Literature Review

Coming Soon: Vitas Healthcare in Marion County South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report, Ocala, FL; by cfelixcpa; 4/20/25 Florida is home to one of the country’s largest aging populations, with adults 65 and older making up 22 percent of its residents. As demand for hospice services rises statewide, VITAS Healthcare ... is expanding into Marion County. Beginning May 15, VITAS will accept patient referrals in the new service area. ... “Expanding into Marion County reflects VITAS’ ongoing commitment to improving access to high-quality hospice services for more Florida families,” said Angela Hamrick, vice president of operations.

3 major tactics used by hospice scammers Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/18/25 Among the numerous tactics that unscrupulous hospices use to commit fraud, three are rising to the forefront. Four states have garnered national attention as fraud hotbeds — Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. These regions have seen swarms of new hospices emerging and receiving Medicare dollars. Numerous reports of unethical or illegal practices have surfaced, particularly among these new companies. ... One common practice among them is to keep their patient census low to avoid regulators’ attention, Judy Lund Person, principal of the consulting firm Lund Person and Associates, ... Among these providers, three principal tactics are emerging, according to Sheila Clark, president and CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association. ...

Appropriate deprescribing and payment in hospice dementia careJAMA Internal Medicine; Nathan M. Stall, MD, PhD; Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH; Lona Mody, MD, MSc; 3/25People living with dementia are one of the largest growing users of hospice care in the US, with approximately 20% of enrollees having a terminal diagnosis of dementia. In the setting of advanced dementia specifically, guidelines recommend deprescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine as there is insufficient evidence for benefit, and there are risks of adverse events including bradycardia, falls, and gastrointestinal adverse effects. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services specifies that hospices are responsible for covering all medications under the Medicare Part A hospice benefit, but audits have revealed that millions of dollars of prescription drug costs are being inappropriately shifted to Medicare Part D. The study by Hunt et al occurs within a context of growing concerns about shifts in US hospice care where more than 70% of hospice agencies serving patients with terminal illness across all settings now operate on a for-profit basis, with increasing acquisition of hospices by private equity firms and publicly traded corporations. Compared with nonprofit hospices, for-profit hospices have more acute care utilization, provide less direct care, and have poorer caregiver-reported care experiences. For-profit hospices also enroll a higher proportion of persons living with dementia, which may relate to their lower acuity and longer stays, as well as more profitable margins under the per-beneficiary daily payment.

DOJ’s lawsuit against Amedisys, UnitedHealth Group set for mediation Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/14/25 The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit against Amedisys Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) will go to mediation on Aug. 18. The DOJ sued the two companies starting in November of last year to block the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum from acquiring Amedisys due to antitrust concerns. The case will now go to a mediation conference before a magistrate judge. ... DOJ’s chief concern is that the combination of the two companies would dampen competition in the hospice and home health space. Should the transaction proceed, Optum would control 30% or more of the home health or hospice services in eight states, according to the complaint. 

Conversations today to empower tomorrow: VITAS Healthcare elevates National Healthcare Decisions Day VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 4/7/25 Only one in three adults in the United States have a written advance directive, a document critical in providing guidance to medical teams regarding one’s end-of-life wishes. As a pioneer and national leader in hospice and palliative care, VITAS Healthcare advocates for National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) and advance care planning––regardless of a person’s age or health status....  On April 16, VITAS will host a free webinar, Advance Directives and Advanced Care Planning, exploring the history, application and types of advance directives. VITAS Regional Medical Director Heather Veeder, MD, will provide practical advice to help healthcare professionals engage in difficult but necessary conversations with patients and families/caregivers. [Continue reading ...]

St. Croix Hospice opens 10 new locations in first quarter 2025 The LaGrange Daily News, Oakdale, MN; PR Newswire; 4/1/25 St. Croix Hospice continued its growth in the first quarter of 2025 with the opening of 10 additional branches across five states. The new locations include:

VITAS Healthcare is first hospice organization to earn American Heart Association Heart Failure Certification across all 15 states and DC Florida News Guide, Miami, FL; Press Release; 3/18/25 ... VITAS has become the first nationwide hospice provider to earn the American Heart Association® Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure certification across all 15 states in which it operates. The certification applies to 56 unique VITAS service areas, including the District of Columbia. ... “Many patients with heart failure do not receive the hospice care that could significantly improve their final months of life,” said Joseph Shega, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer at VITAS. “This certification affirms our commitment to providing evidence-based hospice care that helps patients and families navigate advanced heart disease with dignity, comfort and the right level of support.”

How hospital merger oversight is shifting deal-making Modern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 3/12/25 Health systems are increasingly pursuing mergers and acquisitions in the South, a region where demand for care is growing and there are fewer regulatory barriers. More than a dozen states have passed laws over the past several years designed to increase oversight of healthcare transactions, but Southern states have largely stayed on the sidelines. As a result, deals involving hospitals are expected to pick up in the South, particularly in markets that feature growing populations, a high number of Medicaid patients and less stringent merger reviews, merger and acquisition advisers said. Potential Medicaid cuts could also drive up deal-making in the 16-state region spanning from West Virginia to Texas, as well as Washington, D.C., advisers said. 

Faith Home Health and Hospice continues HCH servicesThe Holton Recorder, Holton, KS; by Brian Sanders; 3/5/25 Last September, Holton Community Hospital announced that it would close its award-winning home health and hospice department by the end of the year. Enter Kansas City-based Faith Home Health and Hospice, which has been working with staff from the HCH home health and hospice department since November to ensure that those services continue for those in the Jackson County area who need them. Faith chief executive officer Bev Kimzey, noting that her firm is under contract with HCH to purchase the department, saw taking over management of the department and continuing those services in this area — especially with HCH’s home health and hospice staff intact — as “a win-win.”

Uplift Hospice acquires Star of Texas Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/5/25Uplift Hospice has acquired Star of Texas Hospice. Financial terms were undisclosed. The transaction will bring Uplift’s average daily census up to 450 across three states — Arizona, Nevada and Texas. The two organizations first connected to discuss a potential transaction through a mutual relationship with the M&A advisory firm Agenda Health, according to Uplift Hospice’s CEO Owen Lawrie.

Bristol Hospice launches new locations in 4 states Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/3/25 Bristol Hospice has unveiled de novos in Arizona, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. The move marks an important period of expansion in states with some of the largest aging populations pushing up demand for hospice. The hospice provider has plans to expand in Fort Worth, Texas in the “near future,” the organization stated in an announcement. “We are thrilled to announce that Bristol Hospice is now accepting patients in the following locations: Lubbock, Texas; Tacoma, Washington (Pierce County); Phoenix, Arizona; [and] Charleston, South Carolina,” the organization said in a social media post. 

Care America Home Care enhances access to compassionate hospice care in Irvine, CA East Coastsentinal, Irvine, CA; 2/28/25Care America Home Care, a trusted name in senior care, proudly announces its continued dedication to the Irvine community by expanding access to personalized hospice home care services. This initiative supports families navigating challenging times by providing compassionate and professional hospice support at home in Irvine, ensuring the highest standards of care and comfort. “At Care America Home Care, we understand families’ profound emotional and logistical challenges during end-of-life care. Our mission is to offer a reliable and comforting solution, enabling families to focus on cherishing their time together,” said Rina Boidon, the Founder and Co-Owner of Care America Home Care.