Hospice care is built on compassion, dignity, and support for patients and families during life’s most meaningful moments. This section of our blog is dedicated to sharing insights, stories, and resources that shine a light on hospice. From practical guidance to reflections from the field, we aim to honor the work of caregivers and provide knowledge that helps bring comfort and clarity to those they serve.
Hospice News and Articles
Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings can serve not only as a clinical forum, but also as a data-driven system. Effective IDGs align patient goals, compliance requirements, and team execution. Below ...
In hospice, care coordination is more than a clinical priority. It directly affects regulatory compliance, reimbursement, patient satisfaction, and staff retention. Well-coordinated teams respond fast...
CMS has issued the FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and HQRP Final Rule, which contains a 2.6 percent payment rate update, a higher aggregate cap, clarifications on admission and fac...
With many options available, choosing the right hospice EMR solution requires careful evaluation. Below are the most important factors to consider when selecting hospice software, followed by informat...
While artificial intelligence (AI) promises transformational efficiencies across clinical documentation, operational workflows, billing, and quality monitoring, many hospices struggle to translate pot...
Compassionate care goes beyond just managing physical symptoms. It entails preserving dignity, being truly present, and meeting emotional, spiritual, and relational needs at life’s end. Families rem...
While the demand for hospice care continues to rise due to an aging population and increasing awareness of hospice services, hospice organizations still face challenges retaining skilled and compassio...
With limited staff and resources, small agencies often face unique challenges. These challenges include maintaining compliance, documenting care accurately, coordinating interdisciplinary teams, and b...
Hospice providers face unique challenges when it comes to funding the delivery of end-of-life care. The hospice reimbursement model has not changed much over decades, however mounting pressure for val...
The role of Medicare Advantage plans has grown significantly, impacting various aspects of care delivery. Understanding the nuances of these plans will have increasing importance to hospice providers ...
Medicare is officially retiring the Hospice Item Set (HIS) and replacing it with the new Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment. This transition marks one of the most significant re...
CMS requires hospice providers to submit Medicare Cost Reports to their MAC each year. Failure to comply with cost reporting requirements can result in suspension of payments, interest penalties, or p...
Effective policies and procedures form the backbone of high-performing hospice organizations. They provide the framework for regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and quality patient care. Wi...
As hospice care has evolved, so has a regulatory framework to ensure that hospice services meet certain standards. Two key components of this framework are the Conditions of Participation (CoP) and th...
Most industry experts recognize the value of partnerships between private-duty home care agencies and hospice companies. The collaboration makes business sense and also improves quality of life and pa...
Hospice care agencies operate in a unique and challenging financial environment. Providing quality care for patients and families while maintaining financial stability requires strategic planning and ...
Hospices, like other providers, face ongoing challenges due to staffing shortages, which can impact the quality of care they are able to provide. An aging U.S. population and the imminent retirement o...
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) takes a systematic and ongoing approach to improving the quality of services an organization provides. CQI recognizes quality as an ongoing pursuit, not a point i...
Value-based care (VBC) seeks to improve health outcomes while controlling costs, rewarding providers for the quality of care they deliver, rather than quantity. Various models have emerged under the V...
In the evolving U.S. healthcare landscape, hospice stands out as a compassionate option for patients facing terminal illness and their families. With increasing demand for end-of-life services, hospic...
According to estimates, 1 out of 5 healthcare organizations have adopted AI solutions. Hospice agencies have also begun to incorporate AI into their clinical and administrative operations to enhance t...
The Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE), submitted by Rep. Blumenauer, proposes the most substantial changes to the Medicare hospice benefit in decades. The propose...
The changes found in the 2025 Hospice Final Rule go into effect on October 1, 2024, unless otherwise specified. In addition to updating hospice reimbursement rates, it brings about several changes rel...
A budget serves as a financial plan that supports a hospice agency’s goals and objectives as outlined in the strategic plan. Budgets ensure that financial resources are allocated in a way that align...
