Hospice News presents ELEVATE and Palliative Care Conference, where industry leaders and professionals come together to explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of palliative care. This combined event presents an opportunity to immerse yourself in the insights, strategies and innovations that will define the future of compassionate care.
Who you can expect to meet at ELEVATE:
April 10-11, 2025 | Orlando, FL
April 11, 2025
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Doors open at 8 AM
Companies
Amedisys
BAYADA Home Health Care
Enclara Pharmacia
Fairmont Healthcare
Great Lakes Home Health and Hospice
Home Health and Hospice Care, Inc.
Hope Hospice
LHC Group
Michigan Palliative & Hospice Care
Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care Inc
Trinity Health at Home
VITAS Healthcare
Silverstone Hospice
YoloCares
Titles
Business Development Manager
CEO
CFO
Chief Medical Officer for Hospice
Chief Operating Officer
Director of Palliative Care
EVP, Chief Development Officer
Medical Director for Hospice
Regional Director of Hospice Operations
SVP Strategic Finance
Vice President of Business Development
Vice President of Hospice Operations
Vice President of Product Development
Vice President of Sales
Executive Connect
Get access to select conferences and events at no cost for your ticket*. As part of the Executive Connect program, qualified executives from providers or operators may apply for this ticket type and participate in a set number of meetings with pre-screened vendors at the event. If accepted, you will be granted a complimentary ticket to the event and required to attend scheduled meetings at the event and provide feedback on those meetings. *A refundable deposit is required to register and is refunded if you attend the required meetings at the event. No show or cancellations will forfeit the deposit, no exceptions.
In-Person Event Experience
Get an overview of what you can expect from attending a premier Hospice News event.
Interested in Speaking?
Hospice News events provide an opportunity for industry executives to share their knowledge and expertise with our audiences. Submit your contact information if you’re interested in learning more about speaking opportunities.
Continental Breakfast & Networking
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Opening Remarks
9:00 - 9:10 AM
Derrel Walker
CMO
The Pennant Group
C-Suite Perspectives on Hospice in 2025 - Brought to you by Homecare Homebase
9:15 -10:00 AM
C-suite leaders from well-established hospice companies provide their insights on issues impacting the hospice space during 2023 and what they foresee in 2024, including a discussion of reimbursement andregulatory trends and the changing competitive landscape.
Jonathan Fleece
CEO
Empath Health
Jessica McGlory
CEO
Guaranteed
Jeanne Kalvaitis
EVP of Hospice
Enhabit
The Power of Advocacy: Strengthening Your Agency -
Brought to you by Healthview
10:30 - 11:00 AM
11:00 - 11:30 AM
In 2024, a wave of new and updated regulations are being implemented – or have already impacted the hospice industry. This panel will take a deep dive into what’s changed and how hospice providers should adapt their businesses.
Tackling Regulation, Fraud and Oversight
Lunch & Networking
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Kara Justice
VP of Strategic Consulting
Trella Health
2:30 - 3:00 PM
Ana Torres
Executive Director
Grace Health Puerto Rico
Hospices’ Future in Value-Based Care
Fred Bentley
Managing Director
ATI Advisory
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
BRONZE SPONSORS
Track A
Track B
Health Equity (and Why It Matters to a Provider’s Bottom Line)
Marian Grant, DNP, ACNP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN
Senior Regulatory Advisor
The Coalition To
Transform Advanced Care
David Turner
VP of Special Projects & Initiatives
St. Croix
Teresa Lin
VP of Cultural Market Development
VNS Health
April 10, 2025 | 3:30 - 5:30 PM ET
Location: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort Resort and Spa
Event Hub from 3:30 -5:30pm
Hospice State of the Union
9:10 - 9:25 AM
Dr. Balu Natarajan
Chief Medical Officer
AccentCare
Breakout Sessions
Track A
Track B
Track C
Effectively Managing the Hospice Payment Cap
Hospice and palliative care providers do not operate in a vacuum, and community engagement is often essential to public education, addressing issues like social determinants of health and more.
Challenges, Solutions in Accessing HME for Hospice Patients
Explore the barriers that hospice patients face in accessing necessary home medical equipment and discuss potential solutions to improve access and affordability.
Patrick Harrison
Sr. Dir. of Regulatory & Compliance
NHPCO
1:35 - 2:05 PM
The possibility exists that hospice care will change more in the next few years than it has during the previous four decades. catalysts are at work that could spur gradual movement towards system integration and care coordination. This forward-looking panel will discuss the forces that are shaping the future of hospice.
Building Disease-Specific Hospice Programs
David DeGumbia
Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer
Compassus
Breakout Sessions
Track A
Track B
Track C
Future of Health Equity in Hospice: Regulations, Payment and Quality
Private equity and venture capital firms have entered the hospice space in droves. All the while, strategics have remained active in end of life care. This panel will discuss the major investment trends and what they signal for the future of hospice.
Technology Advances in HME, Diagnostics for Hospice Care
This panel will explore the latest technological innovations in home medical equipment and diagnostics that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of hospice patients, such as advanced pain management devices or remote monitoring systems.
Chris Morrissette
COO
Teleios Collaborative Network
Join us as executive leaders within the hospice space share their thoughts on the current state of the industry, its key trends and outlook for the future.
Networking Break
2:05 - 2:30 PM
3:05 - 3:35 PM
Owning the Continuum: The Nuts and Bolts of Service Diversification
Track A
Track B
Payment models like VBID, GUIDE, and Medicare Advantage are creating longitudinal pressures affecting providers across the care continuum. This session will explore the impact of alternate payment models on hospice and palliative care providers. Join this interactive discussion on how the value-based payment market is shifting, and how providers are responding.
Daniel Schwartz
Chief Strategy Officer
Elara Caring
Devin Woodley
Vice President of Managed Care Contracting and B2B Sales
VNS Health
Breakout Sessions
Track C
Sponsor Talk Coming Soon
Pediatric Care Delivery, Sustainability
Track C
Finding Your Entry Point into AI: Amedisys’ Journey from Documentation Quality to Clinician Satisfaction - Brought to you by nVoq
This panel will discuss how health equity measures have grown among hospices in recent years and how hospices' diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have taken shape.
The hospice component of the value-based insurance design model is in its fourth year. In this panel, three participating providers give their perspective on the demonstration, which some have heavily criticized.
Panel Coming Soon
Altonia Garrett
COO
Blue Ridge Hospice
Dr. Aditi Mallick
Acting Director
CMS Office of Minority Health
Matthew Schulz
Partner
The Vistria Group
Carlos Graveran
CEO
Frederick Health Hospice
Skelly Wingard
CEO
By The Bay Hospice
Mary Shankster
Chief Development Officer
Stillwater Hospice
Tom Lillis
Partner
Stoneridge Partners Strategic Consulting
You likely know that hospice M&A was down substantially in 2023. So, the question shining brightly is will it come back? But first, why did it fall off in the first place? Was it a referendum on buyers' interest in the space? If a rebound is in the offing, how long will it take? What could derail it? And what does the trendline look like regarding valuations?
Mark Kulik
Senior Managing Director
The Braff Group
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer
(D-Oregon)
Member of Congress
Pamela Duncan Owens
Chief Compliance Officer
Agape Care
Gavin Baumgardner
Vice President, National Medical Director Complex and Palliative Care Contessa Health
Eugene Goldenberg
Managing Director
Edgemont Partners
Susan Ponder-Stansel
President & CEO
Alivia Care
Dean Forman
Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
VIA Health
Interested in Sponsoring?
We provide sponsors an intimate setting to promote their brand and develop relationships
with the industry’s movers and shakers.
Ticket Prices
Provider - $1000
Vendor - $2000
What is an audio recordings ticket?
This ticket provides access to audio recordings only. Audio recordings will be provided within 48 hours after the in-person event.
How do I contact the organizer?
Email us at [email protected].
Track C
Effective Medicare Advantage Negotiations for Palliative Care
Track C
Strengthening Palliative Referral, Marketing Strategies
Tony Kudner
Chief Strategy Officer Transcend Strategy Group
Liz Fowler
CEO
Bluegrass Care Navigators
Dean Forman
Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
VIA Health Partners
Perry Farmer
CEO
Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care
Dr. Rebecca MacDonell-Yilmaz
Medical Director of Pediatric Supportive Services
HopeHealth
April 10, 2025
The Future of Hospice Reimbursement
9:00 - 9:30 AM
April 11, 2025
9:35 - 10:05 AM
Panels Coming Soon
10:10 - 10:25 AM
Track A
Differentiating Your Hospice in the Marketplace
Track B
Preparing for the HOPE Tool
The Future of Palliative Care: Innovating with Technology - Sponsor Talk by Vynca
Track A
Hospice Telehealth in 2025
Track B
Building a Staff Retention-Oriented Culture
Phillip Ward
CEO
Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Track C
Integrating Social Determinants of Health Into a Palliative Care Program
In 2024, a wave of new and updated regulations are being implemented – or have already impacted the hospice industry. This panel will take a deep dive into what’s changed and how hospice providers should adapt their businesses.
Managing the complex issue of the hospice payment cap can be a challenge for hospices, with the twin goals of ensuring their financial health as well as their ability to meet patients’ needs, particularly those with long lengths of stay. In this session, experts will share strategies for effective management of the cap.
A rising number of hospice providers are developing disease-specific programs to offer enhanced support for patients with certain conditions, such as dementia and congestive heart failure. In this session, hospice leaders will discuss the value of these programs and strategies for building them.
Despite government pullbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, health equity remains a priority for many hospices. This session will explore the outlook of future health equity initiatives, regulations and reimbursement models that could have impacts in the hospice space.
Hospices have increasingly diversified their services and delved deeper into partnerships with other service providers both upstream and downstream of end-of-life care. Many have cited a growing need to drive more individualized, person-centered care that better supports a broad range of medical and nonmedical needs.
Pediatric hospice care is clinically, financially and emotionally complex. In this session, experts will discuss the keys to building greater access to pediatric hospice and achieving sustainable growth, as well as the unique challenges of delivering and seeking reimbursement for these services.
Hospices have long contended that annual payment rate increases have not kept pace with rising costs of care delivery. This session will discuss the current state of hospice reimbursement and how it could change as the nation moves towards new payment models and lawmakers seek reform.
As competition heats up for referral sources, hospices need to find ways to stand out in the marketplace. This session will discuss strategies for securing more referrals by differentiating yourself from the competition.
Later this year, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will begin requiring utilization of the HOPE tool for quality measurement, presenting a learning curve for hospices and their staff. Here, experts will explain the key features of the tool and how providers should prepare to implement it.
The pandemic-era flexibilities for telehealth utilization expired at the end of 2024. Nevertheless, expanded use of telehealth has become ingrained throughout the health care system. In this session, hospice leaders will discuss the ways hospices can continue to use telehealth, the current regulatory framework and what the future may hold.
With a shrinking labor pool to hire from, staff retention is becoming ever more essential for hospice sustainability. One of the key elements to support retention is ensuring that employees feel supported in an organization’s culture. In this session, hospice employers will share their retention strategies and how they factor into culture.
Palliative care is designed to care for the whole person with the aim of improving a seriously ill patient’s quality of life. Some contend that in order to fully achieve this mission, providers must address social determinants of health. This session will discuss strategies for integrating social determinants services into a palliative care program, including partnerships with other organizations.
In this session, hospice leaders will explore the keys to referral partner and public outreach among palliative care providers, discussing successful strategies to differentiate their business and define their services.
Medicare Advantage offers one of the few pathways to reimbursement for palliative care. In this panel, experts will discuss their strategies for negotiating with health plans to ensure their financial viability and quality patient care.
Viki Jingle
CEO
Community Healthcare of Texas
Dr. Tom McNalley
Medical Director
George Mark Children’s House
Patrice Austin
Director of Community PedsCare
Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Sheila Clark
President and CEO
California Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Judi Lund Person
Principal
LundPerson & Associates
Altonia Garrett
COO
Blue Ridge Hospice
Amy Scheu
Associate Vice President Hospice & Palliative Care
Advocate Health
Dr. Cameron Muir
CMO
National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)
Catherine Hamel
Executive Vice President of Continuing Care and President
Gilchrist
Leslie Friedel
CEO
Stillwater Hospice
Anita Angstadt
Senior Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations
New Day Healthcare
Monica Escalante
Chief Strategy & Information Officer
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Tiffany Hughes
Chief Clinical Officer
Pallicare
Scott Levy
Chief Government Affairs Officer
National Alliance for Care at Home
Susan Ponder Stansel
CEO
Alivia Care
Track A
Track B
Unlocking Growth Through Family Caregiver Engagement - Brought to you by Betterleave
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Networking Break
Track C
Ahead of the Curve: The Proactive Approach to Employee Management - Brought to you by Levo
11:30 - 12:00 PM
Leveraging AI and Other Digital Tools in Hospice & Palliative Care - Brought to you by KanTime
Track A
Track B
VNS Health has developed predictive analytics that are successfully enabling better end of life experiences for their patients and families. Join this session to hear how they have incorporated these predictive analytics into their care delivery, and what results they are driving for patient and family satisfaction and reimbursement.
Anthony Spano
Director, Client Development
Netsmart
Kathy Ford
Chief Product Officer
Trella Health
Breakout Sessions
Track C
Sponsor Talk Coming Soon
Carlin Brickner, DrPH
Vice President of Data Science
VNS Health
In an increasingly competitive hospice care market, leveraging technology, data, and analytics is essential for sustained growth and operational efficiency.
Join our panel of experts, including Trella Health's Chief Product Officer, Kathy Ford, as they discuss how data-driven decision-making can fuel agency expansion, enhance performance, and improve patient outcomes.
This session will explore technology trends, innovative strategies, and practical applications of data-driven decision-making to support agency growth and address operational, clinical, and payer relations needs.
Stephanie Adair
Vice President of Hospice Services, Liberty HomeCare & Hospice Services
Interoperability in Action: Closing Care Gaps Across the Continuum - Sponsored by Netsmart
Alicia Bloom
Senior Vice President of Operations
Empassion Health
Strategic Transformation : Setting your Organization up for Success - Brought to you by Freed Maxick
Track A
Track B
Priscila FeijĂ³ Mattingly
Chief People Officer
Compassus
Dr. Julia Frydman
Senior Medical Director
Thyme Care
Bivek Pathak
CIO
Empath Health
Track A
Track B
AI-Driven RCM: Hype vs. Reality - Sponsor Talk by Advanced Revenue Cycle
Jen Malko
Vice President of Business and Development
Haven Hospice
Victor Couzens
Owner, Founder and CEO
Mahogany Home Health and Hospice
Kelly Gadison, RN, BSN, MBA
Vice President of Clinical Practice and Quality, Hospice
Amedisys, Inc.
Evan Dressel
Director of Strategy, Program Development and Innovation
Lower Cape Fear Life Care
Brandy Sparkman-Beierle
Chief Clinical Officer
Homecare Homebase
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
3:30 - 5:30 PM
Networking Reception - Sponsored by Homecare Homebase
Cheryl Hamilton Fried
CEO
Kirva Hospice
Megan Turby Weaver
Vice President of Quality, Compliance, Health Information Management
Gulfside Healthcare Services
Dr. Tracy Romanello
Medical Director
Catholic Hospice and Catholic Palliative Care Services
Dr. Darren Schulte
CEO
Vynca
Hannah Patterson
Vice President & General Manager, Care at Home
Netsmart
Maureen Lehsten, CPA
Director
Freed Maxick
David Brooks, CPA
Senior Manager
Freed Maxick
Sara McKay
Chief Executive Officer
Hospice of Washington County
Darren Schulte, M.D., M.P.P.
CEO
Vynca
Dr. Claritza Rios
Chief Medical Officer
By the Bay Health
Dr. Amy Moss
SVP - Clinical Operations Hospice
Amedisys
Jason Banks
VP of Post-Acute Business Development
nVoq
Stephen Phenneger
CFO
St. Croix Hospice
Demetress Harrell
CEO
Hospice of the Pines
Howard Young
Healthcare Partner
Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Wendy Conlon MSPT
Senior Vice President of Client Experience
Axxess
Carlos Palomino
Vice President, Clinical Services and Development
Chapters Health System
Patty Mathews
Director of Quality
Chapters Health System
April 10, 2025
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Networking Reception - Sponsored by Axxess
Cara McCarty Abbott
Founder and CEO
Betterleave
Lloyd Wilson
CEO
Sonder Hospice & Palliative Care
Monica Cutia
VP of Clinical Operations
HealthView
Scott Levy
Chief of Government Affairs
National Alliance for Care at Home
Tiffany Richter
Medical Officer
Agape Care Group
Stephen Phenneger
President and Chief Financial Officer
St. Croix Hospice
Tom Maxwell
Chairman
Maxwell Healthcare Associates
Palliative Care Workforce Strategies
Track C
Palliative care providers are preparing for rising demand amid staffing shortages and limited reimbursement structures that do not support the full interdisciplinary scope of their services. This session will explore the biggest keys to unlocking sustainable palliative care delivery when it comes to building a solid foundation of operational efficiencies, financial/payment strategies and a dedicated, trained workforce.
Jennifer O'Neill
National Director of Palliative Care
VITAS Healthcare
Guinivere (Wendy) Winokur
Vice President, Traditions Health Palliative Care
Traditions Health LLC
Forces Driving Palliative Care Investment Dollars
Track C
In this session, experts will unveil the investment trends fueling palliative care growth today and where it’s headed in the future, including the greatest obstacles and opportunities.
David Jackson
CEO
Choice Health at Home
Eugene Goldenberg
Managing Director
Edgemont
Ganesh Sundar
Director
KanTime
Scott Brown
President & CEO
MyDirectives
Matt Timmins
Principal & Chief Operating Officer
Advanced Revenue Cycle
Dr. Amy Moss
SVP - Clinical Operations Hospice
Amedisys
Jason Yu
CEO
Levo
Monica Escalante
Chief Strategy & Information Officer
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Sara Nigro
Director of Partnerships
BetterRX
Track A