MedPAC to Congress: Freeze Hospice Rates in 2025

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended to Congress a freeze on hospice payment increases starting in 2025. In its annual report to Congress, MedPAC urged policymakers to eliminate hospice base-rate increases for 2025. “Based on the positive indicators of payment adequacy and strong margins, the Commission concludes that current payment rates are sufficient […]

VITAS CEO Westfall: Market Conditions More Favorable for Hospice Acquisitions

Changes in the marketplace have made further acquisitions by VITAS Healthcare more likely. VITAS, a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE), recently announced its first deal in several years, the $85 million purchase of hospice assets from Covenant Health. While the company does not comment on its specific acquisition plans or its pipeline, VITAS may […]

Aveanna’s Home Health, Hospice ‘Turnaround’

Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAH) has seen improvement within its hospice and home health segment. The company anticipates this momentum to continue despite ongoing inflation and labor headwinds. The last two years have brought some turbulence in Aveanna’s hospice and home health admissions and revenues. The end of 2023 saw revenues start to normalize, […]

[UPDATED] VITAS to Acquire Covenant Health and Community Services’ Hospice Business for $85M

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! VITAS Healthcare Corporation has penned an agreement to acquire Covenant Health and Community Services’ hospice operations and one of its assisted living facility locations for $85 million. The […]

Grief Care Tech Company Empathy Raises $47M in Series B Round

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! The bereavement care tech startup Empathy has secured $47 million in a Series B funding round led by Index Ventures. Other participating investors include General Catalyst, Entrée Capital, Latitude, and […]

Hospice Regulation Slowing Down M&A Transactions

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! Tightened regulation in the hospice space has led to longer, more stringent diligence processes when it comes to buying and selling provider companies. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]

Enhabit CEO: Discussions of Potential Sale Ongoing

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) is in talks with interested parties about a possible forthcoming sale. Cost reductions helped propel revenue growth for Enhabit Inc.’s hospice business, though the […]

Bill to Re-Allocate Federal Hospice Dollars Moving Forward in Congress

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! A new legislative package winding its way through Congress could re-allocate hospice funds to other programs. Lawmakers incorporated language from proposed amendments to the Social Security Act into a six-bill […]

Hospices Welcome VBID’s Demise, But Questions Remain

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! The Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in will be carved back out by the end of this year. Many operators were glad to see it go, but the questions the […]

CMS to Sunset Hospice VBID in 2024

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will end the hospice component of the value-based insurance design model (VBID) as of Dec. 31. Often called the “hospice carve-in,” the program was designed to test coverage of hospice care through Medicare Advantage, in addition to some coverage of palliative care and transitional care. The hospice […]