Palliative care providers face an uphill battle when it comes to communicating and defining the scope of their interdisciplinary services not only to seriously ill patients, but also referring clinicians across the continuum. Misconceptions abound in and around the spheres of serious and terminal illness care. The public and health care providers alike often conflate […]
Acclivity Health
Based on current trends, risk-based payment systems will likely shape the future of palliative care. The palliative care market is projected to swell during the next decade. However, no standardized definition exists for “palliative care.” Providers use a range of approaches to providing the service, from consults with advance care planning to short-term transitional care […]
Medicare claims for unrelated services creates serious financial and legal risks for hospice providers — even if they are not the ones who sent the bill. During recent years, payouts for non-hospice services provided to Medicare beneficiaries have tipped into the billions. Investigators have urged regulators to ramp up oversight of potentially inappropriate billing practices. […]
The business case for diversity, equity and inclusion in hospice care The drive for greater diversity, equity and inclusion in health care is more than a flash in the pan. It could impact hospices’ sustainability as well as their access to patients. Initiatives to reach underserved populations have been a rising priority among hospice providers. […]
A provider’s performance on the Hospice Care Index (HCI) can give it an edge when it comes to payer negotiations in value-based programs. The HCI — which the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced in its 2022 final rule for hospice payments — assigns the provider a score based on 10 claims-based […]
Hospice providers are seeking greater clarity when it comes to quality incentives in the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) program. Introduced in late February, ACO REACH replaces the Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) models. CMS indicated that the program reflects its refreshed priorities for payment system demonstrations. Among […]
Hospices in recent years have enlisted artificial intelligence in their quest to match the right patient to the right care at the appropriate time. As these systems continue to develop, some are finding potential benefits when it comes to regulatory compliance as well. Hospices that use AI systems often seek to predict when a patient […]
The journey toward value-based care remains uncertain, yet impactful for hospice. Providers and payers of all walks are taking a sharper look at hospice as the value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration project approaches its second year. Hospices need a seat at the bargaining table in order to maintain control of their financial destiny, according to […]
Value-based care programs could be bridges closing gaps to accessing hospice care among underserved populations. Several hospices are honing in on expanding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, as the pandemic further illuminates disparities in the U.S. health care system, often based on race or socio-economic factors. In response, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) […]
Patients, families and clinicians in other fields need a better understanding of palliative care in order to fully realize the clinical and financial benefits of those services, according to physician John Mulder, M.D. The palliative care community also needs a more substantial reimbursement structure to ensure that providers can meet rising demand and to attract […]
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