State Legislators Mulling Bill Allowing LPNs to Make Death Pronouncements

The Pennsylvania state Senate has approved a bill proposing to expand staffing requirements around death proclamations to include a wider breadth of hospice clinicians. If enacted, the legislation would allow licensed practical nurses (LPNs) providing hospice care to make death pronouncements. Death pronouncement requirements in the state are currently limited to professional registered nurses (RNs), […]

Palliative Care Training Initiative Launches to Improve Quality Among Incarcerated Populations

The California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation’s Medical Facility (CMF) has launched a new palliative spiritual care training program aimed at improving services for incarcerated individuals. The new two-week spiritual training program was recently provided to palliative care service workers and volunteers to assist CMF’s clinical and nursing staff caring for patients at the facility’s […]

Hospice C-Suite Shakeups at Alive, Angela, Trinity; New Day Taps Strategic Executive

Alive Hospice Names New CEO Alive Hospice has tapped Kerry Hamilton as its new president and CEO. Hamilton takes the helm at the Nashville-based nonprofit hospice after previously serving as principal of the health care consulting firm Ten26 Health Group. He brings more than 20 years of hospice management experience, including roles such as Hospice […]

The Pennant Group Acquires Signature Healthcare at Home in $80M Deal

The Pennant Group Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG) has agreed to acquire Signature Healthcare at Home’s hospice and home health assets for a price tag of $80 million.  Pennant is the holding company for a group of independent hospice, home health and senior living providers located across 13 states. The company announced the transaction in a statement […]

C-TAC: CMS’ ‘Palliative’ Definition in 2025 Proposed Hospice Rule ‘Misaligned, Problematic’

Efforts to establish potential payment mechanisms for high-acuity palliative services within the Medicare Hospice Benefit will require greater clarity from regulators, according to the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC). The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2025 proposed hospice payment rule contained a request for information (RFI) on the potential implementation of […]

How Palliative Care Could Address Unmet Needs of Patients With Rare Diseases

Palliative approaches can help address gaps of care among patients with a diverse range of rare chronic and serious illnesses. Rare diseases include a broad spectrum of illnesses experienced by a smaller proportion of the general population. Although uncommon, the severity of symptoms and increased mortality risks associated with rare diseases is fueling greater demand […]

Hospice of Davidson County Launches New Children’s Grief Camp

North Carolina-based Hospice of Davidson County (HODC) will soon unveil a summer grief camp for bereaved children and teens. Dubbed Camp Comfort, the new grief program launches this Thursday for children in 1st through 5th grade. Additional camp sessions will be held July 25 and July 31 for adolescents and teens in middle school and […]

CMS Launches GUIDE Model Demonstration With Strong Showing From Hospice, Palliative Care Participants

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) has launched the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) payment model with close to 400 participating organizations, including many palliative care providers. The CMS Innovation Center announced the GUIDE demonstration in July 2023. The payment model is designed to improve quality of life for dementia patients […]

Hospices Face Cybersecurity Risks

Increased technology utilization in end-of-life care has come with innovative care delivery opportunities alongside cybersecurity risks. Hospices have widened the breadth of ways they leverage technology including artificial intelligence-assisted (AI) patient therapies to boost quality and use of predictive analytics to improve access and length of stay. Additionally, hospice providers have also integrated various electronic […]

Forces Propelling ROI for Hospices’ Health Equity Initiatives

Breaking down health care disparities can come with complex operational and financial challenges for hospices as reimbursement avenues lag amid widespread workforce shortages. Navigating these challenges can be a difficult feat when seeking to expand equitable access, according to Teresa Lin, vice president of cultural market development at VNS Health. The provider offers hospice, home […]