Research Institute Joins Alliance

by Rowan Report | Aug 21, 2025 | Advocacy, Home Health, Hospice, M&A, Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2025

Contact: Elyssa Katz
571-281-0220
communications@allianceforcareathome.org

Research Institute for Home Care and National Alliance for Care at Home Ink Affiliation Agreement

Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC, August 20, 2025 – The Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) and the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) have entered into an affiliation agreement to strengthen and expand research efforts while further unifying the care at home movement. The agreement is effective immediately.

Research Institute for Home Care

Since its founding in 2008, originally as the Alliance for Home Health Quality & Innovation, the Institute has invested in research and education about home care and hospice and its ability to deliver quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care, demonstrating the value proposition for patients and the entire U.S. healthcare system. With this affiliation, the Institute will remain an independent research organization, continuing to pursue its mission of funding and promoting research to inform policy and identify best practices and care models that expand access to healthcare in the home. Its vision remains clear: promoting healthy patients and communities through home care research, education, quality, and innovation.

The Institute’s Board of Directors will continue to independently oversee its research agenda and initiatives. The Alliance will provide comprehensive management support for the Institute’s operations. At the launch of the affiliation, Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance, will also serve as the President of the Institute. Jennifer Schiller, the former Executive Director of the Institute, has joined the Alliance leadership team and will continue to support Institute initiatives along with other Alliance leaders. Jennifer Sheets, Founder and CEO of Carezzi, will remain the Board Chairman of the Institute.

The enhanced collaboration and amplification opportunities provided by this affiliation elevate and unify the care at home movement. Together, the strengthened Alliance and Institute leadership will continue to invest in and focus on critical home care and hospice industry research and data to inform effective policy, clinical practice, and underscore the value of home-based care.

In Their Own Words

“We are thrilled to announce our affiliation with the Research Institute for Home Care. The Institute’s more than decade-long commitment to rigorous research perfectly complements our mission. This affiliation strengthens our ability to further demonstrate that care at home is the preferred choice for patients and families and the highest-value option for our healthcare system.”

Dr. Steve Landers

CEO, National Alliance for Care at Home

“This is an important milestone for the Institute that will amplify our research impact while preserving our integrity and academic rigor. By joining forces with the Alliance, we ensure that evidence-based findings continue to inform policy and best practices that benefit patients, families, and the entire healthcare system.”

Jennifer Sheets

Chairman of the Board, Research Institute for Home Care

Director Agreement

The decision, reached by both organizations’ independent Boards of Directors, reflects the shared recognition that care at home is at a pivotal juncture. By combining the Alliance’s resources with the Institute’s research expertise, the partnership positions both organizations to influence policy, strengthen clinical practice, and advance innovation in care at home.

“The timing of this affiliation reflects a shared recognition that care at home stands at a critical juncture. By bringing together the Alliance’s resources with the Institute’s research expertise, we are better positioned to navigate today’s complex healthcare landscape and drive meaningful policy change. This partnership represents a strategic investment in the future of home-based care that will benefit providers, patients, and policymakers alike,” said Ken Albert, Board Chair for the Alliance.

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About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.

About the Research Institute for Home Care

The Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) is a non-profit, national consortium of home care providers and organizations. The Institute invests in research and education about home care and its ability to deliver quality, cost-effect, patient-centered care across the care continuum. The Institute is committed to conducting and sponsoring research and initiatives that demonstrate and enhance the value proposition that home care has to offer patients and the entire U.S. healthcare system.

First Joint Event for NAHC & NHPCO

by Rowan Report | Aug 7, 2025 | Events, Home Health, Hospice, Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2025
PHOTO LINK

National Alliance for Care at Home Hosts Inaugural Financial Summit

Over 700 industry leaders gather in Chicago for three-day event focused on financial leadership and innovation in home-based care

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) — The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) successfully hosted its inaugural event, the 2025 Alliance Financial Summit, July 27-29 in Chicago, IL. The Summit brought together financial leaders from across the care at home community, with expert-led sessions, peer collaboration, and insights into market shifts and emerging technologies.

Arrival in Chicago

Welcome

The Summit officially launched Sunday evening with an opening keynote by Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, Founder and CEO of Skin Metal and Author of “Mama Doc Medicine.” Dr. Swanson delivered a forward-looking presentation on the intersection of medicine and technological innovation. The evening concluded with a Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall.

Keynote

The day’s keynote session featured Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers alongside a panel of experts including Ken Albert, President and CEO of Andwell Health; Trisha Crissman, President and CEO of CommonSpirit Health at Home; and Hillary Loeffler, Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs for the Alliance. Panel discussions addressed the potential impact of payment cuts in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Calendar Year 2026 Home Health proposed rule, hospice policy developments, workforce challenges and solutions, and actionable strategies for providers to protect the future of home-based care. Attendees then moved into a full day of concurrent sessions before an evening reception on the Chicago River.

Steven Landers, CEO, The Alliance, Financial Summit

The Alliance Financial Summit Riverwalk Reception

The Alliance Financial Summit Attendee Map

Networking and Education

Tuesday featured dedicated peer-to-peer networking sessions, allowing for informal conversation and knowledge sharing, before the opportunity for more concurrent sessions. The Summit concluded with a closing keynote expert panel featuring leaders from the Alliance’s Home Health and Hospice Financial Managers Association (HHFMA).

“This first Alliance event exceeded our expectations, bringing together care at home leaders from across the nation to connect, learn, and recommit to our shared vision of an America where everyone has access to the highest quality, person-centered healthcare wherever they call home,” said Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers. “The content was both practical, grounded in the day-to-day challenges and successes of providers, while incorporating innovation and aspiration to drive future growth and success.”

The Alliance has announced two additional events for 2025: Alliance Advocacy Week, September 8-11 in Washington, DC, and the National Alliance for Care at Home Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 1-4 in New Orleans, LA.

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About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.

Press Contact
communications@allianceforcareathome.org
Elyssa Katz | 571-281-0220

HHAeXchange Expands in Manhattan

by Rowan Report | Jul 24, 2025 | Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hollie Barnridge
Alloy, on behalf of HHAeXchange
855-300-8209
hhaexchange@alloycrew.com

HHAeXchange Unveils New Corporate Headquarters in New York City

New location reaffirms the company’s commitment to its employees and customers with expanded office space to support enhanced collaboration, creativity, and innovation

NEW YORK, June 3, 2025 – HHAeXchange, a leader in homecare management solutions for providers, caregivers, managed care organizations (MCOs), and state Medicaid programs, today announced the opening of its new corporate headquarters in New York City.

Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the reimagined workspace is a reflection of the company’s recent growth and its commitment to delivering advanced solutions for the home and community based services (HCBS) industry. The new space also marks an important step in uniting teams from HHAeXchange’s recent acquisitions of Sandata, Cashé Software, and Generations Homecare System. Efforts to foster stronger collaboration across functions will accelerate the delivery of a more connected, efficient experience for customers nationwide.

“We are always striving to better meet the needs of our customers, and bringing our employees together at our new headquarters will support greater collaboration that drives product innovation. New York has been our home base since 2008, and we’re proud to grow the HHAeXchange footprint locally while creating a welcoming work environment for our network of employees, customers, and partners from across the nation.”

Paul Joiner

CEO, HHAeXchange

For more than 15 years, HHAeXchange has been at the forefront of homecare technology, innovating software solutions that empower personal care providers, self-direction program administrators, MCOs, and state Medicaid agencies to achieve operational efficiency, increased compliance, and improved member outcomes. The new central office space reflects HHAeXchange’s focus on supporting its teams and customers, helping to advance care delivery for all members.

In addition to the office’s collaborative workspace, HHAeXchange’s new headquarters features state-of-the-art employee training rooms and flexible meeting spaces designed to foster engagement with customers, prospective clients, and partners.

In His Own Words

We sat down with Paul Joiner, CEO of HHAeXchange, to talk about the new office space, how its impacting the company culture, and what’s next for the company. See our accompanying article here.

About HHAeXchange

Founded in 2008, HHAeXchange is the leading technology platform for homecare and self-direction program management. Developed specifically for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), HHAeXchange connects state agencies, managed care organizations, providers, and caregivers through its intuitive web-based platform, enabling unparalleled communication, transparency, efficiency, and compliance. In 2024, HHAeXchange expanded through the strategic acquisitions of Sandata, Cashé Software, and Generations Homecare System, strengthening its commitment to advancing the industry. For more information, visit hhaexchange.com or follow the company on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

“Planning for In-Home Care”

by Rowan Report | Jul 24, 2025 | Advocacy, Home Health, Hospice, Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elyssa Katz
571-281-0220
communications@allianceforcareathome.org

The Alliance’s CaringInfo Program Launches New “Planning for In-Home Care” Section

Rebrands to Align with Expansion to Serve Full Home-Based Care Continuum

ALEXANDRIA, VA and WASHINGTON, DC – CaringInfo.org, a program of the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), is expanding its resources with a new website section – “Planning for In-Home Care” – as well as a brand refresh to align with its growing audience. CaringInfo provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers to make informed decisions about home, serious illness, and end-of-life care and services.

CaringInfo

While CaringInfo began with a focus on serious illness and end-of-life care and support, the program’s content is expanding to provide information and resources on the full spectrum of home-based care services. As a first step in this expansion, CaringInfo has launched “Planning for In-Home Care,” a new section on the website focused on the various types of care available at home.

Planning for In-Home Care

The new section covers essential topics including when in-home care is needed, preparing for in-home caregivers, who provides in-home care services, how to find a caregiver, and how to pay for in-home care.

“CaringInfo is a valuable resource used widely among hospice, palliative, and advance care planning experts and professionals as well as patients and families who need help and guidance.”

Dr. Steve Landers

CEO, The National Alliance for Care at Home

Landers, continued, “The launch of ‘Planning for In-Home Care’ marks an exciting step in the continued expansion of CaringInfo to provide resources and guidance on the full continuum of home-based care and to serve as a resource to all providers under the Alliance umbrella. Finding and navigating care at home can be difficult for patients and their loved ones, especially as it is often needed during life’s most vulnerable moments. These free, accessible resources help ensure everyone seeking home-based care can make informed decisions to get the support they need.”

Visual Update

The updated CaringInfo design is intended to remain familiar for return visitors who trust the site as their go-to source for making care decisions, while aligning with the Alliance’s core brand. This visual update indicates CaringInfo’s realignment to serve the full home-based care community, including home health, home care, Medicaid HCBS, palliative care, and hospice providers.

CaringInfo’s goal is that all people are making informed decisions about their care. In addition to easy-to-understand information about caregiving, advance care planning, and the types of care available to those who need it, CaringInfo also offers a complete library of annotated advance directive forms for all 50 states, plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. The full site is available in both English and Spanish.

Visit CaringInfo.org, which is free and available to all, to explore the full site as well as the new content.

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About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.

Alora is CHAP Verified

by Rowan Report | Jul 24, 2025 | Partner News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alora Healthcare Systems
Media@AloraHealth.com
800-954-8250

Alora Healthcare Systems Earns CHAP Verified Status for Home Health, Hospice, and Home Care Software

ATLANTA, July 23, 2025 — Alora Healthcare Systems, a leading provider of cloud-based solutions for post-acute care, announced this week that its full suite of software solutions – Home Health, Hospice, and Home Care, has earned CHAP Verified status from CHAP, Inc. (Community Health Accreditation Partner).

This designation confirms that Alora’s solutions meet CHAP’s highest standards in operational excellence, compliance, and quality improvement. The verification process included a detailed review of Alora’s functionality and alignment with CHAP’s Standards of Excellence. CHAP verified that Alora’s software fully supports compliance and actively enhances care delivery.

“The Alora team consistently delivers impressive software across Home Health, Hospice, and Home Care, marked by its user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and powerful tools for operations and compliance. Their dedication to listening to customer feedback is evident in continuous enhancements like the OASIS-E analyzer, real-time reporting, and integrated HR and billing platforms, all designed to meet individual care needs and regulatory requirements efficiently.”

Teresa Harbour

COO, CHAP, Inc.

CHAP Verified status highlights Alora’s ability to support agencies in achieving compliance while advancing post-acute care technology. The platform is designed for efficiency, enabling high-quality, patient-centered care amid a changing regulatory landscape.

Sathish John, CEO of Alora, remarked, “This achievement is a direct reflection of our mission to simplify workflows for clinicians, administrators, and caregivers, while focusing on compliance, quality, and feedback.”

Alora’s comprehensive platform includes tools for documentation, billing, scheduling, visit verification, compliance, HR, and more, providing a streamlined experience for both skilled and non-skilled care.

This recognition strengthens Alora’s commitment to empowering home-based care agencies with CHAP Verified solutions that drive excellence and regulatory confidence.

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About Alora

Alora is a leading provider of cloud-based home care software, home health software, and hospice software, for agencies across the U.S. Known for its intuitive interface and award-winning support, Alora delivers robust, integrated tools that empower agencies to streamline operations, ensure compliance, and focus on patient care.

About CHAP

CHAP is the nation’s first accrediting body for home and community-based healthcare organizations. As an independent, nonprofit accrediting body, CHAP advances the highest standards of community-based care.

Implementing QHINs Interoperability Part 4

by Rowan Report | Jul 18, 2025 | Admin, Interoperability, Regulatory

by Ben Rosen, Sr. Client Success Manager, Netsmart

Interoperability

What You Need to Know About Interoperability and How it Affects You: Part 4

For over two decades, tech companies and government agencies have been moving toward the goal of interoperability in healthcare technology. At long last, standards and protocols are in place—and continually being improved—to support open data exchange networks. As a result, healthcare providers, including human services, post-acute providers and specialty practices, have more opportunities to participate in alternative payment models and adapt more readily to the evolving payment landscape.

This is part four of a four-part series covering the forces that are driving interoperability, as well as the future vision of open networks, and what it all could mean to your organization. Read Part One Here; Read Part Two Here; Read Part Three Here.

Interoperability in Healthcare

QHIN Implementation, Use Cases, and Benefits

Qualified Health Information Networks (QHIN) can support a range of use cases, including treatment, payment, healthcare operations, public health reporting and patient access to their records. These are referred to as Exchange Purposes (XPs), and all QHINs must facilitate a request for this data. The difference lies with how QHINs facilitate those requests and provide that information to you as a participant. The data uses the same network that all QHINs have built too, but there is value in what your current technology vendor can do with the data.

Complete Information Supports Decision-Making and Compliance

By enabling data exchange, QHINs help ensure providers have access to complete, up-to-date information that has the potential to improve decision-making and reduce redundant tests. The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement™ (TEFCA) network also supports the exchange of more robust types of data than before, offering participants more holistic views of individuals to support a whole-person care approach.

A QHIN can help your organization stay compliant with interoperability mandates designed to align technology with regulatory requirements, such as the 21st Century Cures Act and TEFCA. As the data exchange landscape shifts toward a more regulatory-based landscape with TEFCA at the core, remaining in compliance with certification requirements becomes increasingly important.

Complete Information Interoperability QHIN

Preparing for TEFCA and QHIN Participation

As outlined in Part 3 of this blog series, getting the most out of joining a QHIN starts with assessing your current interoperability capabilities:

Identify gaps in your data exchange processes and data needs
Collaborate with your EHR vendor to ensure technical readiness and ensure they can accommodate the QHIN data to be used with your EHR
Explore QHIN options and compare their offerings for your current EHR features and functionality
Understand and create a plan for your organization to use or increase the use of FHIR-based integrations

Once you’ve determined which QHIN will work best for your organization, you can begin nailing down specifics and start planning implementation.

Costs, Implementation and Onboarding

Costs vary by QHIN vendor and may include membership fees, transaction fees and additional charges for optional services.

Onboarding typically includes:

Technical integration into your EHR
Staff training
Testing and validation of data exchange
Establishing compliance with TEFCA requirements/signing agreements to participate

Joining the TEFCA network is built into some existing integration processes and capabilities. There are legal agreements specific to TEFCA to sign, but all technical implementations are much easier to facilitate as an already existing EHR client, assimilating into already existing workflows.

Security and Privacy

QHINs are required to meet strict security and privacy standards under TEFCA, including compliance with HIPAA and other relevant regulations. All QHINs are HITRUST-certified and ensure robust security backing for all network transactions and therefore must have incident response and mitigation procedures in place in case of a security incident. It’s important to understand the full enterprise security plan for the QHIN you decide to use and how they protect all of their solutions/programs, not just QHIN.

It’s important to understand the full enterprise security plan for the QHIN you choose and how they protect all their solutions/programs, not just QHIN. Choose a partner with a robust history as an ONC-certified EHR vendor so your data is protected in all facets of exchange. Verify enterprise-wide security procedures and incident response plans.

Regulatory Benefits and Use Cases

By selecting a QHIN and participating in a nationwide interoperability framework, your organization can stay ahead of regulatory changes, improve patient outcomes and reduce the administrative burden of managing multiple data exchange partners. With the changing regulatory landscape, including the HTI-1 and HTI-2 rules, all ONC-certified vendors must abide by those parameters. TEFCA is taking a more central role in helping to prep organizations and users to be compliant with those regulatory standards. For this reason, QHINs with a rich history of ONC certification and who have regulatory staff will have an advantage.

Exchange Purposes

Under TEFCA, QHINs will facilitate the exchange of multiple types of data, referred to as Exchange Purposes (XPs). Initially, there were six core XPs that were revealed for TEFCA:

Treatment –To support the provision, coordination or management of healthcare among providers
Payment–For activities related to billing, claims and reimbursement under HIPAA
Healthcare Operations–For administrative, quality improvement and other operational functions
Public Health–To support public health authorities in disease surveillance, reporting and response
Government Benefits Determination – To help determine eligibility for government programs, such as Medicaid
Individual Access Services – To empower individuals to access their own health data securely and conveniently

These XPs have now been expanded to include subtypes that can be read about here, via the RCE approved resource and SOP. As mentioned previously, all QHINs will be required to support the exchange of these XP’s, and all participants of QHINs will be required to respond to Treatment and Individual Access Services. An important deciding factor when choosing a QHIN is to understand the workflows to receive this information into your EHR, as well as the capabilities to persist and action the information.

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Ben Rosen is a senior client success manager and business unit owner for the interoperability solution suite at Netsmart. With more than a decade of healthcare experience, Ben has led numerous initiatives to integrate healthcare systems and enhance data sharing across the care continuum. His dedication to advancing healthcare interoperability drives his active involvement in industry initiatives and standards organizations, where he provides insight for frameworks such as HL7 FHIR, USCDI and others. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Kansas State University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in the Netsmart blog and is reprinted here with permission. For more information or to request permission to print, please contact Netsmart.

Bill to Strengthen Hospice

by Rowan Report | Jul 18, 2025 | Admin, Hospice, Regulatory

From the office of Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA)

Carter, Bera introduce Bill to Strengthen Palliative and Hospice Care Workforce

Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), bipartisan legislation to invest in training, education, and research for the palliative care and hospice workforce, allowing more practitioners to enter these in-demand fields.

Palliative and hospice care focus on providing comfort and quality of life improvements for those seriously ill, extending quality of life and reducing the length of hospital stays for many patients.

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

“Caring for someone living with serious illness or at the end of their life is one of the most compassionate, selfless things one can do, and we must ensure that these heroes have the assistance, training, education, and tools available to provide the highest quality care possible. As a pharmacist, I understand the toll burnout takes on the health care industry, and I am committed to bolstering the workforce so nurses, doctors, and all health care workers can continue to pursue their passion for helping others.”

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

(R-GA), U.S. House of Representatives

Ami Bera, M.D.

“As a doctor, I know how important it is to provide patients with comfort, clarity, and support when they’re facing serious illness,” said Rep. Bera. “The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act is a smart, bipartisan step to ensure more health care professionals are trained to deliver this kind of care. By expanding training programs and strengthening our health care workforce, we will make sure that patients and families have access to the care they need to manage pain, make informed decisions, and live with dignity.”

Workforce Shortage

In 2001, just 7% of U.S. hospitals with more than 50 beds had a palliative care program, compared with 72% in 2019. Those working in the field, 40% of whom are 56 years of age or older, report high rates of burnout, in response to the increasing number of patients requiring treatment.

Reps. Carter and Bera’s bill, which has a Senate companion led by Senators Baldwin and Capito, alleviates these strains through workforce training, education and awareness, and enhanced research.

Widespread Support

“As we face a critical shortage of health professionals with expert knowledge and skills in palliative care, AAHPM applauds Representatives Carter and Bera for their leadership in introducing the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act to ensure all patients facing serious illness or at the end of life can receive high-quality care. We urge Congress to recognize the importance of a well-trained, interprofessional healthcare team to providing coordinated, person-centered serious illness care and to act now to build a healthcare workforce more closely aligned with America’s evolving healthcare needs. Advancing PCHETA will go a long way towards improving quality of care and quality of life for our nation’s sickest and most vulnerable patients, along with their families and caregivers.”

Kristina Newport, MD FAAHPM, HMDC

Chief Medical Officer, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

“Palliative care treats the whole person, not just the disease. Ensuring health care providers can be trained in this specialized, coordinated form of care and providing funding for robust public education through the Palliative Care Education and Training Act can help increase access to palliative care for cancer patients and make their cancer journey less difficult. We commend Reps. Carter and Bera for their leadership and steadfast commitment to palliative care and to improving quality of life for patients, including those impacted by cancer.”

Lisa A. Lacasse

President, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

“Every person living with serious illness or facing the end of life deserves compassionate, expert care that honors their choices and helps them live comfortably on their own terms. The Alliance celebrates Representatives Carter and Bera’s leadership in introducing the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, which will ensure families have access to the trained professionals they need during life’s most difficult moments. As our population ages, this critical investment in education and training will help us meet the growing demand for quality palliative and hospice care

Dr. Steve Landers

CEO, National Alliance for Care at Home

Supporting Organizations

Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physician Associates, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Surgeons, American Geriatrics Society, American Heart Association, American Psychological Association, American Psychosocial Oncology Society, The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association of Oncology Social Work, Association of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Nurses, Association of Professional Chaplains, The California State University Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care, Cambia Health Solutions, Cancer Support Community, CaringKind, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Center to Advance Palliative Care, Children’s National Health System, Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Courageous Parents Network, The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, GO2 for Lung Cancer, The HAP Foundation, HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, LEAD Coalition, LeadingAge, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Motion Picture & Television Fund, National Alliance for Care at Home, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Brain Tumor Society, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Marrow Donor Program, National Palliative Care Research Center, National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, National Patient Advocate Foundation, National POLST Paradigm, Oncology Nursing Society, Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition, PAs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Second Wind Dreams, Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network, Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Supportive Care Matters, Susan G. Komen, Trinity Health, West Health Institute, The Alliance for the Advancement of End-of-Life Care, Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, Alzheimer’s Orange County, Arizona Association for Home Care, Arizona Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina, California Association for Health Services at Home, The Center for Optimal Aging at Marymount University, Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition, Delaware Association for Home & Community Care, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, Georgia Association for Home Health Agencies, Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Granite State Home Health & Hospice Association (NH), Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Home Care Association of Florida, Home Care Association of NYS, Home Care Association of Washington, Home Care and Hospice Association of Colorado, Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Iowa, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York, Hospice Care and Kentucky Home Care Association, Hospice Council of West Virginia, Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts, Idaho Health Care Association, Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Indiana Association for Home, Kokua Mau, LeadingAge California, LeadingAge Georgia, LeadingAge New Jersey/Delaware, LeadingAge Ohio, LifeCircle-South Dakota’s Hospice and Palliative Care Network, Louisiana Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Maryland-National Capital Homecare Association, Michigan HomeCare and Hospice Association, Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care, Missouri Alliance for Home Care, Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association, Nebraska Association for Home Healthcare and Hospice, Nebraska Home Care Association, Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice, Ohio Health Care Association, Oklahoma Association for Home Care and Hospice, South Carolina Home Care & Hospice Association, The Oregon Hospice & Palliative Care Association, Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice, Texas ~ New Mexico Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Virginia Association for Home Care and Hospice, VNAs of Vermont, The Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and West Virginia Council for Home Care and Hospice.

Read full bill text here.

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Earl L. “Buddy” Carter is an experienced businessman, health care professional and faithful public servant. For over 32 years Buddy owned Carter’s Pharmacy, Inc. where South Georgians trusted him with their most valuable assets: their health, lives and families. While running his business, he learned how to balance a budget and create jobs. He also saw firsthand the devastating impacts of government overregulation which drives his commitment to ensuring that the federal government creates policies to empower business instead of increasing burdens on America’s job creators.

A committed public servant, Buddy previously served as the Mayor of Pooler, Georgia and in the Georgia General Assembly where he used his business experience to make government more efficient and responsive to the people. Buddy is serving his fifth term in the United States House of Representatives and is a member of the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee and the House Budget Committee. As a pharmacist serving in Congress, Buddy is dedicated to working towards a health care system that provides more choices, less costs and better services.

A lifelong resident of the First District, Buddy was born and raised in Port Wentworth, Georgia and is a proud graduate of Young Harris College and the University of Georgia where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Buddy married his college sweetheart, Amy. Buddy and Amy have three sons, three daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren.

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. has represented Sacramento County in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. The 6th Congressional District is located just east and north of California’s capitol city, Sacramento, and lies entirely within

Sacramento County.

During Congressman Bera’s twenty-year medical career, he worked to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of healthcare. After graduating from medical school in 1991, he did his residency in internal medicine at California Pacific Medical Center, eventually becoming chief resident. He went on to practice medicine in the Sacramento area, serving in various leadership roles for MedClinic Medical Group. Chief among his contributions was improving the clinical efficiency of the practice. He then served as medical director of care management for Mercy Healthcare, where he developed and implemented a comprehensive care management strategy for the seven-hospital system.

In Congress, Bera uses the skills he learned as a doctor to listen to the people of Sacramento County and put people ahead of politics to move our country forward. His priority is to work alongside people in both parties to address our nation’s most pressing challenges and make government work. Bera believes Congress should be a place for service, not for politicians who only look out to protect their own careers, pay, and perks.

Hospice Hope

by Rowan Report | Jul 10, 2025 | Admin, CMS, Hospice, Outcomes, Regulatory

by Peggy Rattarree, Principle Product Manager, Curantis Solutions

Hospice HOPE

The importance of documenting symptom impact for patient-centered care

In hospice care, the focus isn’t just on treating symptoms; it’s on improving the quality of life for patients and their families. This is where Hospice HOPE takes center stage, emphasizing the importance of documenting symptom impact to deliver truly patient-centered care. By understanding how symptoms affect each patient’s physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being, hospice teams can provide care that aligns with their unique needs and goals.

What is hospice HOPE?

Hospice HOPE stands for Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation. It’s a philosophy that places the patient’s comfort, dignity, and goals at the forefront of care delivery. Documenting symptom impact is a critical part of this approach because it provides a detailed understanding of how symptoms affect the patient’s overall quality of life.

In hospice care, every patient’s journey is unique. By actively tracking and documenting symptom impact, care providers can move beyond generic treatments and embrace a truly individualized approach that prioritizes what matters most to the patient.

Why documenting symptom impact matters?

Moves us to patient-centered care

Documenting symptom impact allows hospice teams to focus on what truly matters to the patient. Instead of simply addressing symptoms like pain, nausea, or fatigue in isolation, it provides a holistic view of how these symptoms affect the patient’s daily life. For example:

Pain
- How does it limit mobility or the ability to participate in meaningful activities?
Fatigue
- Is it preventing patients from spending time with loved ones?
Nausea
- Is it reducing their ability to eat or enjoy meals?

By asking these questions and recording the answers, hospice providers can better tailor interventions to manage not just symptom management but the overall patient experience.

Improves communication across the care team

In hospice care, communication is everything. Documenting symptom impact ensures that every member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT), from nurses and physicians to social workers and chaplains, has access to the same comprehensive information.

This documentation:

Creates a shared understanding of the patient’s condition
Helps align the team’s goals with the patient’s priorities
Reduces duplication of efforts and enhances care coordination

When everyone is on the same page, patients and families receive more seamless, cohesive care.

Supports compliance and quality standards

Regulatory bodies like CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) require hospices to document and monitor patient symptoms to ensure care quality. But beyond compliance, tracking symptom impact demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement.

Documenting symptom impact allows hospices to:

Identify trends and gaps in care
Measure the effectiveness of interventions
Use data to advocate for better resources or innovations in care delivery

Empowers families and caregivers

When symptom impact is documented, families and caregivers gain a clearer understanding of their loved one’s condition. This transparency fosters trust and collaboration between the hospice team and the family, ensuring everyone is working toward the same goals.

For example, a caregiver might better understand why a loved one sleeps more during the day or avoids certain foods. These insights can help families feel more prepared and supported during a challenging time.

Final Thoughts

With CMS rolling out Hospice HOPE, documenting symptom impact is no longer optional. It’s the standard for compassionate, high-quality care. This shift helps hospice organizations go beyond symptom control and into whole-person care that honors each patient’s life journey.

This is part one in a two-part series on Hospice HOPE. Check back next week for part two.

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Peggy Rattarree Curantis Solutions Hospice HOPE

Peggy is an IT professional with over 30 years’ experience. She has defined and developed software products in industries such as grocery management, financial services, and reporting and analytics. In her 2.5 years with Curantis, Peggy has helped to shape the definition and delivery of the application. She brings a passion for agility and has been integral in transitioning Curantis to an environment of delivery on cadence, release on demand.

Peggy has a Bachelor of Music degree from University of North Texas.

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in the Curantis Solutions blog and is reprinted here with permission. For more information or to request permission to print, please contact Curantis Solutions.

Alliance Statement on House Passage of Reconciliation Bill

by Rowan Report | Jul 3, 2025 | Advocacy, Breaking News, Partner News, Regulatory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elyssa Katz
571-281-0220
communications@allianceforcareathome.org

Medicaid Provisions Threaten Home and Community-Based Services for Millions of Vulnerable Americans

Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC, July 3, 2025. The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the House’s passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” also known as the Reconciliation bill, which now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

“The Alliance is deeply troubled by the Medicaid provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has passed both chambers of Congress and now awaits President Trump’s signature,” said Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers. “These provisions—including work requirements, reduced provider taxes, and new cost-sharing mandates—prioritize short-sighted budget savings over the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable citizens who rely on home and community-based services (HCBS).”

Dr. Steve Landers

CEO, The National Alliance for Care at Home

The Alliance Advocates for Care at Home

The home care community advocated throughout the legislative process for Congress to mitigate these harmful Medicaid provisions. The legislation will reduce state provider tax rates, cutting funding that states rely on to support HCBS programs. New work requirements and mandatory cost-sharing will also create administrative burdens for both providers and beneficiaries, likely resulting in coverage losses that extend beyond those directly targeted by these policies. Further, new limits on home equity for long-term care recipients will force older adults to sell their homes, leading to unnecessary institutionalization.

Continued Advocacy

“As these Medicaid provisions become law, the Alliance will work tirelessly to monitor their implementation and advocate for the protection of Medicaid enrollees, families, and providers nationwide,” said Dr. Landers. “We will continue to champion the delivery of HCBS – proven services that are preferred by beneficiaries and save the system money.”

Careful Consideration Needed

Landers CEO The Alliance Reconciliation Bill

The Alliance calls on federal and state officials to implement these new requirements with careful consideration of their impact on vulnerable populations and to work collaboratively with providers to minimize disruption to essential services.

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About the National Alliance for Care at Home

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in transforming care in the home. As an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator, and convener, we serve as the unifying voice for providers and recipients of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services throughout all stages of life. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.

© 2025 The National Alliance for Care at Home. This press release originally appeared on The Alliance website and is reprinted here with permission. For additional information or to request permission to print, please see the contact information above.

Follow our continuous updates on the bill passage, what it means for Medicare and Medicaid, and how the provisions of the bill will be rolled out in our accompanying article here.

HIPAA Compliance Voice Activation

by Rowan Report | Jun 27, 2025 | Admin, Artificial Intelligence, Regulatory

by Curantis Solutions

HIPAA Compliance for Voice Activated Technology

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance is critical in the healthcare field, particularly regarding any technology that handles patient information, including HIPAA-compliant voice technology. Understanding the implications of HIPAA is essential for ensuring that innovations in healthcare technology do not compromise patient data privacy regulations.

Patient Privacy Protection

HIPAA enforces strict privacy protections for all patient data, including voice recordings and summaries. Voice recognition technology in healthcare must ensure that data is only accessible to authorized personnel. Any voice-activated system must adhere to HIPAA security measures for handling Protected Health Information (PHI).

Data Security Requirements

Voice-activated systems must implement safeguards to protect patient information from unauthorized access and breaches. This includes both physical and electronic security measures, such as:

Encryption
- Data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.
Access Controls
- Systems must restrict access to only those who need to know, using multi-factor authentication and role-based permissions.
Audit Trails
- Voice-activated technologies should log all access activity, tracking who accessed data, when, and what specific information was retrieved.

HIPAA Training Requirements for Voice-Activated Systems

HIPAA emphasizes the need for staff training and awareness regarding handling PHI in voice-recognition software. Training programs should cover:

Best Practices
- Staff should be instructed on correct voice command usage to minimize accidental PHI disclosures in public or unsecured environments.
Identifying PHI
- Employees should learn to recognize and protect sensitive patient data when interacting with voice-activated systems.

Data Minimization Principles

Under HIPAA, organizations should limit data collection to only what is necessary for specific tasks. This includes:

Minimal Data Handling
- Only essential PHI should be processed and stored.
Anonymization Processes
- Voice-activated systems should anonymize data when full patient identification is unnecessary, reducing security risks.

Incident Response Protocol

In the event of a data breach involving voice-activated patient summaries, organizations must follow HIPAA-compliant response steps:

Incident Reporting
- Immediate breach investigation and reporting per HIPAA timelines.
Notification Requirements
- Patients must be notified if their PHI has been compromised, along with steps taken to mitigate risks.

Summary

HIPAA compliance directly impacts how voice-activated patient summaries are implemented in healthcare. Ensuring compliance requires:

Robust data security measures
Thorough staff training
Strict vendor agreements
Comprehensive privacy protections

By aligning voice-activated patient summaries with HIPAA regulations, healthcare organizations can enhance patient care, safeguard sensitive information, and build trust with patients and families.

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About Curantis Solutions

Curantis Solutions was founded on a desire to put hospice and palliative care first. We are dedicated to radically transforming standard electronic health records into a refreshingly simple and intuitive experience so that providers can keep their focus where it matters most – on the patients and families they serve.

With a genuine culture of caring, we have assembled a team of highly talented individuals who are passion-driven and feel connected to their role in supporting the bigger mission of enabling high-quality end-of-life care. From forward-thinking technologists to hospice and palliative care experts, and every role in between, our team works with great integrity, accountability and responsiveness to bridge the latest technology with smart design to keep patient care at the center of what we do.