April 10-11, 2025 | Orlando, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Event Details

Location
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa
14900 Chelonia Pkwy. Orlando, FL 32821

Conference Hours 
April 10 & 11,  2025
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. 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

Continental Breakfast & Networking

8:00 – 9:00 AM

9:15 - 9:30 AM

Derrel Walker
CMO
The Pennant Group

9:35 -10:05 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

10:10 - 10:25 AM

11:30 - 12:00 PM

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.

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

Fred Bentley
Managing Director
ATI Advisory

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

Welcome Reception
April 9, 2025 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM ET 
Location: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort Resort and Spa 
Unreseserved Beer Garden from 5 -7pm

9:10 - 9:25 AM

Dr. Balu Natarajan
Chief Medical Officer
AccentCare

11:00 - 11:30 AM

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.

Deanna Heath, RN
SVP of Customer Experience
KanTime 

J’non Griffin, RN BSN
Principal/SVP Coding and Compliance Departments
SimiTree 

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.

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

1:00 - 1:30 PM

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

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.

David DeGumbia
Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer
Compassus

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.

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.

2:05 - 2:30 PM

3:05 - 3:35 PM

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

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.

Hotel Accommodations
Please click here to access our room block.
The cut-off date to make reservations is May 22, 2024.

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

In the hospice industry, maintaining compliance with regulatory audits and surveys is crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of patient care. However, the burdensome nature of documentation requirements often weighs heavily on clinicians, leading to increased stress, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. This session will explore the delicate balance between achieving audit and survey readiness while alleviating the documentation burden on clinicians.

Jennifer Hannum, RN BSN
Director of Learning Services
KanTime 

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 

Carlin Brickner, DrPH
Vice President of Data Science
VNS Health

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

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

Hotel Accommodations 
Click here to book your stay at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa

Ticket Prices
Early Bird Provider - $800
Early Bird Vendor - $1600

Which ticket should I buy?
Provider tickets are palliative care program executives and other care providers. Vendor tickets are for professionals in finance, technology, staffing, legal, sales, and marketing.

My company or organization owns or is an active investor in a provider. Which ticket type can I purchase?
If your organization owns or invests in a provider or providers in this space, your firm is classified as a private equity investor. If you wish to get the provider pricing, you would need to use that organization's email system/domain to register for the ticket to qualify as a provider. No exceptions. 

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.

Are there hotel accomodations?
Please click here to book your hotel stay at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa.

What does my ticket include?
A ticket to the Elevate Conference includes access to all sessions, breakfast, refreshments, lunch, coat / bag check, and a networking reception.

What is the refund policy?
For all tickets, no refunds are available 45 days out from the event. No exceptions.

Will there be vendor booths?
There are options for sponsor exhibit space. Please click here to request information on sponsorship opportunities.

How do I contact the organizer?
Email us at [email protected].

When are other HPSN events being held?
Click here to see all upcoming HSPN Events.

10:25 - 11:00 AM

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

9:00 - 9:30 AM

April 11, 2025

9:35 - 10:05 AM

10:10 - 10:40 AM

10:45 AM - 11:15 PM

Phillip Ward
CEO
Community Hospice & Palliative Care 

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.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has made health equity a priority for new payment models going forward, with the ACO REACH program leading the way. In this session, experts will discuss strategies for improving health equity to meet the requirements of these emerging payment systems.

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.

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.

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.

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.

3:40 - 4:10 PM

Viki Jingle
CEO
Community Healthcare of Texas