U. S. District Judge Debra Brown has sentenced a Mississippi hospice physician to five years in prison for taking $16 million in fraudulent Medicare claims. Dr. Scott Nelson of Clevland, Mississippi was convicted last April of certifying patients for hospice who were not terminally ill. Some of these patients were able to testify in court […]
Seeds of optimism are taking root among hospice providers that industry-wide labor pressures may improve this year. Though staffing remains the greatest challenge in 2023, conditions are improving, reported more than half (54%) of hospice and palliative care professionals in this year’s Hospice News Industry Outlook Survey, prepared in collaboration with Homecare Homebase. Last year, […]
Patients with dementia are less likely to receive hospice in their last month of life than those who have other diagnoses, 12.5% compared to 17.3%, a recent study has found. The six-month terminal prognosis requirement is at the crux of the issue. The Medicare Hospice Benefit initially was designed around the needs of cancer patients, […]
Regulators are keeping a closer watch for possible kickback schemes among hospices. Along with False Claims Act cases, anti-kickback violations are among the most commonly occuring forms of hospice fraud and abuse. Hospices need to have a careful eye on compliance when it comes to structuring referral arrangements to ensure they in compliance with the […]
Hospice leaders would like to see some changes in the space this year, particularly around staffing, payer relationships and regulation. Hospice executives in December 2022 shared their predictions for what would happen in the space during 2023. To follow up, a range of CEOs discussed with Hospice News what they would like to see happen […]
LeadingAge Ohio recently launched a public awareness campaign designed to break down misperceptions around aging health care and improve access to careers in these services. Dubbed Gateways to Care, the campaign is designed to “change the narrative around aging services,” as well as generate career pathways in various senior health sectors, the nonprofit membership organization […]
By the Bay Health CEO Steps Down After nearly a decade in the role, California-based By the Bay Health CEO Kitty Whitaker recently announced plans to retire this spring. Whitaker has been at the helm of the nonprofit since 2014, serving as COO prior to that. She became a hospice nurse for By the Bay […]
After more than two decades in the hospital space, David Meyer has stepped into the ring of post-acute as chief growth and innovation officer for Alivia Care. Alivia Care came into existence in 2020 when Community Hospice & Palliative Care, now an affiliate, formed a larger company with a wider range of services. The Florida-based […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has offered further guidance on what rules will change when the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends on May 11. Generally, the temporary flexibilities and waivers will expire with the federal declaration. Still, some will continue in a modified form or end within different time frames […]
As California pursues hospice licensing reform, some providers in other states are watching for similar actions closer to home. In December, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) approved legislation that tightened hospice oversight in the state. This includes establishing a moratorium on new hospice provider licenses until the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) sets emergency […]
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