A large contingent of hospices may be unprepared to cope with a large-scale disaster or a future pandemic. Operators need to be prepared to deliver care and support their communities’ responses to catastrophic events. Increasingly, this factors into compliance. In 2017, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded a Condition of Participation […]
Hospitalized cancer patients have a greater likelihood of receiving a hospice referral from a hospitalist than other physicians, recent research has found. Hospitalist-led services (HS) referred 11.8% of patients to inpatient hospice settings between July 26, 2021 and Jan. 31, 2022, a recent study found. This was a higher rate compared to the 5.8% of […]
Though many expect a hospice M&A rebound in 2024, the scales are tipping in favor of home health companies among buyers. Generally, signs point to heightened buyer activity this year, particularly among private equity as interest rates start to come down. After 2023’s slump, PE firms have been sitting on more than $800 million in […]
Arizona-based Stoneridge Hospice launched services in 2020 with an aim to address a swelling aging population’s growing need for end-of-life care. Building the foundation for quality hospice care delivery during a global pandemic came with hurdles that were difficult, but not impossible, to overcome, according to Rollie Seebert, owner and executive manager of Stoneridge Hospice. […]
Having an adaptable approach to compliance is key in an evolving hospice regulatory environment. The regulatory climate has seen an array of changes aimed at curbing fraud in the industry and improving quality. Heightening oversight has focused on hospice program integrity efforts, as well as increased auditing activity, changes in rules for hospice sales and […]
Hospice providers need to evolve with their changing patient populations and the larger health care system, according to Greg Hagfors, CEO of Partners In Care. The Oregon-based hospice, palliative care and home health provider recently celebrated the 45th anniversary of its founding, which preceded the establishment of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. A group of volunteers […]
Members of Congress are raising questions about the continued Medicare certification for new hospices in areas rife with fraud. U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra fielded questions in a House Ways & Means committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) and Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) fired questions […]
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly mulling a possible lawsuit to block the acquisition of Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED) by the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum. Amedisys stock dipped 0.6% following reports of a lawsuit under consideration, SeekingAlpha reported. Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UHN), in June 2023 penned its agreement […]
Telehealth flexibilities must become permanent U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra indicated in a congressional hearing today. At the end of this year, telehealth flexibilities implemented during the pandemic are slated to expire. In a hearing before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Becerra said that HHS was willing to make […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has unveiled a new primary care-oriented Accountable Care Organization (ACO) payment model that holds opportunities for hospices. This demonstration reflects a push by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce fragmentation in the health care system by strengthening primary care as a hub […]
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