Palliative Care News’ Top 5 Stories of 2023

A look back at Palliative Care News’ five most-read stories this year paints a picture of trends shaping the serious illness care space. Securing reimbursement — and the promise of value-based contracts — continues to be top of mind for many palliative care providers as they look ahead to 2024. Operators have their eyes on […]

‘This Is Different’: Building a Sustainable Palliative Care Workforce

The state of the palliative care workforce is at an inflection point, as employers see both challenges and opportunities in their strategies to boost recruitment and retention. Palliative care providers have weathered many challenges in recent years, including evolving regulations and reimbursement structures, a global pandemic and widespread staffing shortages. Workforce shortages have long plagued […]

Health Systems Pursue Palliative Care Skill-Building Initiatives

Clinicians often lack exposure to palliative care during their medical training – an issue blocking growth of this workforce during a time of rising demand. One key to growing the supply of palliative care clinicians hinges on data that demonstrates how these services improve patient outcomes. Quality data can help health care leaders across the […]

Health Equity a Driver in New CMS Payment Models

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been working health equity components into new alternative payment models. Much movement has taken place in the payment and policy realms towards closing disparities among underserved populations, according to Hope Glassberg, senior policy advisor at the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) and president of […]

Building a ‘More Person-Centered Health System’: Palliative Care in Value-Based Models

Forthcoming Medicare payment models will likely focus on disease-specific programs that bear similarities to palliative care. Emerging reimbursement demonstrations have placed a stronger emphasis on addressing a more diverse group of patients with high levels of care needs and complex health trajectories. Examples include the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) demonstration, the Accountable Care Organization Realizing […]

How Regulation Could Shape the Future of Telehealth in Palliative Care

Palliative care providers are faced with uncertainties that abound over the regulatory future of telehealth as they continue to shape their programs. Some telehealth flexibilities that were temporarily implemented during the COVID public health emergency (PHE) are scheduled to sunset at the end of 2024. During the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]

C-TAC Urges CMS to Better Address Caregiver Support, Social Determinants in Proposed 2024 Physician Fee Schedule

The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) recently called for greater support for family caregivers and social determinants of health in fee-for-service payment models that include palliative care. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes to the 2024 physician fee schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B payment policies. The […]

Hospice CEO: Care Must Move Upstream

Florida-based Community Hospice & Palliative Care, one of the largest nonprofit hospice providers in the nation, continues to see substantial growth. In 2019 alone, the hospice is opening a new inpatient unit, revamping its pediatric palliative care program, and launching a Program for All-Inclusive Care for elderly (PACE) location. CEO Susan Ponder-Stansel sees diversification of […]

CMS Rule: Hospitals to Inform Patients of Post-Acute Quality Data

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a final rule on hospital discharge planning that underscores the need for hospices to leverage their publicly reported quality metrics as a competitive advantage. The new rule requires hospitals to inform patients about their choices related to post-acute care providers including those organizations’ performance […]

EHR Rule Could Preclude Hospices from Primary Care First

Requirements for electronic health record (EHR) interoperability could preclude some hospices from participating in Medicare’s Primary Care First payment models. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires health care organizations that participate in the model to use certified EHR technology (CEHRT). CEHRT are IT products that comply with criteria established by CMS […]