Rising Demand Driving Private Equity Interest in Palliative Care

Palliative care has seen an influx of private equity and venture capital investment in recent years, with growing demand for serious illness care a driving factor. Along with a fragmented marketplace, these factors signify a strong business case to support continued palliative care, according to Fred Bentley, managing director of health care consulting company Avalere […]

Careful Billing, Expense Management Critical to Palliative Providers During Pandemic

While the coronavirus pandemic has brought to light the growing critical need for expanded palliative care programming, its economic ramifications have many providers navigating uncharted financial waters. Strategizing through the public health crisis will involve minimizing operational expenses while branching out to non-traditional revenue sources. More than half of community-based palliative care providers in the […]

CMS Releases Capitation Rates for Hospice Coverage Through Medicare Advantage

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the capitation rates for hospice care under the value-based insurance design model (VBID), often referred to as the Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in. The agency indicated that medicare advantage organizations (MAOs) during the first month of a patient’s stay would receive Medicare A/B capitated payments, […]

Social Determinant Needs Greater Among Medicare Advantage Patients

Hospices gearing up for a Medicare Advantage carve-in demonstration in 2021 may place greater emphasis on addressing social determinants of health, as Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are increasingly affected by a lack of associated services, according to a report from consulting firm Avalere Health. Patients with dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid are the most affected, […]

Hospices Adjust to Encounter Data Under Medicare Advantage Carve-in

When Medicare Advantage begins to cover hospice under the 2021 carve-in, hospices and payers will have a new set of numbers to think about: Encounter data. These detailed records of a patient’s health condition and health care services will likely affect the way hospices participating in Medicare Advantage will be reimbursed, but industry observers have […]