CHN Health Care Group’s Post

Attention all hospice care providers! The 2025 Hospice Medicare Final Rule has brought key changes that will impact your operations. Stay informed and ahead of the curve by checking out this Axxess blog post for a breakdown of the crucial updates. Click the link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/guNxuw9u #HospiceCare #MedicareChanges

Big changes could be on the horizon for hospice care with the introduction of the Hospice CARE Act. While the bill has a "long road ahead," it brings both challenges and opportunities for providers, Ethan McChesney, NPHI Policy Director shared with Hospice News. “The payment provisions alone would dramatically reshape a reimbursement model that providers have relied on for decades,” McChesney explains. Read more about what this could mean for the future of hospice care: https://lnkd.in/e6wJx2zh #HospiceCAREAct #HealthcareReform #HospiceInnovation

Quality improvement in the hospice benefit; great advantages of hospice Medicare benefits; more patient choices

Spot on. Not only does this healthcare option save money, but it allows individuals to live their lives in the manner of their choosing with less familial trauma. At Thanacare we are on a mission to help everyone gain easier access to completing their Advance Care Planning documents (power of attorney for healthcare/healthcare directives) with our unique portability and accessibility features. #advancecareplanning #healthcaredirectives

The future of hospice care is facing significant pressures, including regulatory changes and workforce challenges. As the demand for hospice services continues to grow, addressing these issues will be critical to ensuring quality care for patients and sustainability for providers. The road ahead may be complex, but with thoughtful planning and adaptation, the hospice sector can continue to meet the needs of patients with dignity and compassion. #HospiceCare #HealthcareChallenges #PatientCare #EvergreenForFounders

In this article co-authored by William A. Dombi, President and CEO of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, and Ben Marcantonio, Interim CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, they address the need to change how we approach end-of-life care in the United States. They argue that by shifting our conversations to focus on maximizing quality of life and time spent with loved ones, we can improve care and reduce wasteful spending. Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that the average cost of a Medicare hospital stay has risen significantly, contributing to the projected insolvency facing Medicare’s Hospital Trust Fund by 2031. Advocates and researchers suggest that earlier entry into hospice care could improve quality of life and reduce wasteful spending on unnecessary medical interventions. A study from NORC at the University of Chicago found that Medicare spending for beneficiaries who received hospice care was significantly lower compared to those who did not, even when patients were in hospice for longer periods. By encouraging conversations about end-of-life care and values, we can support patients' desires for a dignified end-of-life journey while also saving money in the healthcare system. #EndOfLifeCare #Medicare #HospiceCare Bill Dombi Bill Dombi https://lnkd.in/gSQZ5m8D

Hospice remains a leader in providing comprehensive care and resources at the end-of-life. The popularity of Medicare Advantage plans presents a critical challenge: integrating hospice care. Unlike traditional Medicare, these private plans currently lack the ability to offer hospice benefits directly. This poses a significant concern, as nearly half of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who pass away utilize hospice services. The current framework can lead to difficulties in navigating care transitions resulting in suffering for patients and their families. A recent experiment conducted by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) aimed to test integrating hospice benefits within Medicare Advantage plans. However, the program concluded prematurely due to operational complexities and limited participation from both insurers and hospices. Despite this setback, industry leaders remain committed to improving care coordination for patients at the end-of-life. Hospice providers may explore collaborative efforts with Medicare Advantage plans to expand access to Hospice care for enrollees, even while remaining outside the Medicare Advantage system itself. Both patients and providers require a more streamlined care transition process for care as one approaches the end-of-life. #Hospice #Health #Patient #Medicare

https://lnkd.in/e9KPZM_M This is a heads-up if you or a loved one is entering #hospice. CMS has extended the date for physicians to enroll per the #ACA. If the physician ordering hospice is not reimbursed for services because they or their administrators did not meet a deadline, you do not want to get any surprise billing, especially at the end of life. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed the implementation of hospice-certifying physician Medicare enrollment requirements. #CMS delayed the date to enroll in or opt out of #Medicare until June 3 for #physicians who certify hospice services. Stipulated in the 2024 hospice payment rule and part of the #AffordableCareAct, the requirement was previously slated to take effect May 1. Physicians who don’t comply with the requirement by the new effective date will not receive #reimbursement for submitted Medicare claims, CMS stated in an announcement. CMS clarified that the #requirement applies to hospice medical directors, physician members of the hospice interdisciplinary group, and patient-designated #attending physicians who certify patients’ #terminal condition under the Medicare hospice benefit. This also includes physicians and other providers billing MACs for hospice services. #endoflife #palliativecare #findyourwhy

Hospice Care Misuse? 🤔 Gentiva, the successor to Kindred at Home, has agreed to a $19.5M settlement addressing allegations of filing false claims and violating the False Claims Act. DOJ continues to crack down on misuse of Medicare funds. ⚖️ Learn more about the implications of this settlement and how it impacts the healthcare industry. #HealthCare #DOJ #MedicareFraud #HospiceCare #FalseClaimsAct #Whistleblower #Gentiva #Kindred 🔗 Read the full story. 

Because Axxess leads in everything care-at-home, this blog originated on April 10, 2024. If you missed it, I encourage you to click and read if you are a Hospice Provider. The Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) was created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify and monitor poor hospice performers. Hospices selected for the SFP will face increased oversight from CMS and potential termination from the Medicare program if no improvement is made while in the program. To help hospice providers navigate and understand this new regulatory landscape, Axxess created a one-page reference guide to highlight key points in the SFP and the ramifications for hospices selected to participate in the program. Zaundra E., Vice President of Hospice Professional Services at Axxess, created the guide and breaks down what providers can expect from the SFP. #AxxessEverywhere #hospice #CMS https://lnkd.in/g87n5bC4