Hospice Industry Groups Oppose Proposed Medicare Advantage Carve-In

A legislative provision that would “carve” hospice into Medicare Advantage is being met with opposition from the nation’s three largest industry organizations. The National Alliance for Care at Home, LeadingAge and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) have written a joint letter to Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), who recently introduced the Medicare […]

US Rep. Beth Van Duyne: Timely Access to Hospice Care a National Imperative

Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) has voiced a commitment to preserving the Medicare Hospice Benefit and has urged congressional colleagues to be wary about wholesale changes. One potential change would be allowing coverage of hospice care through the Medicare Advantage program. Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) recently introduced the Medicare Advantage Reform Act. If enacted, the […]

Proposed Attestation Requirement Could Lead to Hospice Payment Clawbacks

A proposed new requirement in the 2026 proposed hospice rule could lead to “significant” payment clawbacks and claims denials if finalized, according to some stakeholders. The proposed rule contains a provision that hospices provide a “clearly titled” physician or nurse practitioner face-to-face encounter attestation that must include a signature and dates of signing. This would […]

National Alliance: Hospices Need More Time for HOPE Tool Transition

Hospice providers and technology vendors are not ready to transition to the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool by its Oct. 1 implementation date, according to comments on the 2026 proposed hospice payment rule by the National Alliance for Care at Home. The Alliance in its comments recommended that the U.S. Centers for Medicare […]

Creative Hospice Care CEO Settles $9.2M Kick-Back, FCA Fraud Case

Creative Hospice Care Inc. CEO Mahlega Abdsharafat has agreed to pay $9.2 million to settle allegations that the company and its affiliates were involved in fraudulent activities. The settlement was released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday resolved three lawsuits brought against the Georgia-based company and its affiliates, collectively dubbed the Creative […]

National Alliance: Proposed 2.4% Hospice Payment Update Would Create Shortfall

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed 2.4% hospice base rate increase is woefully inadequate, and new physician attestation requirements may place undue burdens on providers, according to comments from the National Alliance for Care at Home. The Alliance on Tuesday released its public comments on the 2026 hospice payment rule, which […]

Transparency, Trust Keys to Combatting Fraudulent Hospice Marketing

Hospice providers are facing an uphill battle when it comes to communicating quality as scammers step into the industry, leading to new misconceptions about their services. Fraudulent activity in the hospice space has exacerbated common misconceptions about end-of-life care, according to Beth Klint, executive director at Goodwin Hospice, which is part of Goodwin Living. Hospices […]

CMS’ Dr. Oz Issues Public Call to ‘Crush’ Hospice Fraudsters

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has issued a public announcement warning against the most common tactics being employed by fraudulent hospice operators. Program integrity concerns heating up in the hospice space in recent years have regulators increasingly seeking avenues to safeguard patients and their families against unscrupulous […]

Hospice Advocacy Groups: Delay HOPE Tool Implementation

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should delay implementation of the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool, according to three national hospice and palliative care industry groups. LeadingAge, the National Alliance for Care at Home and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) urged CMS to delay the transition […]

Medicaid Cuts Could Have ‘Sharply Negative’ Impact on Hospice

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill proposing an estimated more than $700 billion in Medicaid cuts during the next decade. The legislation’s potential impacts on community-based hospice care delivery could be significant, according to industry stakeholders. President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a budget reconciliation process of tax reductions that […]