Hospices Welcome VBID’s Demise, But Questions Remain

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! The Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in will be carved back out by the end of this year. Many operators were glad to see it go, but the questions the […]

Compassus, Bon Secours Mercy Health Unveil Hospice, Home Health Joint Venture

Compassus is launching a home health and hospice joint venture with Ohio-headquartered Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH). Through the JV, Compassus will manage the operations of 11 hospice agencies and 10 home health sites across five states. BSMH is the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the United States, according to a joint press release from […]

AI, RPM Systems Turning Keys For Compassus

Staffing strains and quality concerns have hospice providers relying more heavily on technology to strengthen the delivery, timing and experience of end-of-life care. Artificial intelligence (AI) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) systems can be worth the financial investment in terms of building operational efficiencies that benefit patient quality, according to Laura Templeton, executive vice president […]

2023’s Most Impactful Hospice Regulatory Moves

Program integrity issues that have heated up in the hospice space during the past five years reached a boiling point in 2023. Hospice providers have seen an array of increased regulatory oversight in 2023. That momentum has been fueled by two main concerns among regulators — risks of patient safety and evidence of malfeasance in […]

Compassus Expands Services, Footprint Via Ascension Saint Thomas Partnership

Compassus has launched home health services and expanded its central Tennessee footprint through a new collaboration with its joint venture partner Ascension Saint Thomas. The joint venture, Ascension at Home, has existed for several years. Three years ago, Compassus took on the role of overseeing staff and the home-based care services they provide. The JV […]

Executive Shifts at Amedisys, AMOREM, VITAS; Compassus, Hospice of the Chesapeake Appoint New Clinical Leaders

Amedisys’ New Chief Accounting Officer The forthcoming acquisition of Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum has sparked executive shifts. The home health and hospice provider recently announced the leadership changes in a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). Allyson Guidroz was recently appointed as its chief accounting […]

VBID Hospices Operate in a ‘Teeter-Totter’ Landscape

Evolving network adequacy requirements within the value-based insurance design (VBID) model demonstration have some hospices concerned that Medicare Advantage payers may have narrowed views on reimbursement and access.  This year the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced changes to the VBID model that included modifications to network adequacy requirements for Medicare Advantage […]

Compassus’ Laura Templeton: Education, Better Reimbursement Needed to Foster Palliative Care Growth

Two barriers interfere with palliative care growth — identifying patients in need and a fragmented reimbursement system, according to Laura Templeton, COO and executive vice president at Compassus. As a nurse, Templeton has leveraged her clinical experiences to help navigate challenges that prevent patients from accessing care. She recently ascended to her current executive role […]

The Pandemic’s Lasting Hospice Referral Impacts

Pandemic-related headwinds that strained hospice referrals may have lingering impacts on how providers are approaching their community outreach and marketing efforts. Referrals from assisted living and skilled nursing facilities represent a large portion of hospice patients, along with hospital and health system referrals. Limited access to facility-based settings during the pandemic caused hospice referral volumes […]

Palliative Care’s Evolving Presence in VBID

Palliative care lacks a standardized definition within current value-based reimbursement systems, making it difficult to determine the full scope of services for seriously ill patients. Palliative care services are intended to address physical, psychosocial, social and spiritual needs of seriously ill individuals. However, the full breadth of interdisciplinary services involved in palliative care has yet […]