Hosparus Acquires Baptist Health Deaconess Hospice

Hosparus Health has acquired Baptist Health Deaconess Hospice in Madisonville, Kentucky, for an undisclosed sum. The organization is a service of Baptist Health Deaconess health system. Founded in 1978, Hosparus Health’s 600 employees and 500 volunteers provide care for more than 10,000 patients annually, including hospice, medical care, palliative medicine, mental health and bereavement services. […]

Palliative Care the Next Generation: How the Service May Grow and Evolve

Based on current trends, risk-based payment systems will likely shape the future of palliative care. The palliative care market is projected to swell during the next decade. However, no standardized definition exists for “palliative care.” Providers use a range of approaches to providing the service, from consults with advance care planning to short-term transitional care […]

Hospice Length of Stay: Balancing Patient Needs Against Regulatory Compliance

Though evidence shows that longer hospice stays reduce costs, providers are still walking a regulatory tightrope. On one hand, longer hospice stays can lead to improved patient and family satisfaction and greater cost saving opportunities. On the other hand, regulators often treat stays longer than six months or frequent recertifications to be red flags that […]

4 Ways Hospices Are Pursuing Growth in 2023

Hospices are blazing trails toward growth, each provider with its own range of strategies. In 2023, the focus for many is to not only expand their core business but to spread further into the care continuum. Others are traveling a more traditional route, through de novos and acquisitions, though some are modifying their approaches in […]

Why Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living Operators Invest in Home-Based Hospice Programs

Offering hospice can be a game changer for skilled nursing and assisted living operators looking to stand out from competitors and improve patient reach.  Home-based care, including hospice, has become an increasingly attractive space for facility-based health care providers of all walks. Assisted living and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have been joining the mix, taking […]

Hosparus Applies for PACE License, Expands Hospital Partnerships

Kentucky-based Hosparus Health is poised for expansion — through joint ventures, new investments in its palliative care program and the forthcoming launch of a PACE center. The nonprofit hospice provider’s subsidiary — Care Guide Partners — has applied to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a PACE license, according to CEO […]

Hosparus Cuts Ribbon on $1.7M Community Center

Hosparus Health has cut the ribbon on a $1.7 million Community Center in Campbellsville, Kentucky, expanding its clinical service area and the range of services available to that community. Hosparus Health funded the project in part through its $500,000 People of Compassion comprehensive fundraising campaign. This extends the nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider’s Green […]

C-Suite Shake Ups at Pennant Group; Financial, Legal Leadership Moves at Choice Health at Home, Hosparus

Pennant Group reorganizes its executive team The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG) recently began the hunt to fill CFO and chief investment officer roles. This follows the recent announcement that Derek Bunker has resigned as Pennant’s chief investment officer, executive vice president and corporate secretary, effective Dec. 31, 2022. “On behalf of the Pennant team, […]

New Hospice Facilities Launch Ahead While Others Halt

New hospice facilities and grief centers are cropping up across the country, while a California inpatient facility is reopening following a temporary closure due to the pandemic.  Meanwhile, construction of a hospice house in Maryland has ground to a halt. COVID-19, along with the current economic environment, have adversely affected the sustainability of these facilities. […]

Hospices Building Value-Based Avenues to Palliative Care

Value-based payment models are among the factors spurring rising interest in palliative care among hospices. These models present new avenues towards palliative care reimbursement, along with risks. As the payment landscape evolves, understanding payer priorities will be key for hospices weighing the risks and opportunities in palliative care. Hospices have increasingly recognized value-based models as […]