Fraudsters Arrested, Oz Issues Warning
CMS by Kristin Rowan, Editor Fraudsters Arrested, Oz Issues Warning Fraud in California Fraudsters arrested in West Covina, CA this week were allegedly running a Medicare scheme. Authorities arrested hospice owner-operator Normita Sierra. They charged her with nine counts...Delay HOPE Tool
Advocacy by Kristin Rowan, Editor Advocacy Groups to CMS: Delay HOPE Tool Implementation “Delay HOPE Tool Implementation,” say multiple hospice advocacy groups. LeadingAge, the National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance), and the National Partnership for...Update is Not an Increase
Hospice by Kristin Rowan, Editor Updates to Hospice Rule On April 11, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued their proposed rule for hospice rates, Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and face-t0-face encounter requirements for FY 2026. The proposed...That’s a No-No
Admin by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. No-no # 1 “No-No” may seem like something you would say to a toddler, but there is a list of things agency owners do that they should not do. Many of these are things providers may not often consider. This article focuses on the...HIS to HOPE
Admin by Vicki Goodman, CRO at Curantis Solutions HIS to HOPE Transition in Hospice Care What You Need to Know As a hospice nurse, I am excited to share pivotal news that will significantly impact our field starting October 1st. In case you have been living under a rock, we...Humana Thyme Agreement
Clinical by Kristin Rowan, Editor Palliative Care for Medicare Advantage Members Cancer is one of the highest leading causes of death in the United States, second only to heart disease. The challenges for cancer patients are not only physical, but emotional and financial as...Special Focus Program Ends
Advocacy by Kristin Rowan, Editor Special Focus Program Not Well Received When the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) first appeared, the industry was told the program would help CMS identify and improve the performance of hospice providers that were struggling to meet...Medicare Advantage Lowers Home Health Care Use
Hospice by Kristin Rowan, Editor End-of-Life Care in Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare Using research from CMS, researchers from Mt. Sinai in New York and Brown University in Rhode Island studied the data of adults aged 66 and older who passed away and had Medicare...Good News for Veterans and Care at Home
Advocacy by Kristin Rowan, Editor Biden's Final Acts With only a short number of days left in office, President Joe Biden has been making headlines. Not all of his final decisions have been met with absolute approval, but his latest one will make a difference for our veterans...Meet the CMS Administrator Nominee
Admin by Tim Rowan, Editor Emeritus Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA is the CMS Administrator nominee in the new administration that assumes power on January 20. A popular TV personality and former gubernatorial candidate, the public side of Dr. Oz is well known, but the details of his...Hospice Fraud Oversight
Admin by Kristin Rowan, Editor CMS Oversight in Fraud-Ridden States In 2023, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cited research suggesting that hospices profit from fraud far too often. CMS has identified cases of hospices certifying benficiaries who are...NAHC NHPCO Town Hall
Advocacy by Kristin Rowan, Editor The Alliance On June 18, 2024, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) announced they had met in Washington D.C. to formally sign an affiliation agreement...2025 Hospice Final Rule
CMS by Kristin Rowan, Editor 2025 Hospice Final Rule Update On July 30, 2024, CMS issued its final rule for the 2025 Hospice Final Rule Update (CMS-1810-F), with updates to HQRP and HOPE. The rule also finalizes a proposal to change the statistical area delineations. This...Florida Hospice Teaches Dementia Care by Simulating Dementia
Clinical by Tim Rowan, Editor Emeritus “This [virtual dementia] tour opened my eyes to the reality of what a dementia patient lives with every day. It is completely different when you walk in their shoes. I highly recommend this program for caregivers.” “I can’t...
