Five Wisconsin hospice and palliative care providers have formalized a partnership to maximize their scale and negotiating power with payers in value-based payment models. The current focus of the new organization, called the Wisconsin Hospice & Palliative Care Collaborative (WHPCC), is reimbursement contracts for palliative care, using the term supportive care management. WHPCC has incorporated […]
While aging populations of color represent a growing base of patients with serious illness and end-of-life care needs, these groups are among the most underserved and underrepresented in the U. S. health care system. As research reflects a deepened racial divide in access to care and services, much is at stake for hospice care providers […]
Lewiston, Maine-based Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice will be expanding its palliative services with a new specialized care center in Portland, Maine. In addition to serving the community’s serious illness population, the Maine Center for Palliative Medicine will provide palliative care education and training programming to various health care clinicians and professionals. Hospices are increasingly […]
Racial, ethnic and sociodemographic divides are the leading barriers impacting advance care planning utilizations in the United States. Hospice providers working to expand access will need to take a closer look at the unique forces driving disparities, particularly among people of color. Studies have shown that advance care planning can reduce hospitalizations and health care […]
Assisted living facilities continue to represent one of the largest growth opportunities for hospices in the coming year, according to industry leaders who responded to the Hospice News 2021 Outlook Survey. The prospect of growth in assisted living remains promising despite challenges accessing patients in many locations due to restrictions brought on by the coronavirus […]
Vantage Hospice in Houston saw substantial growth in its patient census during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the company in part attributes to a rising number of patients with advance care plans. Vantage is now calling for initiatives to make advance care planning a standard medical practice. While Vantage did see growth in their patient intake, […]
South Carolina-based Agape Care is the first hospice provider in their home state to directly administer COVID-19 vaccinations to staff and is now ramping up to offer vaccinations to the general public. The organization was able to procure vaccine following discussions to educate state officials about the importance of hospice and palliative care staff as […]
The rate of COVID-19 infections is declining among residents of long term care facilities, largely due to vaccinations. This is good news for hospice providers who have been struggling to gain access to facility-bound patients during the pandemic. Long term care facilities have been among the hardest hit by the killer virus. To date, more […]
Diane Meier, M.D., founder and executive director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), is stepping down as the leader of that organization this coming April. Chief Strategy Officer Brynn Bowman will succeed Meier as executive director. Meier, a geriatrician and palliative care specialist, has been a leading voice in the movement to improve […]
After a substantial renovation, Charles M. and Cara Lou Chapman Hospice Home in Caspar, Wyo., is reopening to patients and families. The inpatient facility is operated by Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions. The reopened facility will provide additional rooms and interdisciplinary care for hospice patients whose symptoms cannot be managed in the home. The renovation […]