stand to grow their census by taking on patients left behind by “bad actors” in certain markets. Widespread reports of fraud and abuse in hospice have led to intensified regulatory oversight during 2023.

Hospice 264

Hospice 2024 Document Registered Nurse 264

Hospice News

AUGUST 24, 2023

Increased hospice oversight aimed at curbing fraud in the industry could come with a mixed bag of financial and operational impacts for providers. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has honed in on hospice program integrity, rolling out a swath of new measures to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in the space.

Hospice 246

Hospice Document 2012 2016 246

Hospice News

APRIL 18, 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is insufficient to support hospice patients’ care needs, a major industry group said. CMS earlier this month released its 2024 hospice proposed rule , which included the 2.8% proposed rate increase for hospices is not enough to support the care hospices provide.

Hospice 264

Hospice 2024 Medicare Palliative care 264

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

Hospices are beginning to leverage technologies used to identify eligible patients in need to recruit and retain staff amid ongoing workforce shortages. Systems like artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, and machine learning have helped providers identify eligible patients sooner in their disease process.

Hospice 264

Hospice Homecare Document Healthcare 264

Hospice News

MAY 12, 2023

California-based Community Hospice, Inc. Current and former employees of the nonprofit hospice organization filed a $5 million lawsuit in April for unpaid wages during the pandemic. Established in 1979, the nonprofit organization provides hospice and palliative care in three counties near the San Francisco area of northern California.

Hospice 241

Hospice 2022 Hospice companies 2019 241

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

This article is sponsored by Hospice Dynamix. In this Voices interview, Hospice News sits down with Drew Bringhurst, Chief Commercial Officer, Hospice Dynamix, to learn how hospice leaders can better serve their patients and organizations by leveraging AI technology.

Hospice 246

Hospice Information Medicare Article 246

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

The four largest hospice industry organizations have been working to present a united front to address widespread program integrity issues. A large contingent of these companies were established with the purpose of selling the license at a profit, with little concern for patient care. This prompted the U.S.

Hospice 246

Hospice Medicare Chaplain Palliative care 246

Hospice News

MAY 19, 2023

Hospice of the Panhandle Promotes New CEO from Within West Virginia-based Hospice of the Panhandle has appointed Chief Clinical Officer Nikki Bigiarelli as its new CEO. The hospice world is constantly changing,” Bigiarelli said. Palliative care will be expanded. Cogswell has led the organization for the past 36 years.

Hospice 242

Hospice Palliative care Registered Nurse Bereavement 242

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Croix Hospice has expanded in Wisconsin, opening its 14th location in the state. “We have been serving the state of Wisconsin for many years, continuing our long tradition of exceptional patient care,” St. . Croix Hospice CEO Heath Bartness said in a press release. ” The post St.

Hospice 245

Hospice 2030 2012 2019 245

Hospice News

MAY 16, 2023

Tidewell Hospice, an affiliate of Empath Health, has enhanced its clinical training program with a simulation lab in its Bradenton, Florida location. The lab is designed to give new hospice clinicians hands-on experience and hone their skills before they go out to engage directly with patients and families.

Hospice 246

Hospice 2020 Caregiver Hospice nursing 246

Hospice News

APRIL 17, 2023

As health care has changed, so has the role of hospices’ financial leadership. Hospice CFOs have had to retool during the past few years due to the influence of the pandemic, growing technology investments and the need to do more with less amid widespread inflation and labor pressures.

Hospice 246

Hospice End-of-life care Healthcare Document 246

Hospice News

JULY 18, 2022

When it comes to communication and quality of care for Black patients, recent data reinforces the notion that hospices have room to grow. The core of these issues largely rests in the hands of health care providers, according to researcher Brittany Chambers, director of health equity and special initiatives at CAPC.

Hospice 352

Hospice Palliative care Bereavement Palliate 352

Hospice News

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Investment trends in the hospice industry have meandered in recent years, impacting providers’ approaches to growth in 2024. The mix of hospice buyers has become more diverse during the past five years to include more private equity investors, large health and hospital systems and home health companies, along with payers. NYSE: CHE).

2024 229

2024 Hospice Geriatrics Palliative care 229

Hospice News

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

VITAS Healthcare, one of the largest providers of hospice and palliative care services in the U.S., Kathleen Coronado, a registered nurse, has been promoted to associate VP of hospice operations after 18 years at VITAS. Anthony Cosma II, a 12-year veteran of VITAS, assumes the role of VP of hospice operations.

Healthcare 214

Healthcare 2006 Hospice 2012 214

Hospice News

JANUARY 31, 2023

To a certain extent, hospices will soon be operating under pre-pandemic rules in a “post-COVID” world. The flexibilities enabled hospice and palliative care providers to maintain continuity of care while reducing safety risks, according to Ben Marcantonio, COO and interim CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).

Hospice 279

Hospice Palliative care Palliate 2024 279

Hospice News

APRIL 12, 2023

The next generation of hospice CEOs will need to be data-savvy to succeed. Data is more crucial to hospice businesses than ever before when it comes to payer and referral partner contracting, compliance and building their census. This is especially true if you’re trying to show the value of something,” Dombi told Hospice News.

Hospice 264

Hospice Homecare Medicare 2023 264

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. Their services reduced the hospice’s costs by an average of 6%, a rise from 5.5%

Hospice volunteer 312

Hospice volunteer Hospice Registered Nurse End-of-life care 312

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

While they may have the clinical insight to deliver these services, they may have limited experience negotiating contracts specifically for palliative care, which can be particularly challenging in the absence of a standardized care model and payment structure, he said. “At

Palliative care 340

Palliative care Palliate Hospice Geriatrics 340

Hospice News

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

The home health and hospice provider recently announced the leadership changes in a filing with the U.S. The company in June announced plans to acquire the massive home health and hospice provider Amedisys for $3.3 McLeod was most recently a health care consultant at CD&M Consulting.

Hospice 288

Hospice 2018 Medical director Palliative care 288

Hospice News

AUGUST 4, 2023

The 2024 final hospice payment rule included a modest payment increase for general inpatient care (GIP) at a time when regulators are zeroing in on increased utilization and longer stays. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included in the rule a 1.031% increase to hospice GIP services.

Hospice 246

Hospice 2024 Medicare Care coordination 246

Hospice News

APRIL 28, 2023

When it comes to value-based payment models, home health has a head start on hospice. But those providers’ experiences can lend some insights into how hospices can prepare themselves. Hospices are only now taking their first steps into value-based reimbursement.

Hospice 246

Hospice Medicare Demo 2016 246

Hospice News

JANUARY 11, 2024

Fortis Health has acquired Indiana-based Physiocare Home Health and Hospice. Their culture and approach to quality patient care are a great fit with what we have established at Fortis Health.” Similar to national trends, demographics are accelerating demand for hospice in the Hoosier State. This is up from 16.4%

Hospice 130

Hospice 2020 2021 Palliate 130

Hospice News

OCTOBER 4, 2022

has acquired Trio Home Health Care and Hospice, growing its reach in the Lone Star State, which is a key focus area for the company. This latest acquisition fills our quest to expand our geographic footprint within our primary service areas,” said Jet Health CEO Stace Bratcher in a statement shared with Hospice News.

Hospice 245

Hospice 2030 2016 2018 245

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. Hospice and other health care providers are once again seeing their Medicare payments slashed by 2% across the board.

Hospice 264

Hospice Medicare End-of-life care 2014 264

Hospice News

JUNE 27, 2023

As more hospices engage with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, they may be able to learn from the experiences of some home health providers. Historically, MA has not covered hospice. The nitty gritty details of data tracking and management matter when it comes to ensuring both a healthy bottom line and quality patient care.

Hospice 241

Hospice Medicare 2022 Palliative care 241