Palliative-Primary Care Integration Crucial for MCC Patients

Palliative interventions should be integrated into primary care for patients living with symptomatic multiple chronic conditions (MCC), a recent consensus paper indicated. The consensus paper, published in Nursing Outlook, underscores research from 2023 reports by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the Congressional Research Service, that found adults with MCC are the largest, fastest growing […]

Kōkua Mau Champions New CMS-Approved Palliative Care Program in Hawaii

Hawaii this summer is poised to roll out palliative care coverage via Medicaid. In May, a State Plan Amendment (SPA) that allows coverage of palliative care through Med-QUEST, the state’s Medicaid program, was approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). While more than 15 states have established Medicaid palliative programs, Hawaii […]

What Hospice VBID’s Ending Means for Palliative Care

The impending demise of the hospice component of U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ value-based insurance design (VBID) model has largely been met with a sense of relief by providers as they plan new initiatives for palliative care in 2025. Launched in 2017 by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), the VBID […]

Lipson Cancer Institute’s Collaborative Care Program Integrates Palliative Care, Behavioral Health

A key component of interdisciplinary palliative care is addressing patients’ emotional health. For patients dealing with cancer, this is essential. Research published in BMJ shows that cancer patients are at least twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety. According to a 2020 study by the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, alarmingly high rates […]

Telehealth, Social Determinants Programs Propel Pallitus Health Partners to Double Census Growth

Pallitus Health Partners is forging its own identity apart from its parent organization, Hosparus Health. Based in Louisville, Ky., Pallitus provides palliative care to anyone facing serious illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, COPD and more. It also offers a support system for patients’ families, caregivers and other loved ones. Although Pallitus is part of […]

Health Systems Find Value in Joint Ventures with Palliative Care Providers

A rising number of health systems and community-based providers have been making larger investments in palliative care through joint ventures. This cooperative model is proving to be a good fit for many health systems that may not have the time or resources to build their own home-based care programs from scratch. Matt Tanzer, managing director […]

Global Partners in Care Program Fosters International Collaboration on Palliative Care

The Indiana-based palliative care provider Center for Hospice Care (CHC) is looking beyond its immediate community and has developed networks that impact palliative care on a global scale. The organization’s program, Global Partners in Care, collaborates with more than 100 hospice and palliative care organizations around the world to improve access to those services among […]

Why MA Plans Are Investing in Palliative Care as a Supplemental Benefit

Increasingly, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have found real value in offering community-based palliative care as a supplemental benefit. Since 2018, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has allowed MA health plans to cover new supplemental benefits for eligible patients. This flexibility has allowed insurance companies to offer assistance beyond what is available […]

CAPC CEO Brynn Bowman: Palliative Care a Fundamental Shift in Health System

For Center to Advance Palliative Care CEO Brynn Bowman, palliative care represents a fundamental shift in health care delivery as it continues to grow and make an impact on facilities and patients. As a CAPC strategist and recognized leader in palliative care education, Bowman’s work has been instrumental in fostering clinician engagement strategies to equip […]

Palliative Care Providers Leverage Data to Thrive within Value-Based Reimbursement Models

Data collection and analysis are becoming increasingly important to palliative care providers’ clinical and business processes. This trend has led to many new partnerships that have helped companies make better-informed decisions for patients. Recently, Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice entered into a partnership with the tech company WellSky, using a predictive analytics platform to identify […]