Florida-based Empath Health has launched a new dementia program that combines provider and caregiver education with clinical care. The nonprofit will provide training to staff from other health care organizations, first responders and family caregivers, as well as providing clinical services via the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience […]
Families often experience complex emotional, physical and logistical challenges when a child has a serious or terminal condition. Slow-moving state and federal policy are not keeping pace with the growing demand for improved support. This September, the Hospice News Elevate podcast explores the legislative, operational and financial keys to expanded support and access among underserved […]
Hospices’ compliance and legal risks could be rising alongside their increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, according to law experts. More providers are leaning into AI-enabled tools to improve quality, compliance and clinical documentation, according to Bryan Nowicki, partner at the law firm Husch Blackwell. Hospice organizations that are not currently considering or using […]
A national temporary ban on new Medicare enrollment could have long-term impacts on hospice affiliations among nonprofit providers. Fraudsters have bilked billions of Medicare dollars posing as new legitimate providers. The program integrity issues moved the moratoria forward and caused a trickle effect on mergers, acquisitions, affiliations and organic growth in the hospice space. This […]
A VITAS Healthcare chaplain has developed a unique bereavement care program in the San Francisco Bay area. Twice a month, VITAS Chaplain Jonah Sanderson convenes a group of 20 grieving family members for a Thai dinner at Thaibodia in Campbell, California. These “Death Over Thai Food” events are designed to foster peer-to-peer support, discussions about […]
New Jersey-headquartered Ennoble Care has added five new states to its geographic footprint. Ennoble Care provides home-based hospice, palliative and primary care in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The hospice and palliative care provider recently stepped into Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. The new expansion presents an opportunity to bring more home-based […]
Hospice care is underutilized among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, often due to systemic factors. More than 831,000 Americans are living with kidney failure, according to the National Institutes of Health. In 2023 alone, new cases totaled 131,564. Yet, end-stage renal disease patients in 2024 represented 1.3% of Medicare decedents who elected the Medicare Hospice Benefit, the National Alliance for […]
Two analyses have scoured healthcare trends to uncover factors impacting access to quality end-of-life care. Researchers also examined how end-of-life decisions are made among families, as well as the barriers that clinicians see in certain care settings. Nurses Uncover 4 Common Hospice Disparities Hospice and palliative care nurses recently revealed four common factors associated with access to quality end-of-life care. Researchers […]
Oregon-based Solterra Hospice has seen its average daily census rate triple in the last year. The organization’s leaders attribute the expansion to balanced clinical capacity and strong community collaboration. Solterra Hospice began serving patients in November 2024 after receiving its Medicare and Medicaid certifications earlier that year. The family-owned organization’s average daily census currently hovers […]
New executives have joined the ranks at four hospices. One Colorado-based organization revealed important responsibilities that leadership teams must oversee in today’s end-of-life care landscape. Care Synergy Names New COO Colorado-based Care Synergy has hired Dr. Emily Guth as its new chief operating officer. Guth, a registered nurse and physician, steps into the role on […]
