Bradley Harris, former head of Texas-based Novus and Optimum Health Services, is facing up to 14 years in federal prison for his role in defrauding Medicare and Medicaid out of tens of millions in falsified health care claims. The hospice agency’s CEO recently pled guilty for his involvement and is currently awaiting a sentencing hearing […]
Hospice of the Western Reserve has begun construction on a $3.25 million facility built with an advanced technology system aimed at improving operational efficiency and patient experiences. The new Care Solutions Center represents a technological investment anticipated to bring in significant savings in the long-term, according to president and CEO William Finn. Hospice of the […]
Agrace Hospice & Supportive Care is opening an adult day service center that will provide an array of support and clinical services to aging, chronically ill and dying populations and their families in the Madison, Wisc., and surrounding areas. Agrace is a community-based hospice and palliative care provider headquartered in Madison, Wisc., with offices located […]
An assessment of community needs is essential for hospices working to establish or grow their palliative care programs. Providers need to understand the population that they serve in terms of demographics, culture and the availability of palliative care and other health care services in that region. While no standardized definition exists for “palliative care,” the […]
With workforce shortages expected to continue plaguing the hospice industry, providers have stepped up staffing support and are focused on developing career growth opportunities. Some providers are engaging volunteers as well as certification programs in their recruitment and retention strategies. The hospice and palliative care workforce has been shrinking in recent years, with staff burnout, […]
While several health care providers have expanded their diversity initiatives to bridge racial divides, hospices have much room to grow in fostering stronger connections with underserved communities of color. Hospice providers who participated in a recent nationwide study indicated that increasing staff diversity and developing committees dedicated to diversity initiatives were strategies yielding the most […]
Staffing shortages have been weighing heavily on the minds of hospice and palliative care organization leaders in recent years. The hospice and palliative care workforce has been shrinking due to staff retirement, burnout and limited opportunities for specialty training. The United States has 13.35 hospice and palliative care specialists for every 100,000 adults 65 and […]
New physician relationships are anticipated to be a major opportunity for referral partnership growth in 2021 among hospice providers. Communicating the value of hospice care to physicians will be an important key to developing and sustaining this largely untapped area of referring relationships. Demographics, evolving payment models and shifts in patient accessibility during COVID-19 are […]
Hospices have shifted staff training as well as patient admission and documentation processes amid a barrage of changes since the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the election statement addendum rule Oct. 2020. While the new rule could stand to improve patient awareness and understanding of hospice, providers who fail to comply […]
Provider Relief Funds issued by the federal government during COVID-19 have done much to alleviate some of the financial strain placed on hospice providers. To fully realize the benefits, organizations must ensure they understand the eligibility requirements and procedures for reporting lost revenue. With a deadline approaching and confusion proliferating about allowable expenses, hospices are […]
