New HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Pledges Support for Quality End-of-Life Care

The recently newly confirmed U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has voiced his support for end-of-life care. Kennedy oversees all HHS programs, operating divisions and activities, including a nearly $2 trillion federal funding budget and a wide range of health and human service programs. HHS’ subagencies include the […]

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 […]

Top Hospice Trends to Watch in 2025

Hospice leaders will need to keep their eyes on five key trends in the new year when it comes to compliance, business operations and finance. Coupled with these trends is rising utilization. Hospice utilization reached 51.7% among Medicare decedents in 2023, up more than two percentage points from the prior year, according to recent data […]

Congress Extends Hospice Telehealth Flexibilities

Congress has extended the pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025. Early Saturday, legislators approved a continuing resolution to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. The bill contained language to extend the flexibilities, which includes the ability to perform face-to-face recertifications via telehealth. They were originally slated to expire on Dec. 31. The extension […]

‘Detrimental, Unnecessary Chaos’ Looms as Hospice Telehealth Waivers Expire

Some of the temporary telehealth flexibilities implemented during the pandemic will soon expire while others have been recently extended. These evolving regulations have hospices concerned that a lack of virtual access to their services could have significant impacts on quality and health disparities. Temporary telehealth flexibilities granted during the pandemic have opened up discussions around […]

Regulators Extend Some Telemedicine Flexibilities, Gauge Telehealth’s ‘New Path Forward’ in Hospice

Regulators recently extended certain temporary telemedicine waivers granted during the pandemic, with some flexibilities now sunsetting in 2025 rather than the end of this year. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced the extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications until […]

Hospices Face ‘Interesting Unknowns’ in Wake of Presidential Election

Hospices are facing a sea of uncertainties in the wake of Wednesday’s presidential election results. Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th president of the United States. The former president received the majority of popular and electoral votes over Vice President Kamala Harris. Hospice and home health providers will need to work with policymakers […]

The Hospice CARE Act’s Potential to ‘Dramatically Reshape’ End-of-Life Care Delivery

Hospice providers and stakeholders are carefully examining the proposed changes included in the recently introduced Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act as the bill begins its journey through the legislative process. Leading concerns in the industry include the bill’s suggested regulatory reforms to address program integrity in the hospice industry, along with […]

Coalition ‘Strongly Urges’ Congress to Immortalize Hospice Telehealth Flexibilities

A coalition of hospice, home health and palliative care organizations has called on Congress to extend temporary telehealth flexibilities implemented during the pandemic. Doing so would help ensure continued access to quality care among vulnerable patient populations, according to the organizations. A group of 39 organizations recently penned a letter urging congressional leaders to reconsider […]