Hospice programs and SNFs must immediately implement a strategy to develop and market a strong, strategic nursing home/hospice partnership with hospitals, ACOs, MCOs, etc.
Hospice care becoming costlier, less aggressive, study finds
By
John Hall
May 08, 2015
Brown researchers examined the change in last-year-of-life Medicare expenditures during the most recent expansion of the program that began in 2004 and continued through 2009.
CMS plan would hike hospice rates in 2016
By
John Hall
May 06, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to raise hospice payment rates by nearly $200 million, or 2%, in fiscal year 2016. They come under a sweeping proposal establishing payment tiers based...
A good book’s unintended lesson and tears for a great friend
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 27, 2015
One of the best signs of a good book is its unplanned lessons. While its title might profess how to fix this or do better at that, a high-quality book also will lead the reader to enlightenment for reasons...
Connecting the hospice compliance dots
By
Debbie Newsholme, CCEP, CHC
Mar 23, 2015
If someone asked you if your hospice was compliant with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Office of Inspector General’s Effective Compliance Program Guidance for Hospice, what would you tell them?
Complaint by whistleblowers will cost hospice $4 million
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 05, 2015
A hospice company that hired medical directors with close ties to nursing homes to better pursue allegedly fraudulent practices has agreed to a $4 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department.
Hospice pays $6.5 million fine to settle fraud case
By
John Hall
Feb 20, 2015
A New York hospice provider Wednesday agreed to pay approximately $6.5 million in fines to settle alleged false Medicare and Medicaid claims over a 16-month period.
Also in the news for Tuesday, February 10
Feb 10, 2015
Hospice company settles False Claims Act allegations for $4 million … Colorado says no to right-to-die legislation … NYT examines Obamacare’s issue for GOP … PA recovers $1.8 million...
Tomorrow’s nursing homes must integrate palliative care
Jan 09, 2015
Palliative care, a form of patient-centered care focused on quality of life for the seriously ill, should be the standard of practice for all elderly patients with complex illness in nursing homes.
Opportunity may be knocking, but many operators don’t want to answer the door
By
John O'Connor
Nov 07, 2014
If you are a long-term care operator, the latest report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization should leave you with mixed feelings.