Hospice Care Thriving in Nursing Homes

Hospice utilization among nursing home residents has increased dramatically during the past five years. While most hospice patients receive care in a private residence, a rising number of patients are receiving care in assisted living and long term care facilities, according to a recent report from LeadingAge, an association of non-profit organizations that serve seniors. […]

Referrals Key to Hospice Business Growth

As demand for hospice care grows, hospice providers in an increasingly competitive marketplace are working to bring a larger share of those patients under their wings. In addition to traditional methods such as territory management and improving call volume, many are finding that the key to successful marketing is building relationships—with referral organizations, physicians, and […]

Palliative Care Could Cut Health Care Costs by $103 Billion

Palliative care could reduce societal health care costs by $103 billion within the next 20 years, the nonprofit economic research group Florida TaxWatch said in a report. The group recommended that policymakers take action to expand palliative care utilization in the state. Palliative care in general can reduce health care costs by more than $4,000 […]

Study: Hospice Concurrent With Cancer Treatment Reduces Costs

A study of more than 13,000 veterans in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) found that patients receiving hospice care concurrent with chemotherapy or radiation therapy were less likely to use aggressive treatments or be admitted to intensive care compared to similar patients who were not enrolled in hospice, significantly reducing medical costs. Unlike organizations reimbursed […]

CMS to Delay Hospice Compare Data on ‘Imminent Death’ Quality Measure

Citing a need for further testing, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not release Hospice Compare data on hospice visits during the last seven days of life as expected this summer. CMS uses Hospice Compare to publicly report hospice provider performance on quality measures.Referring organizations such as hospitals and nursing homes, […]

Opioid Policy:Hospice in the Crossfire

Obtaining necessary pain medications for terminally ill patients is becoming more complicated for hospice and palliative care providers. The advocacy group Healthcare Professionals for Patients in Pain (HP3) raised the alarm on potential misapplication of opioid prescription guidelines throughout the health care continuum in an open letter to policymakers. Pain management is a cornerstone of […]

Congress Tackles Hospice and Palliative Care Staffing Shortage

More patients than ever are seeking hospice and palliative care, and the industry may not have enough trained clinicians to take care of them. To help fill this gap, Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and 285 bipartisan co-sponsors have reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (H.R. 647) in the House of […]

Amedisys Acquires Tulsa Hospice Provider RoseRock Healthcare

Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) has acquired all the assets of Tulsa, Okla.-based RoseRock Healthcare, a provider of specialized hospice care to approximately 220 patients daily in northeastern Oklahoma, for an undisclosed sum. “Whether we’re delivering care at a patient’s bedside, supporting our clinical team or educating the community on the hospice benefit, hospice isn’t just […]

Encompass Health Agrees to Purchase Alacare for $217.5 Million

Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase all of the assets of privately owned Alacare Home Health & Hospice for $217.5 million. With this acquisition, Encompass Health will become the 10th largest U.S. hospice provider, based on Medicare reimbursements. EBITDA multiples were not disclosed. Birmingham, Ala.-based Alacare operates 23 […]

NAHC’s Dombi: ‘Balance Business with Mission’

From Medicare advantage, a rapidly changing health care landscape, and burgeoning demand for care in a time of severe staffing shortages, William Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice has been a front-line advocate on the most pressing issues staring down hospice providers in today’s marketplace. Prior to his keynote address […]