Hospice operations are undergoing a metamorphosis in a new era of artificial intelligence as providers pursue greater patient satisfaction and clinical efficiency. The nation’s growing aging population is swelling during a time of prolific health care workforce shortages. The issue is driving hospices to more closely examine the outlook of AI innovation, according to Matt […]
Today’s hospice landscape is reaching a pivotal point of evolutionary growth that has come with increased oversight as regulators seek to curb fraudulent activity in the space, according to Bill Dombi, senior counsel for the law firm Arnall Golden Gregory (AGG). Dombi also recently joined New Day Healthcare LLC’s board of advisors. He previously served […]
Hospices coast-to-coast have undergone leadership transitions, including changes in legal executives and a slew of newly appointed CEOs, among other roles in the industry. Former NAHC President Joins New Day Healthcare, Law Firm Bill Dombi has recently stepped into two new roles following his retirement as president of the National Association for Home Care & […]
Taking employee concerns seriously about patient eligibility and other issues can help prevent hospices from becoming involved in a False Claims Act case. The overwhelming majority of False Claims Act cases involve qui tam whistleblowers, usually a current or former employee who observed alleged malfeasance or errors. In a qui tam action, a whistleblower, called […]
Palliative care clinicians in health systems can apply research to lobby administrators for additional resources. In doing so, they may get a profile boost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative care’s reputation grew during the pandemic, with more patients and health care organizations recognizing its benefits and value. Stakeholders can leverage this in discussions with […]
U.S. health care is moving steadily towards value-based reimbursement, and having a robust palliative care program can help hospices ensure they are not left behind. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working to ensure that 100% of Medicare beneficiaries are aligned with a risk-based payment model by 2030. This can include […]
Building an effective compliance program depends heavily on dedicated leadership, open lines of communication and accountability, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG). In addition to conducting audits and investigations, OIG offers guidance to health care organizations as to how they can develop a compliance program […]
The presence of an embedded palliative care practitioner in the emergency department can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. A pilot program at the Michigan-based Corewell Health system in which a palliative physician was embedded in the ED effectively reduced inpatient mortality, readmissions, intensive care unit utilization and the total cost of care, while […]
While some palliative care programs mirror the hospice model, more operators are working to tailor their services to patients’ specific needs, with varying intensity. This is increasingly important as payment shifts towards value-based payment models in which demonstrating cost savings is crucial to success. Providers need to demonstrate strong performance on quality scores as well […]
Errors or other inconsistencies with the payment cap can have significant consequences for providers, and sales and marketing staff can help hospices achieve a healthy balance. The cap is designed to prevent overuse of hospice, put controls on Medicare spending and foster greater access to care among patients. For Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S. Centers […]
