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All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News | Operations News | Financial.”



HHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds

04/23/25 at 03:00 AM

HHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds MSN; by Mary Helen Gillespie; 4/22/25 The Trump administration is proposing federal budget cuts to Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and seven additional elder health care safety net programs that assist older Americans. ... SHIP programs have been under the umbrella of the Health and Human Services agency Administration for Community Living. The pre-decisional budget lists funds for seven other ACL programs that would be eliminated are:

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American Oncology Network achieves success in first performance period of CMMI’s enhancing oncology model

04/23/25 at 03:00 AM

American Oncology Network achieves success in first performance period of CMMI’s enhancing oncology model Stock Titan, Globe Newswire, Fort Myers, FL; 4/22/25 American Oncology Network (AON), one of the nation’s fastest-growing community oncology networks, today announced strong results from the first performance period in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM). AON practices participating in the program—in collaboration with value-based cancer care enabler Thyme Care—achieved nearly $6M in cost savings for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). AON also earned a performance-based payment while improving patient experience and outcomes.

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Access to hospice and certain services under the hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease and beneficiaries with cancer

04/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Access to hospice and certain services under the hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease and beneficiaries with cancer MedPAC; by Kim Nueman, Grace Oh, and Nancy Ray; 4/11/25 [From MedPac Presentation Roadmap, Meetings held April 10 & 11, 2025]

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8 health system CEOs on the turbulence defining 2025

04/18/25 at 02:00 AM

8 health system CEOs on the turbulence defining 2025 Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch and Kristin Kuchno; 4/16/25 From capacity constraints to reimbursement pressures, health system CEOs are navigating a changing healthcare landscape. One of the top concerns in 2025 is the potential for Medicaid funding cuts. A recent report estimates hospitals could face a $31.9 billion loss in revenue if federal proposals to scale back Medicaid expansion move forward. CEOs from across the country — including safety-net systems, academic medical centers and expanding regional providers — recently shared how they are preparing for continued uncertainty and what strategies they are prioritizing in response.

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CMS drops 5 proposed payment rules for 2026: 25 things to know

04/15/25 at 02:00 AM

CMS drops 5 proposed payment rules for 2026: 25 things to knowBecker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 4/11/25 CMS has released proposed payment rules for inpatient and long-term care hospitals, hospices and inpatient rehabilitation, psychiatric and skilled nursing facilities in fiscal year 2026. Twenty-five things to know: ...

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National Alliance for Care at Home responds to the FY 2026 Hospice Proposed Rule

04/15/25 at 02:00 AM

National Alliance for Care at Home responds to the FY 2026 Hospice Proposed Rule National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandira, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/11/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement [Fri 4/11] in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Hospice Wage Index proposed rule, which proposes payment and regulatory updates under the Medicare hospice benefit. The proposed 2.4% payment update fails to adequately address the mounting financial pressures facing hospices nationwide. With escalating operational costs driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising expenses for supplies and services, the proposed payment increase would threaten the ability of hospices to sustainably provide quality end-of-life care. “The proposed payment update for FY 2026 falls short of what is needed to sustain high-quality hospice care,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. “Without meaningful adjustments, hospices across the country will face serious challenges—jeopardizing access to care for terminally ill patients and placing added strain on families already facing the unimaginable. ..."

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The cost of nurse turnover in 24 numbers | 2025

04/10/25 at 03:00 AM

The cost of nurse turnover in 24 numbers | 2025 Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 4/7/25 Nurse shortages and mounting labor costs are among health system CEOs’ top concerns, and a new survey puts numbers to the financial risks hospitals face from nurse vacancies and churn. The 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report features input from 450 hospitals in 37 states on registered nurse turnover, retention, vacancy rates, recruitment metrics and staffing strategies.  It found the average cost of turnover for one staff RN grew from January through December 2024 to $61,110, among other dollar figures and statistics that are helpful to understand the financial implications of one of healthcare’s most persistent labor disruptions. Here are 24 numbers that illustrate the cost of nurse turnover, according to the most recent edition of the report, which is available in full here. [Continue reading ...]

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Hospices ‘tapping brakes’ on M&A in uncertain economy

04/10/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospices ‘tapping brakes’ on M&A in uncertain economy Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/8/25 Predictions of a hospice M&A rebound have fizzled as a volatile regulatory and economic climate threatens to curb transaction activity in 2025 and beyond. ... 

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How this thrift shop helps Virginia families in their time of need: 'They’re good people here'

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

How this thrift shop helps Virginia families in their time of need: 'They’re good people here' CBS-6 News - Richmond, Petersburg, VA; by Wayne Covil; 3/31/25 The regulars who frequent Crater Community Hospice Thrift Shops were busy browsing for bargains on Monday. They know that some of the money they spend here goes back into their community. Crater Community Hospice runs the stores as a way for the nonprofit to raise much-needed funding. "The money we bring in to our stores goes directly to caring for our patients," Zach Holt, with Crater Community Hospice, said. "I don’t want to ever say no to a patient. I don’t want to ever say no to a patient’s need." Krystal Mansfield told CBS 6 there was a reason she chose to shop at Crater Community Hospice Thrift Shops. "[It] was a big part of my grandmother's end of time, and they took very good care of her in her last days," Mansfield said. ... Angie Dowdy shared a similar story. ... [Continue reading ...]

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Transforming healthcare: Hospice in the news, March 2025

04/03/25 at 02:00 AM

Transforming healthcare:  Hospice in the news, March 2025  Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); pod/videocast by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 4/2/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, Chris Comeaux and Dr. Cordt Kassner, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today and CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics, leverage their data and extensive experience to identify key Hospice headlines, articles, research, and social media posts that are driving change and transforming end-of-life care and healthcare in America. They share personal experiences with hospice care, emphasizing the importance of social work and discussing the challenges of healthcare reimbursement.  The conversation also touches on MedPAC recommendations, new social media trends, and highlights from recent research articles. 

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Medicare Administrative Contractors [MACs] did not consistently meet Medicare Cost Report Oversight Requirements

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicare Administrative Contractors [MACs] did not consistently meet Medicare Cost Report Oversight Requirements HHS-OIG; Issued on 3/18/25, posted on 3/19/25 ... What OIG Found: MACs did not consistently meet Medicare cost report oversight requirements.

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Health system CFOs fight for Medicaid on Capitol Hill

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Health system CFOs fight for Medicaid on Capitol Hill Becker's Hospital Reivew; by Alan Condon; 3/31/25 Multiple health system CFOs recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, advocating against proposed Medicaid cuts that could threaten access to care and lead to the closure of essential hospital services. Health system executives participating in these discussions included:

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Evaluation of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design model test: 2020 to 2023

03/31/25 at 02:00 AM

Evaluation of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design model test: 2020 to 2023  RAND Health Care, prepared for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Under Research, Measurement, Assessment, Design, and Analysis Contract Number 75FCMC19D0093, Order Number 75FCMC20F0001; by Christine Eibner, Dmitry Khodyakov, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Rebecca Anhang Price, Julia Bandini, Marika Booth, Lane F. Burgette, Christine Buttorff, Catherine C. Cohen, Stephanie Dellva, Michael Dworsky, Natalie C. Ernecoff, Alice Y. Kim, Julie Lai, Monique Martineau, Nabeel Qureshi, Afshin Rastegar, Max Rubinstein, Daniel Schwam, Joan M. Teno, Anagha Tolpadi, Shiyuan Zhang; March 2025 This report presents RAND researchers’ findings from their evaluation of the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model test for 2020 through 2023, initiated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center). The VBID Model allows participating MA parent organizations (POs) to offer supplemental benefits, financial and nonfinancial incentives to beneficiaries, hospice benefits (the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Palliative Care, Transitional Concurrent Care, and Hospice Supplemental Benefits), and Wellness and Health Care Planning through their MA plans.

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[Austria] Influence of prior knowledge and experience on willingness to pay for home hospice services: a contingent valuation study

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

[Austria] Influence of prior knowledge and experience on willingness to pay for home hospice services: a contingent valuation study International Journal of Health Economics and Management; Caroline Steigenberger, Andrea M Leiter, Uwe Siebert, Claudia Schusterschitz, Magdalena Flatscher-Thoeni; 3/25/25 Home hospice services contribute to dying in dignity by addressing medical and social needs at the end of life. ... We aim to quantify the benefits of home hospice services to society using society's monetary valuation and examine the influence of prior knowledge and experience on willingness to pay for home hospice services. A nationwide cross-sectional contingent valuation study was conducted in Austria. ... The two-part regression analysis showed a statistically significant positive impact on the probability of having a positive willingness to pay by prior knowledge of home hospice services, prior donations, and the wish of not dying alone. [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: Pair this research from Austria with today's USA post, "Medicare and 24-hour in-home hospice care: Is it covered?" Too often, we take for granted our Hospice Medicare payment system. Some choose to misuse it in ways that lead to fraud. This research reinforces openess to hospice services per "prior knowledge of home hospice services, prior donations, and the wish of not dying alone."

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Charting the path forward to Value-Based Care

03/26/25 at 03:00 AM

Charting the path forward to Value-Based Care Forbes; by David Snow, Jr.; 3/25/25 The U.S. healthcare system is at a crossroads, embarking on a crucial transformation in how care is financed. For decades, we've operated under a fee-for-service (FFS) model, which incentivizes service volume with little accountability for efficacy or costs. According to the Commonwealth Fund, this model contributes to poor healthcare access, lower care quality and lack of care continuity and is a factor behind the staggering per-capita healthcare costs in the U.S., which are the highest in the world. ... In recent years, we've seen a shift away from the FFS model to progressive value-based care (VBC) models that link provider payments to patient outcomes, care quality and cost efficiency. This is a fundamental overhaul of healthcare economics, and although it may be challenging and disruptive, I believe it's essential. [Continue reading ...]

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Trump’s first 60 days: The impact on the home health industry

03/24/25 at 03:00 AM

Trump’s first 60 days: The impact on the home health industry Home Health News; by Audrie Martin; 3/20/25 Tax, immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion policies are some of the top-of-mind regulatory concerns for home health agencies in 2025. The first 60 days of the Trump Administration and their impact on the home health care industry were highlighted during a webinar hosted by the Polsinelli Law Firm on Thursday. National Alliance for Care at Home CEO Steve Landers and Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) CEO Jason Lee joined representatives from Polsinelli to discuss potential Medicaid cuts, the importance of extending telehealth services, and the need for workforce expansion. The webinar also explored how executive orders and administrative actions are affecting home care and hospice services. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

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From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers

03/20/25 at 03:00 AM

From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers MedPage Today's KevinMD.com, and excerpt from Health Care Nation; by Tom Lawry; 3/15/25 Of all the lessons learned from fighting a pandemic, none was more frightening or important than discovering how dependent the system is on how we treat our doctors, nurses, and frontline caregivers.  They were already in short supply, with burnout on the rise, when the pandemic hit. As multiple waves of COVID-19 variants washed over us, frontline health workers stepped in at great risk and personal sacrifice to care for highly infectious patients. ... Some witnessed more deaths on a double shift than they did in a normal year. They delivered the bad news to families and managed end-of-life care. They were often the last face and warm voice a COVID-19 victim saw and heard. In the end, they not only saved lives but saved the system from total collapse. ... We called them heroes. And we promised to do better in how we treated them once the COVID-19 crisis passed. Promises made should be promises kept. While we continue to talk about workforce burnout using polite terms with concern in our voices, let us be clear: A system with a mission of healing continues to harm in record numbers the very people in short supply who are there to take care of the rest of us. ... [Click on the title's link for more.]

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More care doesn't equal happier patients in traditional Medicare

03/20/25 at 03:00 AM

More care doesn't equal happier patients in traditional Medicare American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC); by Maggie L. Shaw; 3/17/25 The extremes of health care contact days—having too few or more than average—among community-dwelling beneficiaries 65 years and older of traditional Medicare have been associated with unnecessary care, misdirected care coordination, and excessive care outside the home, according to new research published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine. Health care contact days are days spent receiving care outside of the home. ... “Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers could use contact days to evaluate interventions and reduce excess contact days for patients,” the authors conclude, “by avoiding unnecessary care, improving care coordination, and shifting care to the home.”

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The challenges ahead with Jeanne Chirico, HPCANYS President/CEO

03/20/25 at 02:00 AM

The challenges ahead with Jeanne Chiricohallenges ahead with Jeanne Chirico, HPCANYS President/CEO

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Oz does not rule out Medicaid cuts during Senate confirmation hearing

03/19/25 at 03:00 AM

Oz does not rule out Medicaid cuts during Senate confirmation hearing McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 3/14/25 Mehmet Oz, MD, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, did not give a direct answer when asked whether he was for or against Medicaid cuts Friday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. “I cherish Medicaid and I’ve worked within the Medicaid environment quite extensively practicing at Columbia University,” Oz said when asked by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) if he would oppose cuts to Medicaid. “I want to make sure that patients today and in the future have resources to protect them if they get ill. The way you protect Medicaid is by making sure it’s viable at every level, which includes having enough practitioners to afford the services, paying them enough to do what you request of them, and making sure that patients are able to actually use Medicaid.”

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MedPAC recommends Congress tie physician pay to inflation for 2026

03/19/25 at 03:00 AM

MedPAC recommends Congress tie physician pay to inflation for 2026 Healthcare Dive; by Susanna Vogel; 3/17/25 Dive Brief:

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Medicaid’s role in health and in the health care landscape: LDI expert insights and key takeaways from select publications

03/19/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicaid’s role in health and in the health care landscape: LDI expert insights and key takeaways from select publications Penn LDI - Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, PA; by Julia Hinckley, JD; 3/17/25... Medicaid accounts for one-fifth of U.S. health care spending and covers more than a quarter of Americans. LDI researchers have examined the services it provides in supporting aging adults, people with disabilities, and children, as well as its role in health crises such as chronic disease and suicide. ... Below are select key findings from recent peer-reviewed research, along with expert insights for policymakers considering changes to Medicaid funding in the federal budget.

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Medicare Payment Advisory Commission [MedPAC] releases report to Congress on Medicare Payment Policy

03/18/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission [MedPAC] releases report to Congress on Medicare Payment Policy 2025 report on Medicare payment policy Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Washington, DC; News Release, contact Stephanie Cameron; 3/13/25Today [3/13/25], the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) eleases its March 2025 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy. The report presents MedPAC’s recommendations for updating provider payment rates in fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare for 2026, providing additional resources to acute care hospitals and clinicians who furnish care to Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes, and eliminating certain Medicare coverage limits on stays in freestanding inpatient psychiatric facilities. The report reviews the status of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), the Medicare Advantage (MA) program (Medicare Part C), and the Part D prescription drug program (Medicare Part D). ... Fee-for-service payment rate update recommendations. ... MedPAC recommends ... payment reductions relative to current law for hospice providers, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.  [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

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Pharmacies of the future: 4 keys to reinvention

03/18/25 at 03:00 AM

Pharmacies of the future: 4 keys to reinventionForbes; by Jenn Vande Zande; 3/11/25... “To continue to meet growing patient needs, we must evolve how community pharmacy works and, most importantly, how we support our pharmacy teams to create a sustainable future for community pharmacy,” Prem Shah, president of pharmacy and consumer wellness at CVS Health, said, referring to findings from the company’s Rx Report from January 2024. Based on those findings, CVS says there’s a “critical need for sustainable and scalable industry-wide change, such as operational improvements and digital innovations to better support pharmacy teams behind the counter.” Here are four focus areas for pharmacies to bring about that change:

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Less wealth at death linked to more end-of-life symptoms

03/18/25 at 02:30 AM

Less wealth at death linked to more end-of-life symptoms McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 3/10/25 Older people with less wealth showed a higher burden of symptoms when they approached the end of their lives compared with those who had more wealth, a study found. The report was published in JAMA Network Open on March 6. Investigators looked at data from 8,976 older adults. The team evaluated 12 end-of-life symptoms including difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting, low appetite, difficulty controlling arms and legs, depression, and severe fatigue or exhaustion.Then they correlated symptoms to individuals’ wealth. Wealth was broken into three categories: low wealth was having less than $6,000; medium wealth was having between $6,000 and $120,000; and high wealth was considered having more than $120,000 at the time of death. Of respondents, 22.5% had low wealth, 50.5% had medium wealth and 27.1% had higher wealth. People who had less wealth were more likely to have a higher burden of symptoms compared to those who had more money. Functional impairment, multimorbidity and dementia were factors that affected the association, data revealed.Editor's note: Click here for this important JAMA article, posted in our Saturday Research issue 3/15/25, "Wealth disparities in end-of-life symptom burden among older adults."

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