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All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News | Operations News | Financial.”
How sales and marketing compensation can get hospices into hot water
03/29/24 at 03:00 AMHow sales and marketing compensation can get hospices into hot waterHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 3/27/24Regulators are taking a closer look at how hospices pay their marketing and outreach workforces to curb fraudulent activity tied to referral streams. Federal and state regulatory agencies have systems in place to detect fraud, waste and abuse in hospice, and some are honing on oversight of sales, marketing and outreach staff payment arrangements, according to Ellen Persons, shareholder at Polsinelli Law Firm.
Home care providers’ creative benefit packages are paying off
03/29/24 at 03:00 AMHome care providers’ creative benefit packages are paying off Home Health Care News, by Joyce Famakinwa; 3/26/24 ... Amid a persistently challenging labor market, home care companies are still constantly working on configuring the best possible employee benefits package for caregivers. Companies like Right at Home San Gabriel Valley, Devoted Guardians and Family Tree Private Care have emerged as standouts when it comes to crafting impressive benefits packages. ...
Medicare, Medicaid made $100B in improper payments in 2023
03/29/24 at 03:00 AMMedicare, Medicaid made $100B in improper payments in 2023 Becker's Hospital Review - Legal & Regulatory Issues, by Andrew Cass; 3/27/24 The federal government reported an estimated $235.8 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2023, with more than $100 billion coming from Medicare and Medicaid, according to a March 26 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The $235.8 billion in improper payments reported by 14 agencies across 71 programs is a decrease from the $247 billion reported in 2022, but the figure remains higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to the report.
ND HHS launches program for relatives providing care
03/27/24 at 03:30 AM[Pediatrics] North Dakota Health and Human Services announces new pilot program CBS KX News, by Nathaniel House; 3/26/24 North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that family members who provide extraordinary care to either a child or adult enrolled in an eligible North Dakota (ND) Medicaid 1915(c) waiver may receive payments from the state through the new Family Paid Caregiver pilot program. State funding for the pilot program was approved from the passage of Senate Bill 2276 during the 2023 legislative session. Eligible ND Medicaid 1915(c) waivers include the Autism Spectrum Disorder Birth Through 17 Waiver, Children with Medically Fragile Needs Home and Community-Based Services Waiver, Children’s Hospice Home and Community-Based Services Waiver and the Traditional Individual with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services Waiver.
Nearly half of health systems are considering dropping Medicare Advantage plans
03/27/24 at 03:00 AMNearly half of health systems are considering dropping Medicare Advantage plans Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Andrew Cass; 3/22/24 ... "HFMA Health System CFO Pain Points Study 2024" is based on a survey of 135 health system CFOs conducted in January. According to the report, 16% of health systems are planning to stop accepting one or more Medicare Advantage plans in the next two years. Another 45% said they are considering the same but have not made a final decision.
The Hospice Special Focus Program: What it is & why it is important
03/27/24 at 02:00 AMThe Hospice Special Focus Program: What it is & why it is importantFORV/S, by Angela Huff; 3/25/24 The CMS Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) aims to shed light on poorly performing hospices. CMS has publicly stated it is looking closely at the hospice industry due to increasing concerns regarding fraud, waste, and abuse. The Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) is a new CMS program that identifies poor-performing hospices, takes action to inform the public, and engages those hospices to either improve their performance or terminate the hospice from the Medicare program.
Is cybersecurity spending too low to prevent another Change breach?
03/22/24 at 03:00 AMIs cybersecurity spending too low to prevent another Change breach? Modern Healthcare, by Brock E.W. Turner; 3/19/24 On Feb. 21, Change Healthcare, which processes 15 billion transactions a year, suffered a ransomware attack that has caused ripple effects throughout the healthcare system, hampering operations and finances for hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, insurers and patients. Cybersecurity professionals are sounding the alarm on future attacks if healthcare organizations don't start putting more financial resources into protecting their data.
Insurer responses to Change outage fail to impress provider
03/21/24 at 03:00 AMInsurer responses to Change outage fail to impress provider Modern Healthcare, by Nona Tepper and Lauren Berryman; 3/18/24Insurers have modified claims and payment operations amid the Change Healthcare network outage, but providers contend the moves are not enough to address their financial challenges.
Care coordination, quality data crucial to hospice referral growth
03/20/24 at 03:00 AMCare coordination, quality data crucial to hospice referral growthHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 3/18/24Care coordination and quality data will be engines for hospice referral growth. Hospices saw census volumes drop during the COVID-19 public health emergency as facilities nationwide restricted access to patients amid mandated state closures. Providers often turned to electronic communications to reach patients in facility- and community-based settings alike. Adaptability has been among the keys to coping with the pandemic’s lingering punches in referral streams, according to Craig Dresang, CEO of California-based YoloCares. As end-of-life care received a spotlight during a global pandemic, the historical viewpoints around hospice care delivery have been undergoing a “fundamental shift,” Dresang said.
CMS.gov: ACO Primary Care Flex Model
03/20/24 at 03:00 AMCMS.gov: ACO Primary Care Flex ModelCMS.gov; 3/19/24The ACO Primary Care Flex Model (ACO PC Flex Model) is a voluntary model that will focus on primary care delivery in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program). It will test how prospective payments and increased funding for primary care in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) impact health outcomes, quality, and costs of care. The flexible payment design will empower participating ACOs and their primary care providers to use more innovative, team-based, person-centered and proactive approaches to care. The model, which starts January 1, 2025, aims to grow participation in ACOs and the Shared Savings Program and increase the number of people with Medicare in an accountable care relationship.
Accountable Care Organization leader perspectives on the Medicare shared savings program - A qualitative study
03/19/24 at 03:00 AMAccountable Care Organization leader perspectives on the Medicare shared savings program - A qualitative study
Private equity sets sights on home care, hospice, new report finds
03/15/24 at 03:00 AMPrivate equity sets sights on home care, hospice, new report findsMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/14/24The home care segment increasingly has become an attractive target for private equity buyers, particularly personal care and hospice, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit financial watchdog organization.
A fond farewell: Musings on the end of the Medicare Advantage Hospice Carve-In Demonstration
03/15/24 at 01:00 AMA fond farewell: Musings on the end of the Medicare Advantage Hospice Carve-In Demonstration Husch Blackwell, podcast with Meg Pekarske and Chris Comeaux; 3/14/24It came as a surprise to our team when we learned that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was ending the hospice component of Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) on December 31, 2024. Upon learning this, Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske contacted Chris Comeaux, the president and CEO of Teleios Collaborative Network, to see if he wanted to share his thoughts on this unexpected turn of events and what may be on the horizon. This is a forward-looking conversation where we explore how the lessons learned can galvanize new advocacy on the best ways to care for patients with advanced illnesses.
Home Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings
03/14/24 at 03:00 AMHome Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 3/12/24 The pricing increases in home care have again outpaced other long-term care sectors, according to Genworth’s annual cost of care report.
CMS Statement on continued action to respond to the cyberattack on change healthcare
03/14/24 at 02:00 AMCMS Statement on continued action to respond to the cyberattack on change healthcareCMS.gov Press Release; 3/9/24 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing to monitor and assess the impact that the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Change Healthcare has had on all provider and supplier types. Today, CMS is announcing that, in addition to considering applications for accelerated payments for Medicare Part A providers, we will also be considering applications for advance payments for Part B suppliers.
CMS hears you, hospice providers
03/14/24 at 02:00 AMCMS hears you, hospice providersMcKnights Home Care, by Liza Berger; 3/8/24 Rarely does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services succeed in shocking us. The large bureaucracy, which is not exactly known for its nimbleness, managed to do so this week when it abruptly cancelled the hospice component of the Value-Based Insurance Design Model. ... For those who wonder whether advocacy works, I’d chalk this up to a win for providers — and a clear example of advocacy in action.
NHPCO and We Honor Veterans welcome CMS clarification regarding Medicare Hospice Benefit for dually eligible veterans
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMNHPCO and We Honor Veterans welcome CMS clarification regarding Medicare Hospice Benefit for dually eligible veterans NHPCO Press Release; 3/11/24 The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its We Honor Veterans (WHV) program responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) clarification on concurrent care eligibility for Veteran beneficiaries. Under Change Request 13523 issued by CMS on February 22, 2024, the Medicare Benefit Manual is updated to clarify that a Veteran beneficiary who elects hospice services under the Medicare benefit may still receive services that are not included on the hospice plan of care and are furnished and paid under the beneficiary’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, in addition to hospice services.
Hospice provider experience underscores urgency of program integrity efforts
03/13/24 at 02:00 AMHospice provider experience underscores urgency of program integrity efforts: Findings reveal current audit process' shortcomings HomeCare News; 3/12/24 Following a series of meetings with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Members of Congress on efforts to improve and protect hospice program integrity, four national hospice organizations—LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)—released findings of a hospice provider survey that the organizations say underscores the urgency and need for CMS and Congress to act.
Smaller wage increases predicted for 2024: survey
03/12/24 at 03:00 AMSmaller wage increases predicted for 2024: surveyMcKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 3/8/24Wage increases for senior living and care employees are predicted to dip from 4.43% in 2023 to 3.64% this year, according to responses to a newly released Ziegler CFO Hotline survey. The news comes as providers continue to be challenged in recruiting and retaining workers, with compensation as one strategy.
Nursing homes bury 63 percent of profits in related-party tunnels, but not all play the game: study
03/11/24 at 03:00 AMNursing homes bury 63 percent of profits in related-party tunnels, but not all play the game: study McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 3/8/24 As much as 63% of nursing home profits in Illinois were hidden from state regulators using related party transactions in 2019, according to the results of a new study from UCLA and Lehigh University researchers. Those results are likely indicative of a nationwide trend that has continued through the pandemic and into 2024, experts told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Thursday.
CMS to end Hospice MA Carve-In: Insights for home-based care providers
03/11/24 at 02:00 AMCMS to end Hospice MA Carve-In: Insights for home-based care providers Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 3/7/24Grand opening, grand closing. Hospice providers began to work with Medicare Advantage (MA) via the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) demonstration in 2021. At the end of 2024, the “hospice carve-in” model will cease. ... In this week’s exclusive, members-only HHCN+ Update, I dive into what CMS’ ditching of the hospice carve-in means for home health and hospice providers generally. I’ll also get into what it may mean for that space between home-based care providers and MA plans moving forward.
Health systems invest in productivity
03/08/24 at 03:00 AMHealth systems invest in productivity Becker's Hospital Review, by Laura Dyrda; 3/6/24 Productivity is a buzzword for most workplaces today, and healthcare is no different. U.S. productivity measures showed big increases for the first time in years, according to a report in The New York Times, as organizations leverage artificial intelligence and aim to do more with less. For [health systems], many experiencing staffing shortages and tight margins, developing a culture of increased productivity is imperative.
Lamont negotiates big pay hike for CT home health aides
03/08/24 at 03:00 AMLamont negotiates big pay hike for CT home health aides: Wages would rise nearly 26% by 2025-25 to $23 per hour CT Mirror, by Keith M. Phaneuf; 3/5/24 Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut’s largest health care workers union announced a tentative three-year contract Tuesday that would boost minimum wages for home health aides by 26% to $23 per hour by the 2025-26 fiscal year. But the package, which also would provide longevity bonuses, expand paid time off and reduce health insurance costs for an industry long seeking a major compensation adjustment, puts the General Assembly in a quandary.
House-passed funding bill makes Medicare hospice benefit a ‘piggybank,’ provider groups argue
03/08/24 at 03:00 AMHouse-passed funding bill makes Medicare hospice benefit a ‘piggybank,’ provider groups argue McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/7/24 To keep the government open in fiscal year 2024, hospice partially may be bankrolling it — and providers are not pleased about this prospect. The House late Wednesday passed a newly released appropriations bill that includes an extension of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act). This act which would effectively allow the Medicare hospice benefit to act as a pay-for for nonhospice legislative priorities.
UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna continue to outgain peers in Medicare Advantage
03/08/24 at 03:00 AMUnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna continue to outgain peers in Medicare Advantage Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 3/6/24In 2023, Medicare Advantage (MA) plan members represented more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries for the first time. In 2024, while penetration continues, there are other trends within MA that home-based care providers should be paying attention to. ... A few of the top companies continue to gain market share. Specifically, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) – through Aetna – continue to outpace competitors.