Meaningful AI

by Rowan Report | Apr 24, 2025 | Admin, Artificial Intelligence, Caring for the Caregiver

by Scott Green, Care Dimensions at Netsmart

Meaningful AI in Post-Acute

Elevating Care and Efficiency with Integrated AI

Meaningful AI is more than plugging your questions into ChatGPT. It goes beyond Artificial Intelligence into Augmented Intelligence.

After a long day of caring for patients, a home health nurse pulls into their driveway, bracing for the familiar evening grind — hours of documentation. They take a deep breath, one of relief. They’re not mentally preparing for hours at their laptop, documenting every visit, trying to recall every detail while fatigue tugs at their focus. Tonight is different.

Tonight, they step through the door, greeted by their kids clamoring to show off their school projects. Dinner is already on the table, and for the first time in weeks, they sit with their family—truly present. There’s no need to pull out the laptop after dessert, no late-night race against deadlines. Their documentation? Done. Completed during patient visits, thanks to an integrated AI workflow that not only captured essential details of their patient but also highlighted critical care needs in near real-time.

This isn’t just a glimpse of what’s possible—it’s the reality Meaningful Augmented Intelligence (AI) creates for home care & hospice providers. With AI-assisted documentation tools, caregivers are freed from after-hours work. Repetitive tasks are automated, and accurate, compliant records are captured during visits. As a result, clinicians can focus on what matters most: delivering care to their patients during the day and being present for their families at night.

Meaningful Integrated AI in Care at Home: How it Works and Why It Matters

Integrated AI doesn’t just automate tasks—it enhances every part of the care process. By embedding AI directly into existing workflows, solutions empower clinicians and administrators to work smarter, not harder. Predictive analytics, real-time documentation and automated data entry reduce repetitive tasks and administrative burden, clearing staff to focus on patient care.

Unlike generic AI tools, Meaningful AI supports clinicians at the point of care. It captures essential details during visits, highlights critical needs as they arise, and offers real-time guidance. This isn’t just about making work faster—it’s about making it more human. Integrated AI simplifies workflows and strengthens decision-making, whether it’s anticipating a patient’s end-of-life needs, identifying compliance risks, or supporting proactive billing.

The AI Trifecta

AI isn’t just about automation—it’s about Meaningful AI that directly addresses the needs of community-based providers. With our AI Trifecta, every aspect of care delivery is reimagined to optimize processes, empower staff, and simplify reimbursement.

Optimize Processes

Integrated AI helps organizations operate more efficiently by taking over time-intensive, repetitive tasks, allowing staff to focus on patient care. For example, guided assist tools integrated with clinical workflows proactively coach staff through complex tasks like completing the OASIS assessment or interdisciplinary start of care documentation.

Imagine a clinician documenting care after a patient visit. With AI-powered assistance, charting can pre-fill fields based on visit details, flag potential inconsistencies in near real-time and suggest changes to align with regulatory requirements for a supervisor to review. This reduces errors and speeds up documentation, freeing clinicians to focus on patients rather than administrative tasks.

Predictive analytics empower organizations to anticipate and address challenges early, supporting clinical benefits of Hospice Visits in the Last Days of Life (HVLDL) such as symptom management, reduced patient distress and honoring the patient’s end-of-life wishes.

Empower Staff

The backbone of any agency is its staff. Integrated AI tools relieve the pressures of excessive documentation and administrative burdens. These tools aren’t just about doing tasks faster—they help create a more sustainable work-life balance by addressing challenges like burnout and turnover.

Staff can also benefit from smart task prioritization. Meaningful AI tools can include the ability to log in and instantly see a clear list of priorities based on patient needs and compliance deadlines. This reduces time spent figuring out “what’s next” so that every action directly contributes to better patient outcomes.

Simplify Reimbursement

Some AI tools monitor claims for potential issues before submission. Imagine if your system could identify a missing modifier or mismatch in coding then flag the problem and provide actionable suggestions to correct it. This not only increases first-pass acceptance rates but also reduces the exhausting back-and-forth that often accompanies denied claims.

Beyond preventing errors, predictive tools assess patterns in denial risks and reimbursement trends, enabling organizations to adjust strategies proactively. Leaders can use these insights to negotiate better contracts or refine documentation practices, ensuring steady cash flow and financial health and upstream process improvement. This empowers organizations to invest resources where they matter most: improving patient outcomes.

About Netsmart myUnity® NX

With Meaningful AI at the heart of myUnity NX, every part of the healthcare process—from care delivery to financial health—works smarter, not harder. These innovations support not just operational efficiency but also the well-being of care teams. By embedding intelligent workflows, providers have the time and space to focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional, person-centered care. Learn more about Netsmart myUnity® NX

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Scott Green leads the Care Dimensions business unit at Netsmart. In his role, he leads a team focused on building out a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to support organizations as they digitize their operations beyond the EHR. Green has been with Netsmart for 10 years and has held many roles during that time including leading the Human Services business unit.

Prior to joining Netsmart, he spent 13 years with Pfizer where he focused on building relationships and clinical initiatives with Integrated Delivery Networks.

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology from Kansas State University and a graduate certificate in healthcare leadership from Park University.

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

Vision for CMS

by Kristin Rowan | Apr 24, 2025 | CMS, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Vision for CMS from Dr. Oz

Last week, Dr. Mehmet Oz issued a statement on his vision for the future of CMS. Dr. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon and former host of his own TV show. Under the Department of Health and Human Services, CMS has a $1.7 trillion budget and oversees the health outcomes of more than 160 million people.

“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Kennedy for their confidence in my ability to lead CMS in achieving their vision to Make America Healthy Again. Great societies protect their most vulnerable. As stewards of the health of so many Americans – especially disadvantaged youth, those with disabilities, and our seniors, the CMS team is dedicated to delivering superior health outcomes across each program we administer. America is too great for small dreams, and I’m ready to get work on the President’s agenda.”

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Administrator of CMS, Department of Health and Human Services

Make America Healthy Again

With HHS Secretary Kennedy, Oz is throwing his support behind Make America Healthy Again, under direction from President Trump. Senator Kennedy says that, under the leadership of Dr. Oz, CMS will work to modernize Medicare, the Marketplaces, and Medicaid. The goal is to get Americans the care they want, need, and deserve. The agenda includes:

Empowering the American People with personalized solutions with which they can better manage their health and navigate the complex health care system. As a first step, CMS will implement the President’s Executive Order on Transparency to give Americans the information they need about costs.
Equipping health care providers with better information about the patients they serve and holding them accountable for health outcomes, rather than unnecessary paperwork that distracts them from their mission. For example, CMS will work to streamline access to life-saving treatments.
Identifying and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse to stop unscrupulous people who are stealing from vulnerable patients and taxpayers.
Shifting the paradigm for health care from a system that focuses on sick care to one that fosters prevention, wellness, and chronic disease management. For example, CMS operates many programs that can be used to focus on improving holistic health outcomes.

Letter to Medicaid

Following the vision statement, Dr. Oz released a letter to state Medicaid Agencies outlining the use of Medicaid dollars during his tenure as Administrator. The two-page letter, citing recent studies on gender dysphoria, directed Medicaid agencies to eliminate gender reassignment surgery from covered procedures, opting instead for psychotherapy. Hormonal interventions will be reserved for exceptional cases.

“My top priority is protecting children and upholding the law. Medicaid dollars are not to be used for gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments in minors – procedures that can cause permanent, irreversible harm, including sterilization. We have a duty to ensure medical care is lawful, necessary, and truly in the best interest of patients. CMS will not support services that violate this standard or place vulnerable children at risk.”

Read the full letter here.

Final Thoughts

We believe this will be the first of many changes made to Medicare and Medicaid rules under Dr. Oz. We will continue to share updates from the CMS newsdesk.

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Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news, and speaker on Artificial Intelligence and Lone Worker Safety and state and national conferences.

She also runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

©2025 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

Industry Update

by Kristin Rowan | Apr 24, 2025 | Admin, Advocacy, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Industry Update with Dr. Steve Landers

At last week’s New England Home Care & Hospice Conference, Dr. Steve Landers, President of The National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance) gave the keynote address and offered some industry insights and updates.

A Heartfelt Introduction

Ken Albert, Chairman of the Board at The Alliance introduced Dr. Landers before his address. After reading Dr. Landers’s official biography, Albert offered his own thoughts on the first few months of Landers’ tenure.

Last year, five colleagues from organizations across the country sat in D.C. interviewing candidates. While interviewing Landers, I was remarkably engaged by someone who is deeply passionate about care at home. Steve describes hospice care as a national treasure, and I don’t disagree. More than just his passion for care at home, Dr. Landers is savvy in navigating the political paradigms driving policy. He artfully combines data and stories to navigate relationships with policy makers. What I see every day is someone who roles up his sleeves for the patients we take care of with tremendous respect for the caregivers who are in the patients’ homes.

Ken Albert

Chairman of the Board, The National Alliance for Care at Home

Industry Changes, Advancements, and Ongoing Advocacy Efforts

Dr. Landers attributes much of the positive changes in D.C. to the efforts of volunteer leaders looking to move the industry forward. Care at home needs to become more streamlined, more efficient, and with a better voice.

His vision for the care at home industry is an America where everyone can access high-quality care wherever they call home.

Strong Admonition for CMS

Dr. Landers noted positive movement in some areas. However, he became passionately adamant that a payment update is not an increase if it doesn’t keep up with inflation or pay increases. “The Alliance represents providers delivering high-quality, person-centered care to million of individuals in the home, and they deserve to be recognized and compensated for the work they do,” he said.

Our Aging Nation

It should come as no surprise that older adults have a strong preference for aging at home. They prioritize living where they feel in control and connected. They want to be in familiar surroundings and to maintain their routines.

The U.S. population over the age of 85 is expected to triple from 2020-2060 to more than 19 million people. Despite medical advances, only 1/3 of those over the age of 85 say they are free of disability or free of difficulty with daily living.

With the rising number of older individuals, caregiver to patient ratios are falling nearly everywhere across the country. Dr. Landers and The Alliance urge policymakers to make promoting the dignity and independence of our aging population one of their highest health policy priorities. The Alliance will continue to tell anyone and everyone who will listen that care at home offers the win-win solution that policymakers are looking for.

Changes at the Top

We’ve already seen numerous and sometimes drastic changes at the federal level. Dr. Landers points out that eight years ago the “Trump 1.0 Administration” developed the PDGM framework and signed hospice reform legislation. On the campaign trail, President Trump stated he would not be making cuts to Medicare. The “Trump 2.0” care at home priorities are not yet clear, but The Alliance will continue to emphasize cost savings and the preference to age in place.

Secretary Kennedy, head of HHS, placed his emphasis on the chronic disease epidemic, launching Making America Healthy Again. He has stated a preference for community-based solutions and patient-centered care.

New CMS Administrator Dr. Oz seems to be supportive of Medicare Advantage, but did have some critique of the program during senate hearings. Dr. Oz has a stated focus of finding and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse.

Changes Near the Top

At the congressional level, The Alliance lost a few key supporters with the last election, but many care at home advocates remained. Of the returning members of the Senate and House, care at home advocates include:

Senators Collins (R-ME), Hassan (D-NH), Tillis (R-NC), Barrasso (R-WY), Blackburn (R-TN), CortezMasto (D-NV), and Rosen (D-NV)
Representatives: Adrian Smith (R-NE), Sewell (D-AL) Van Duyne (R-TX), Panetta (D-CA), Guthrie (RKY), and Carter (R-GA)

The support in Congress leaves us hopeful. Large Reconciliation Packages dominate the current conversation. Many questions remain as to what is at risk for care at home and what Medicaid’s future might hold.

Later this year, The Alliance sees opportunities for care at home outside of reconciliation. These include Home Health PDGM reform, hospice reform, the telehealth extension, revocation of the Medicaid HCBS 80/20 rule, tax credits, and long term care insurance.

Public Policy Priorities

As The Alliance moves forward, several key issues will remain priorities:

Access to Care at Home

PDGM Implementation
Telehealth Extension
Medicare Advantage Dynamics
Care for High Needs Beneficiaries

Quality Care at Home

Special Focus Program Implementation
DEA Telehealth Provisions
HOPE tool implementation?

Eliminating Fraud and Abuse in Care at Home

Hospice Concurrent Care
Hospice and Medicare Advantage
Medicaid 80/20 Rule
Caregiver Tax Credits / LTCI

Growing the Care at Home Workforce

Supply is simply not meeting demand
Strengthened rates, incentives, and educational opportunities will attract and retain a qualified workforce

Follow Up

I spoke with Dr. Landers after the keynote address to ask him why lone worker safety was not among the top priorities of The Alliance. He assured me that there is a position within The Alliance who, among other tasks, is focusing on lone worker safety. I urged him to make it a higher priority and will follow up to get the contact information for the position he mentioned.

# # #

Mass Layoffs in HHS “Overhaul”

by Kristin Rowan | Apr 11, 2025 | CMS, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

Mass Layoffs at HHS

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced more than 10,000 position cuts within the department this week. The layoffs impact employees at the FDA, the CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and CMS, among others.

The 10,000 layoffs come after 10,000 additional employees left the department this year through retirement and deferred resignation programs. The HHS overall staff is currently at around 75% of its previous numbers.

Kennedy Promises no Cuts to Essential Services

Despite the 25% reduction in workforce, Secretary Kennedy insists that no essential services will be cut. Native American tribes across the Southwest disagree with that statement and met with Kennedy to discuss the support they need. Kennedy left those meetings saying, “We are all going back with a long laundry list of tasks that we need to perform. And I’m going to give you my commitment today that I am available and listening to you.” Kennedy promised to look into cuts that disrupted scientific research and reinstate them.

Mass Layoff Impact to Care at Home

Of the 10,000 layoffs, approximately 300 of them came from within CMS. The agency lost roughly 4% of its total workforce. The administration pointed to “minor duplication” across the agency that the layoffs will eliminate.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), and CMS will share critical programs within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) that support older adults and people with disabilities.

Long-Term Goals

Multiple departments within HHS are consolidating, removing overlapping positions, research, and efforts. The stated goal of the department is to implement Make America Healthy Again, aimed at ending the chronic disease epidemic.

Make America Healthy Again

From the office of the President, Make America Healthy Again focuses on combatting rising rates of mental health disorders, obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. According to the Presidential Action, agencies should prioritize gold-standard research, work with farmers to ensure food is the healthiest and most affordable possible, and ensure the availability of treatment options and the flixibility for health insurance coverage to provide benefits that support healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.

Final Thoughts

The current upheaval and overhaul within HHS does not seem to be impacting CMS or Medicare and Medicaid services at this time. The 4% reduction is staff is negligible and there have been no cuts to services or programs within CMS. Word from HHS is that no additional cuts are planned and their next focus will be on streamlining efficiency. The new Assistant Secretary for Enforcement position to combat waste, fraud, and abuse will oversee the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeal. We will continue to follow this story as it develops.

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Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news .She also has a master’s degree in business administration and marketing and runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

CDPAP Overhaul Under Scrutiny

by Kristin Rowan | Apr 11, 2025 | Medicaid, Regulatory

by Kristin Rowan, Editor

CDPAP Overhaul in NY Medicaid Program

New York State Department of Health issued a comprehensive plan to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program. The state’s program, Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), allows patients to hire the caregiver of their choice. Eligible participants like the program for its autonomy. The redesign of the program’s execution reduces payment processors from more than 600 to just one company: Public Partnerships, LLC of Georgia.

The Need for the CDPAP Overhaul

New York Governor Kathy Hochul points to waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicaid program as the drivers of the change. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the cost for CDPAP rose from $2.5B in 2019 to $12B in 2025. Despite drawing national criticism, Hochul maintains that the program needs stronger oversite to ensure adequate care. Additionally, the state’s Medicaid program has recently suffered more than $143 million in clawbacks from kickbacks and improperly claimed reimbursements.

Brakes Applied

Last week, a judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the consolidation of the payer system down to a single entity. The TRO was issued following a lawsuit filed on behalf of individuals and independent living centers. The parties claim that the transition to Public Partnerships LLC has been delayed by technical challenges. The delays threaten to remove beneficiary access to home health services. The litigants also cited failure on the part of the state to serve notice and to allow for a fair hearing to challenge the change.

A judge has extended that TRO through April 14th, blocking additional changes. Beneficiaries who have already switched to the new payer are not impacted by the TRO. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated there will be a 90-day review period to assess whether the change complies with federal law.

Hit From Both Sides

For or against the transition to a single payer, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are in agreement on one thing: Public Partnership LLC should not be that single payer. The company has a history of financial mismanagement, no experience working in New York, and may have engaged in bid rigging.

Dubious Reassurances

The NY Department of Health issued a public service announcement saying access to home health care will remain intact and that members will be able to keep their current caregiver. Following the review period from HHS and the pending lawsuits, residents of New York may experience familiar disappointments.

This is an ongoing story and we will provide updates as the story develops.

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Kristin Rowan has been working at The Rowan Report since 2008. She is the owner and Editor-in-chief of The Rowan Report, the industry’s most trusted source for care at home news. She also has a master’s degree in business administration and marketing and runs Girard Marketing Group, a multi-faceted boutique marketing firm specializing in content creation, social media management, and event marketing. Connect with Kristin directly kristin@girardmarketinggroup.com or www.girardmarketinggroup.com

Relief for Providers

by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. | Apr 11, 2025 | Admin, Audits, CMS, Medicare, Regulatory

by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.

Relief for Providers from Devastating Penalties?

A judge in the Northern District of Texas recently decided that even the minimum penalties mandated under the False Claims Act (FCA) violate the Eighth Amendment’s Excessive Fines Clause [see U.S. ex rel. Taylor v. Healthcare Associates of Tex. (N.D. Tex. Feb. 26, 2025)]. The FCA punishes providers for submission of information that is not true in order to get paid by the federal government.

Life Threatening Penalties

The penalties assessed against providers under the FCA may be described as “life threatening.” That is, it may be difficult for providers’ businesses to survive payment of such severe penalties. The minimum penalty increased from $13,946 to $14,308 in 2025. The maximum penalty per claim increased from $27,894 to $28,619.

Ex Post Facto

These increased penalties will be assessed for violations that occurred prior to the change, but that are assessed after they are in effect. These penalties certainly make it clear why it is difficult for providers to survive violations of the FCA.

False Claims

In the Taylor case above, for example, the defendants allegedly submitted false claims as follows:

As “incident to” a physician’s care without proper documentation
For services by providers who were not eligible to bill the Medicare Program
For services performed by medical assistants instead of qualified practitioners

FCA Math Doesn't Add Up

The jury found that one of the defendants, a primary care medical group practice, submitted 21,944 false claims for $2,753,641.86 in actual damages. After trebling the damages as required by the FCA, the Court said it would enter judgement against the defendant for approximately $8 million. The Court acknowledged, however, that penalties under the FCA are fines subject to the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Grossly Disproportional to the Gravity

The Court then applied the following four factors to decide whether the “fine was grossly disproportional to the gravity of the offense” under the Eighth Amendment:

The essence of the defendant’s crime and its relationship to other criminal activity
Whether the defendant was within the class of people for whom the statute of conviction was principally designed
The maximum sentence, including the fine that could have been imposed
The nature of the harm resulting from the defendant’s conduct

Fraud...or a Reporting Error?

With regard to the first factor, the Court emphasized that the defendant’s misconduct involved violations of Medicare billing rules, but did not include billing for services that were not provided. In fact, the Court said that even though the defendant violated Medicare billing rules, the misconduct was “closer in gravity to something like a ‘reporting offense.’” There was, said the Court, no evidence that the defendant’s conduct was “related to other criminal or fraudulent activity.

Magnitude of Harm

The Court also focused attention on the fourth factor. The defendant’s harm was certainly significant, but the harm, according to the Court, did not necessitate a penalty “two orders of magnitude greater than the actual financial harm,” especially when the actual damages were substantial, i.e., one hundred times the amount of actual damages. That ratio was “grossly out of alignment with the ratios in other similar cases.” The Court imposed a civil penalty of $8,260,925.58 that represents less than 3% of the statutory minimum.

Final Thoughts

Whether other Courts follow the Taylor case described above remains to be seen, but it is quite clear that providers need relief from the penalties of the FCA.

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Elizabeth Hogue is an attorney in private practice with extensive experience in health care. She represents clients across the U.S., including professional associations, managed care providers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, durable medical equipment companies, and hospices.

No portion of this material may be reproduced in any form without the advance written permission of the author.

HIS to HOPE

by Rowan Report | Apr 11, 2025 | Admin, Hospice

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 are transitioning from the Hospice Item Set (HIS) to the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE). This change is not just a modification in terminology; it represents a transformative shift towards a more patient-centered and holistic approach to hospice care. In this article, we will explore what this transition entails, its benefits, and how it will affect our daily practices.

Understanding the Transition from HIS to HOPE

The move from HIS to HOPE signifies an essential evolution in our approach to patient care. While HIS primarily focused on data collection and compliance with regulations, HOPE emphasizes measuring patient outcomes, quality of care, and overall patient experience. This transition encourages us to engage more deeply with our patients and their families, ensuring that their unique needs and preferences are at the forefront of the care we provide.

What is HOPE?

HOPE stands for Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation. This new framework highlights several core principles:

Patient-Centered Care
- Focusing on individual patien needs and preferences
Quality of Care Assessment
- Evaluation how well we meet those needs
Holistic Approach
- Considering emotional, spiritual, and psychological factors in addition to physical health

Benefits of HOPE in Hospice Care

The adoption of the HOPE framework offers numerous advantages for both patients and healthcare providers:

Improved Patient Engagement
- By prioritizing patient preferences, we can foster stronger relationships and enhance the overall care experience
Enhanced Quality of Care
- Focused outcomes assessment allows us to identify areas for improvement and implement best practices
Recognition of Care Quality
- HOPE enables us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our care, leading to greater recognition of our contributions in hospice settings

HIS to HOPE Key Differences

Understanding the distinctions between HIS and HOPE can help clarify the shift in our practices. Here are some key differences

HIS to HOPE Vicki Goodman Curantis Solutions

The Role of Hospice Nurses in the HOPE Framework

As hospice nurses, our role in implementing HOPE will require a significant mindset shift. Here’s how we can adapt our practice:

Engage With Patients and Families
- Actively involve them in care planning and decision-making
Assess Holistically
- Look beyond clinical data to include emotional and spiritual assessments
Collaborate with Interdisciplinary Teams
- Work closely with all caregivers to ensure a comprehensive approach to patient care

By integrating these principles into our daily practice, we can enhance patient experiences and outcomes, ultimately providing the compassionate care that is the hallmark of hospice services.

Acknowledging Our Impact

As we transition to the HOPE framework, it’s essential to take a moment to give ourselves credit for the incredible work we already do. For most of us, patient-centered care has been at the heart of our practice long before HOPE was introduced. This new framework serves as validation, providing a structured approach to highlight the compassionate, individualized care we consistently offer.

Getting Prepared

The transition from HIS to HOPE marks an important chapter in the hospice care journey. Prepare for the transition with partners who understand the complexities and challenges that come with such significant changes. Specifically, work with a software and service company designed to ensure that your hospice team can seamlessly adapt to the HOPE framwork without sacrificing the quality of care.

About Curantis Solutions

From comprehensive training to state-of-the-art data management systems, we provide everything needed to make this transition as smooth and effective as possible. With Curantis Solutions, you can be confident that no matter how the standards evolve, you will always be at the cutting edge, providing compassionate, patient-centered care. t Curantis, we understand the unique challenges faced by hospice and palliative care organizations. Our commitment to providing exceptional support ensures that you can focus on what matters most—delivering compassionate care to your patients. We pride ourselves on our quick response times, we deeply listen to our clients, and are easy to get ahold of when you need us. When partnering with Curantis Solutions, we guarantee we have support you can depend on.

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Vicki Goodman, RN, BSN, MHA is an accomplished healthcare professional with a strong background in post-acute care, SaaS sales. With a proven track record of driving revenue growth, Vicki has successfully orchestrated sales strategies and marketing initiatives with over 30 years of experience in the home health and hospice EHR industry. Prior to joining Curantis Solutions, Vicki was VP, Enterprise Sales at Matrix Care.

She is an RN and BSN graduated of East Carolina University and received her MHA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She credits a lot of her success to collaborating with product and marketing teams creating an unstoppable engine. We are thrilled to have her join the Curantis Solutions family and look forward to the continued growth under her leadership.

©2024 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in Healthcare at Home: The Rowan Report. One copy may be printed for personal use: further reproduction by permission only. editor@therowanreport.com

Dr. Oz Nomination Advances to Full Senate

by Tim Rowan | Mar 31, 2025 | Admin, CMS, Regulatory

by Tim Rowan, Editor Emeritus

Dr. Oz Nomination Advance to Senate

“Given your close ties to the industry that you would regulate, if you are confirmed, the public would have reason to question your impartiality and commitment to serving the public’s interest.” — Senator Elizabeth Warren, letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz

Reuter’s Ahmed Aboulenein reported on March 12 that “Warren called on Oz to divest from his financial holdings related to industries regulated by the agency and commit to strong ethics safeguards.” Oz, of course, is President Donald Trump’s nominee for CMS Administrator, the agency most important to Home Health and Hospice providers.

Across the aisle, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley peppered Oz with questions about his position on transgender therapy. “You previously praised trans surgeries for minors and supported the use of puberty blockers for children. You discussed transgender therapy on your TV program and hosted transgender children.”

Hawley also questioned Dr Oz’s previous comments on abortion, adding: “I hope he’s changed his views to match President Trump! We need the Trump agenda at CMS.”

It goes without saying that a nominee who encounters challenges from the left and the right is facing an uphill battle toward Senate confirmation, especially when nominees this year can only afford to lose three votes from the majority party. What exactly has Dr. Oz said or done over his long career that may put his nomination in jeopardy?

Pulling Back the Curtain

Becker’s Hospital Review summarized Oz’s history as well as his answers to questions during his three-hour Senate hearing on March 14.

“The former TV personality answered questions about potential Medicaid cuts, the focus of the House’s February budget instruction that the Energy and Commerce Committee cut $880 billion over 10 years. Medicare and Medicaid are the largest programs under the committee’s oversight. (A March 5 Congressional Budget Office report said the only way to reach the $880 billion saving goal over the next decade, without raising taxes, would be through Medicaid or CHIP cuts.)”

While Dr. Oz did not directly respond to questions or reveal his stance regarding Medicaid cuts, he did have a prepared non-answer for the Senators. “I commit to doing whatever I can, working tirelessly to ensure that CMS provides Americans with superb care. Especially Americans who are most vulnerable. Our young, our disabled and our elderly.”

On March 25, the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance Oz’s nomination to the full Senate. The panel voted 14 to 13, along party lines.

Vision Statement

Prior to facing the challenging questions thrown at him from both sides of the aisle, Dr. Oz used his opening statement to outline a vision focused largely on modernizing CMS’s systems; addressing waste, fraud and abuse; and incentivizing Americans to make healthier lifestyle choices.

In the past, Oz had endorsed privatizing Medicare through a change that would essentially result in something that might be called “Medicare Advantage for All.” In his Senate hearing answers, Oz pivoted to the opposite argument. He cited problems of overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, the need to limit prior authorizations, and emphasized the need to halt the practice of “upcoding” where providers or plans bill for treating patients as sicker than they actually are.

In 2010, Dr Oz hosted a 15-minute segment on his show called “Transgender Kids: Too Young to Decide?” in which he spoke to transgender children, their parents and a doctor who provided gender-affirming care.

Outlook

Considering the slim Republican majority in the Senate, Ox can afford to lose only three Republican votes in his bid to become the next CMS administrator.

# # #

Tim Rowan is a 30-year home care technology consultant who co-founded and served as Editor and principal writer of this publication for 25 years. He continues to occasionally contribute news and analysis articles under The Rowan Report’s new ownership. He also continues to work part-time as a Home Care recruiting and retention consultant. More information: RowanResources.com
Tim@RowanResources.com

Ensuring HIPAA Compliance in Healthcare Communication

by Rowan Report | Mar 31, 2025 | Admin, Clinical, HIPAA

by Devin Paullin, CGO at Skyscape Buzz

Ensuring HIPAA Compliance

Communications Requiring HIPAA Compliance

While patient communication requires HIPAA adherence, so does any discussion between other parties. Essentially, any time PHI is discussed, a degree of confidentiality must be involved. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that sensitive patient data be protected when shared or discussed among:

Healthcare Providers and Patients
- Any time a caregiver, staff member, doctor, nurse, or any other employee communicates with a patient, resident, or client, outside of face-to-face meetings, it must be done securely in a way that meets HIPAA standards.
Healthcare Professionals Among Themselves
- HIPAA compliance must be met when healthcare professionals discuss PHI within their department or collaborate with external departments.
Healthcare Providers and Insurance Companies
- Insurance providers require patient details and sensitive PHI. Still, anything that makes information vulnerable to interception must be fully compliant with HIPAA standards.
Healthcare Organizations and Third-Party Associates
- Third parties that need to handle PHI (e.g., IT consultants, collections agencies, or other vendors) must do so in a way that protects patient data. To safeguard communication, healthcare organizations should ask outside associates, vendors, or agencies to sign a business associate agreement (BAA) and/or Data Processing Agreement (DPA). This is a formal agreement to comply with HIPAA standards and ensure accountability.
Healthcare Organizations and Public Health Authorities
- Some diseases or conditions require healthcare professionals to report to public health authorities (e.g. COVID-19 information during the pandemic). This communication requires stringent security measures and protection of PHI.

Why HIPAA Compliance Matters

In healthcare, effective communication is essential for providing high-quality care. However, without HIPAA compliance, the risk of data breaches increases. Implementing secure, HIPAA-compliant communication systems ensures the protection of Personal Health Information (PHI) while improving overall operational efficiency.

Key Benefits of HIPAA-Compliant Communication

Protects Patient Privacy and Data Security
- HIPAA-compliant platforms use advanced encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized access. This protects patient information, including medical histories, diagnoses, and test results.
Enhances Communication Efficiency
- Secure messaging platforms streamline communication between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. These tools eliminate inefficient methods like phone calls and ensure real-time communication.
Strengthens Collaborative Care
- Providing high-quality healthcare often involves a team of professionals working together. Whether it is a hospital placing a patient in rehabilitation or home care, coordinating with intake team, care team and providers,collaboration is key. HIPAA-compliant communication tools allow these professionals to securely share critical patient information, ensuring everyone has the details they need to deliver cohesive, well-informed care.
Reduces Legal and Financial Risks
- Compliance with HIPAA regulations minimizes the risk of violations, protecting organizations from hefty fines and legal repercussions.
Maintains Patient Trust
- Patients are more likely to engage openly with healthcare providers when they feel confident that their sensitive information is protected.

How to Ensure HIPAA Compliance in Communication

To comply with HIPAA regulations, healthcare organizations should adopt the following secure communication methods:

Encrypted Emails
- Ensure emails containing PHI are encrypted and, in some cases, require patient consent.
Secure Messaging Platforms
- Use platforms specifically designed for HIPAA compliance for text-based communication.
HIPAA-Compliant Voice Calls and Telehealth
- Ensure voice and video communication channels are encrypted and secure.
Patient Portals
- Provide secure portals with two-factor authentication for patients to access their medical information.
Secure File Sharing
- Use encrypted systems for sharing patient documents and medical records.

Implementing HIPAA-Compliant Communication Platforms

Adopting a HIPAA-compliant communication platform requires a thorough evaluation of existing systems and policies. Organizations should consider the following steps:

Conduct a Communication Audit
- Identify all channels currently used for healthcare communication and assess their compliance.
Choose a Secure Platform
- Select an all-in-one communication solution designed to meet HIPAA standards.
Establish Access Controls
- Implement role-based access to ensure only authorized personnel can view PHI.
Provide Staff Training
- Educate employees on the importance of HIPAA compliance and how to use secure communication tools.
Monitor and Evaluate
- Regularly assess communication practices to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Final Thoughts

HIPAA-compliant communication is not just a legal obligation—it’s a commitment to patient privacy, security, and high-quality care. By implementing secure communication platforms, healthcare organizations can enhance efficiency, foster trust, and reduce the risk of data breaches. Investing in compliance is an investment in the long-term success and reputation of your organization.

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Devin Paullin HIPAA Compliance in Home Healthcare

Devin Paullin is an award-winning innovator and executive in Healthcare Technology, having developed successful products, solutions, and partnerships in Life Sciences, Post-Acute Care, SDOH, and Long-Term industries.

He is currently Chief Growth Officer for Skyscape which provides Buzz, an all-in-one, real-time HIPAA-compliant clinical collaboration and communication platform that enables the entire staff (admins, operations, clinicians, caregivers, partners, patients, and families) with the tools to communicate securely, easily, in groups or one to one, and affordable, by any mode they choose. Visit Buzz or contact them to learn more about Buzz by Skyscape today.

Enabling Care Through AI

by Rowan Report | Mar 31, 2025 | Admin, Artificial Intelligence, Clinical, Partner News

by John Crighton, CTO at Curantis Solutions

Enabling Care Through AI: Ethical Issues

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an essential component of healthcare organizations. AI is revolutionizing hospice and palliative care by enhancing patient care and optimizing workflows. Its impact is undeniable in these sensitive and life-changing fields. At Curantis Solutions, we are proud to apply AI-driven solutions to support caregivers while upholding ethical standards, enabling care through AI.

The Importance of AI in Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice and palliative care are primarily based on empathy, understanding, and individual approach. When applied correctly, AI can enhance these core principles in several ways:

Improving Efficiency
- Some of the time-consuming tasks, such as entering assessment notes, reviewing recent documents before a patient meeting, or creating a summary of recent documentation in preparation for a team meeting, can be performed or assisted by AI. By automating these administrative tasks, caregivers can spend more time providing direct patient care.
Predictive Analysis
- AI tools can analyze the patient’s data and predict the possible changes in the patient’s condition, which will help to prevent complications.
Individualized Care Plans
- Based on the patient’s history, AI can help clinicians in the development of care plans that are more accurate in meeting the needs of the patient. Although the idea of using AI in hospice and palliative care is fascinating, it is crucial to approach this issue with caution and always pay attention to ethical issues.

Ethical Issues in the Use of AI in Hospice and Palliative Care

As the industry incorporates AI into our products and agencies, we need to consider ethical implications such as those shown below:

Privacy and Data Protection Issues
- Hospice and palliative care deal with the patient’s private details. At Curantis Solutions, we ensure that all AI-powered tools comply with the highest security and privacy standards, safeguarding patient data at every step.
Bias and Fairness
- The way AI systems are developed, they are only as good as the data that is used in their development. At Curantis Solutions, we strive to recognize and eliminate any possible prejudice in the AI systems that we develop to benefit all patients.
Transparency and Accountability
- It is important that the caregivers and the patients know how the AI is being used and how the decisions are made. We try to make our AI solutions as transparent as possible, and we ensure that the final decisions are always made by humans. Hospice and palliative care are very personal. This field is defined by the human component, and AI should only supplement it and not replace it. The solutions that we provide are intended to assist clinicians in order to maintain the sanctity of every patient.

A Future of Kindness with the Help of AI

The healthcare sector is changing rapidly, and AI is coming in to improve hospice and palliative care. At Curantis Solutions, we are proud to apply AI in a way that enhances the human factor, ethical values, and the capacity of the caregivers to offer the best care possible to the patient. Therefore, it is possible to envision a future where technology and empathy coexist to ensure that every patient gets the care they require. Leverage AI to reduce administrative burdens for hospice and palliative care.

About Curantis Solutions and AI

The goal of Curantis Solutions is to assist hospice and palliative care providers in the provision of patient-centered and compassionate care. This post discusses how AI can be used in this mission and how it can be done ethically.

We accomplish this in the following manner:

Working in partnership with specialists
- We partner with clinicians, ethicists, and AI experts to guarantee that our solutions are appropriate for the context of hospice and palliative care).
Revisiting the Model
- AI is not set and forgotten; it needs to be assessed and improved on an ongoing basis. We also regularly check the efficacy of our AI tools to ensure that they are accurate, fair, and reliable.
Enabling Care Teams
- Our solutions which are supported by AI are meant to support the skills of the care teams and not to replace them. Thus, we lessen the burden of documentation to allow the providers to focus on the patient and their families more often.

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John Crighton is a seasoned technology leader, with over 25 years of experience in software development innovation and best practices.

John most recently served as the Chief Technology Officer for Lightning Step, a Behavioral Health SaaS EHR with over 100,000 users. John served on the executive team that scaled the business, contributing to the 40x revenue growth and eventually to a successful exit. Prior to that, John managed a custom development team at Openlink Financial and was responsible for product quality at SolArc Software. John was part of the management team that led Mission Critical Software to a successful IPO and went on to management roles with JMI Software, NEON Systems, and NetIQ.

John is a veteran of the US Army, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration.

©2024 by The Rowan Report, Peoria, AZ. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in the Curantis Solutions blog and is reprinted in Healthcare at Home: The Rowan Report with permission. For further permission to reprint, contact Curantis Solutions.

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