Inside Hospice Organizations’ Special Focus Program Lawsuit Against HHS

The crux of a lawsuit filed by hospice organizations against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday is the criteria that the agency uses to select hospices for the new Special Focus Program (SFP). A group of providers and state associations are plaintiffs in the suit, including Texas Association for Home […]

Hospice Organizations File Lawsuit to Halt Special Focus Program

A group of hospice providers and state associations have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the implementation of the Special Focus Program (SFP). The organizations filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas-Houston Division. The plaintiffs include: Texas Association for Home […]

Unity Hospice and Palliative Care Expands General Inpatient Care

Unity Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Houston has unveiled a five-year general inpatient (GIP) service agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health. The hospice will provide GIP care across the health system’s four hospitals. UTMB Health’s service region includes 10 cities in Texas. Among the driving forces behind the service agreement […]

Preventing Burnout Among Palliative Care Employees

The emotional toll of caring for the seriously ill contributes to high rates of burnout among palliative care workers. Burnout is a state of complete mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. Symptoms of burnout can include depression, compassion fatigue, stress and anxiety, and apathy, both in general life and towards work tasks. For palliative care clinicians, […]

Podcast #22: Dr. Hanh Trinh, MD, Butterfly Team Physician and Education Liaison at Houston Hospice, and Monica Hampton

The 22nd episode of the Elevate podcast is now available! Hospice News sits down with Dr. Hanh Trinh, MD, Butterfly Team Physician and Education Liaison at Houston Hospice and Monica Hampton, whose son, Jake, passed away from Hunter syndrome at the age of 17, to talk about pediatric hospice care. Apple PodcastsSoundcloud

Compassus Makes Moves in C-Suite; Workforce Retention at Core of AccentCare’s Leadership Change

New COO Takes Helm at Compassus Laura Templeton has risen through the ranks at Compassus, recently becoming its new COO and executive vice president. Since joining the company in 2012, Templeton has served as senior vice president and chief of clinical operations. In the midst of a worsening industry-wide staffing shortage, Templeton was charged with […]

Hospices Call for Higher Payment to Offset Minimum Wage Hikes Amid Staff Shortage

While hospices have been focusing efforts to recruit, retain and rebuild their ranks during a financially choppy time, some providers are furrowing their brows over minimum wage increases in the absence of a corresponding raise to Medicare reimbursement.  While federal efforts to boost the minimum wage have stagnated for the time being, action is underway […]

Houston Hospice Mentors Regional Providers on Care for Veterans

Houston Hospice has augmented its veteran’s program, which is designed to address the specific end-of-life and serious illness needs of those who have served in the Armed Forces. The hospice, which launched veteran-specific services in 2014, now serves as a mentor to other providers seeking to improve their own programs for current and former military […]