Hospice of the Chesapeake Unfurls New Advanced Lung Care Program

Maryland-based Hospice of the Chesapeake has unveiled a new Advanced Lung Care Program. The hospice and palliative care provider developed the program in partnership with the American Lung Association and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI). The initiative is designed to provide specialized care for patients experiencing severe symptoms from chronic lung […]

New Law Extends Telehealth Flexibilities Another 6 Months

Pandemic-related telehealth flexibilities set to expire March 31 have recently been extended for another six months as federal lawmakers approve a continuing resolution to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. Congress has passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025 (FY2025), which allowed for continuation of several public health, Medicare and Medicaid authorities […]

NPHI CEO Tom Koutsoumpas: Modernize Hospice Benefit for Value-Based Future

The health care realm is changing, and hospices must change with it. This is the central thesis that underlies the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, which is currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding. NPHI seeks to put nonprofit hospice organizations at the forefront of innovation, the development of new care and […]

Hospice of the Chesapeake Unveils New Cardiac Care Program

Hospice of the Chesapeake has launched a new disease-specific hospice program designed to better support patients with cardiac conditions. The Maryland-based provider developed its new Advanced Cardiac Care Program in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI). “By offering heart disease patients the right educational […]

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 […]

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 […]

Hospice of the Chesapeake Launches New Dementia Program Amid ‘Urgent, Significant’ Need

Hospice of the Chesapeake has unfurled a new dementia care program aimed at providing improved emotional, educational and practical support for patients and their caregivers as their conditions progress. Demographic trends were among the key factors that drove the program forward, said Monica Escalante, chief strategy and information officer at Hospice of the Chesapeake. The […]