Fighting ‘phantoms’: How fraud skews competition in the hospice market

Fighting ‘phantoms’: How fraud skews competition in the hospice market 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/26/24 
Fraudulent operators’ marketing strategies are morphing the competitive landscape, making it difficult for legitimate hospice providers to maintain visibility among patients and families. A mounting concern is that fraudsters stepping into the hospice industry have been implementing marketing and outreach practices that at times mirror strategies utilized by quality providers, according to Jeanne Chirico, president and CEO of the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS). This makes it difficult for referrals, patients and their families to discern the best end-of-life care option. Another significant concern is that the fraudulent actors may have deeper pockets compared to smaller or nonprofit hospices, allowing them to invest more heavily and saturate the market with their messaging.