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 […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed a 2.7% pay increase for hospice care for Fiscal Year 2023. While reimbursement increases are always welcome to providers, some stakeholders question whether this will be enough to fend off continuing COVID-19 headwinds and skyrocketing inflation. Also on providers’ minds is the phased-in return […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has dipped its toes into value-based reimbursement for palliative care. Interest in these programs is growing among providers, but many find barriers that block their access or limit their ability to scale. The most visible attempt began in 2020 when CMS began allowing Medicare Advantage (MA) […]
Demand for palliative care is rising, but providers still have few avenues for reimbursement. To support their programs, more are securing reimbursement through value-based contracts with payers. Some are finding a learning curve in terms of how to structure and negotiate these agreements within new or unfamiliar payment models. These contracts are typically associated with […]
Poor, uncoordinated hospice oversight by government agencies in California has contributed to widespread fraud and other violations, according to a report from the state’s Department of Justice (CDOJ). The report follows an audit of California’s agencies that oversee hospice providers, including the licensure process. The state’s legislature last October approved two bills requiring this audit […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday released the 2023 proposed payment rule for hospice providers, including a 2.7% per diem rate increase. The rule also contains a model for phasing in changes to the way CMS will use the wage index to inform payment rates in future years. Through the […]
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) has agreed to buy LHC Group (NASDAQ: LHCG) for a reported $5.5 billion. The insurance company will integrate LHC Group with its existing home health asset, Optum Health. The massive deal follows last year’s acquisition of Kindred at Home by United’s competitor, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) for $5.8 billion. The two […]
Empath Health CEO Rafael Sciullo recently received the prestigious Galen Miller Leadership Award at the National Hospice Foundation’s annual gala in Maryland. Empath Health is the parent company of Tidewell Hospice and Suncoast Hospice, and offers a range of other senior care services. The company merged with Stratum Health in 2020. The National Hospice Foundation, […]
When asked to define “hospice,” the answer is more involved than people think. This is exemplified by Maryland-based Frederick Health Hospice, which recently marshaled community resources to repair the road leading to a patients’ home because conditions were impeding their access to the residence. The only route to the home of Larry and Ruth Stambaugh […]
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