The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days, to expire in July rather than the previous date of April 16. The extension means that most of the pandemic-related regulatory will remain in place for now, but hospice providers remain in the […]
Hospices have seen a spike in regulatory audits that could intensify as utilization rises. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), their contractors and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have been digging deeper into the hospice space in recent years, and many hospices are […]
VITAS Healthcare, a subsidiary of Chemed (NYSE: CHEM), is launching a new certificate program to educate health care professionals on how to conduct advance care planning conversations. The company announced the initiative in conjunction with the upcoming National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16. Participants in the certificate program will learn skills such as prognostication, […]
Hospices that serve rural communities encounter unique challenges to bring care to a geographically dispersed population while contending with a smaller labor pool and higher costs for clinician travel. Demand for hospice and palliative care is rising in rural areas as the population ages with the rest of the country. But those patients often find […]
In an evolving payment and regulatory environment, hospices would benefit from stepping up their engagement with federal, state and local agencies and legislators. This may be particularly urgent now, with the public comment period still open on the 2023 proposed payment rule, and as policymakers debate whether COVID-related waivers and assistance should end. Federal agencies […]
Recent acquisitions of large hospice and home health providers by insurance companies suggest a drive among payers to reduce financial risk and improve cost outcomes in value-based care arrangements. These deals include two of the largest in recent memory for the home-based care space. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) recently agreed to purchase LHC Group (NASDAQ: […]
California-based senior care company Parentis Health has acquired Pop-in Care, a licensed home care provider for elderly individuals with disabilities or other serious conditions. Financial terms were undisclosed. Pop-in Care’s model is oriented around short visits without minimum hourly or weekly time or visitation requirements. The company will operate as a Parentis Health subsidiary and […]
The tech-enabled nurse staffing firm IntelyCare has secured $115 million in a Series C investment round, bringing the company’s total value to $1.1 billion. The dollar amount of these investments signals continued growth for the contract clinician space as health care providers contend with industry-wide labor shortages. The infusion of capital, led by Janus Henderson […]
A lack of nursing and medical education in hospice and palliative care creates an additional obstacle for providers trying to push back against industry-wide labor shortages. Not only are hospices competing with other health care sectors for new hires, but the vast majority of clinicians entering the workforce are unprepared to provide those services. Most […]
The hospice industry is likely to boom in coming years, but in order to thrive providers need to make serious investments to grow their workforce, expand referral partnerships and prepare for a value-based payment environment. Favorable demographics point towards accelerated growth for hospice providers, according to the 2021 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report by Trella […]
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
