HOPE Tool’s Range of ‘Huge Impacts’ on Hospice Workforce

Hospices are preparing for an onslaught of potential operational impacts with the forthcoming implementation of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool. The agency’s 2025 final rule announced that the HOPE tool will take effect in October 2025, and will replace the Hospice Item Set […]

‘Disturbing’ Outlook: Hospices’ Top Regulatory Concerns in 2025

Telehealth policies and program integrity concerns represent two of the leading regulatory issues on hospices’ radar this year. Regulatory changes and increasing oversight were the second-most cited concerns among nearly a quarter (21%) of 112 hospice professionals who participated in this year’s Outlook Survey by Hospice News and Homecare Homebase. Challenges around staffing and improved […]

Staff Education an Anchor Amid Widespread Hospice Audits

Hospices need a three-pronged approach to prepare for, respond to and appeal audits as more providers come under a wider regulatory microscope. A wide swath of auditing activity has ramped up in the hospice space as regulators seek to improve program integrity and quality oversight. More than half of hospice providers reported having multiple types […]