To move hospice beyond the confines of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched new value-based care models, such as the Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in and Primary Care First. Some providers are also seeking relationships with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). These changes bring hospice providers into a brave new world […]
Hospice and palliative care providers are increasingly using virtual reality (VR) to help reduce pain, anxiety and feelings of fear and isolation in patients with chronic conditions. More hospices have incorporated VR into patient care, with the pandemic driving innovative uses for technology. The Elizabeth Hospice began to use VR to reach isolated patients during […]
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed cracks in a fragmented U.S. health care system, leading hospice and other health care providers to pursue improvement. Refocusing attention on quality, care coordination and the patient’s experience during serious illness or the end of life must be a critical driver, according to BJ Miller, M.D., author, hospice and palliative care […]
Race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are the leading differentiating factors fueling disparities in hospice utilization. Data, and associated documentation, can help fuel policy to improve access for underserved populations nationwide. The nation’s population is growing more racially and ethnically diverse, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report from last year. From 2010 to 2019, the […]
Establishing a dedicated community-based palliative care benefit within Medicare has been a critical goal for many providers nationwide, but the COVID-19 pandemic has led stakeholders to redouble their efforts. The outbreak exposed millions of people and their families to serious illness, and a sizable contingent is realizing that they could have benefited from interdisciplinary person-centered […]
OpusCare of Florida recently broke ground on what will be a hospice care facility scheduled to open in 2022. Rising demand and the need for expanded options for hospice care within the community were driving forces behind the new home-like facility. In addition to hospice and palliative care, OpusCare offers medications, medical equipment and supplies […]
Building and sustaining a financially viable palliative care program will largely depend on a hospice’s ability to demonstrate quality of care and negotiate with payers for reimbursement for these services, according to Anne Tumlinson, CEO of the consulting firm ATI Advisory at the Hospice News Palliative Care Summit. Demand for palliative care has skyrocketed in […]
Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) is seeing its hospice and home health growth rates tripling based on rising patient census and a robust acquisitions pipeline. Hospice remains at the core of the company’s M&A strategy; Amedisys expects to see activity pick up in the home health sector as well this year. Baton Rouge, La.-based Amedisys last […]
Palliative care has seen an influx of private equity and venture capital investment in recent years, with growing demand for serious illness care a driving factor. Along with a fragmented marketplace, these factors signify a strong business case to support continued palliative care, according to Fred Bentley, managing director of health care consulting company Avalere […]
Hospice providers will need to be well-versed in laws and regulations, as well as proactive in compliance education to avoid bringing regulators to their doorstep. Increasingly, this includes careful adherence to laws and regulations pertaining to civil rights and protections for the disabled. Compliance is a critical priority among hospice providers as regulators sharpen focus […]
Subscribe
Receive industry updates and breaking news from Hospice News