How Palliative Psychiatry Can Support Quality of Life, Symptom Management

The lines of palliative and psychiatric services may increasingly intersect as demand for collaborative care swells among seriously ill populations with mental health conditions. Though palliative care and behavioral health collaborations can be beneficial for patients, widespread misconceptions and a fragmented health care system represent significant headwinds curbing growth. The impact of limited access to […]

The Employment Outlook for Hospice Aides

Rising wages, reimbursement pressures and immigration policies are fueling high turnover rates for hospice and personal care aides. Similar trends are proliferating among hospitals and health systems that provide these services. Current reimbursement structures for aide services represent the most significant challenge in maintaining a sufficient workforce, according to Kenneth Albert, president and CEO of […]

New Executives Take the Helm at AccentCare, Blue Ridge, Androscoggin, Good Samaritan

AccentCare Appoints New EVP, CMO Dr. Balu Natarajan has become AccentCare’s new executive vice president and chief medical officer. Natarajan’s role expanded after previously serving as the post-acute company’s chief medical officer for hospice since 2005. In addition to oversee AccentCare’s hospice and palliative care programs, he will also support its clinical care operations and […]

Hospices in a Regulatory ‘Fight’ for Quality

Fraud, waste and abuse issues that have percolated in the hospice space have put providers up against some regulatory walls. Heightened scrutiny around hospice from regulatory agencies is not without warrant, but increased oversight can have adverse effects on the ability to provide quality care, according to Bill Dombi, president, National Association for Home Care […]

New Leadership at Interim HealthCare; Former Amedisys CEO to Lead TheKey

Paul Mastrapa becomes CEO of Interim HealthCare Jennifer Sheets is out as CEO of Interim HealthCare and Caring Brands International. Paul Mastrapa, former CEO of Help at Home, will succeed her. The Florida-based company is a home-based care franchise that provides home health care, hospice care, palliative care, pediatric care and personal care to about […]

Behavioral Health, Chronic Disease Among Top Health Care Macro-Trends Impacting Hospices

Though operators often feel siloed within the Medicare Hospice Benefit, they are not shielded from the shifting currents in the health care system at large. This is the first of a series of articles that will explore these trends, beginning with the meteoric rise of behavioral health and chronic disease management — both as essential […]

How Hospice, Behavioral Health May Cross Paths

Hospice and behavioral health care could increasingly intersect in coming years as demand for specialized care grows. In some respects, the two sectors are already inextricably linked, given the holistic nature of hospice care, including attention to patients’ psychosocial and spiritual needs as well as bereavement support for families. But the prevalence of mental health […]

3 Key Gauges of Hospice Business Performance

Today’s health care environment is flooded with data, but hospice leaders should keep three types of indicators in mind as they assess their performance. Numbers like costs-per-day, payer-specific margins, and measures of community support can paint a picture of an organization’s position, executives told Hospice News. They should also be prepared for unexpected costs, such as those […]

5 Game-Changing Hospice Deals from 2022

Though hospice deal volume dipped in 2022 compared to previous years, five particular transactions could paint a larger picture of where investors see value in the space. These interesting, unusual or groundbreaking deals could signal what’s to come in 2023 and help shape the hospice market’s long-term future. Optum to pick up LHC Group Though […]

Fallout of 2023 Home Health Payment Rule Likely to Affect Hospices

While home health operators brace for the impact of the meager 2023 reimbursement rates, hospices likewise must prepare for a ripple effect. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently established a 0.7% base rate payment increase for home health care in 2023. While this is an improvement from the 4.2% aggregate cuts […]