Hospice

LINCOLN, Nebraska—St. Croix Hospice has been recognized by the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association (NHPCA) with the NHPCA Shining Star Award, which was announced at the 2024 NHPCA Annual Conference on March 20. After receiving nominations from industry leaders, the NHPCA awards the Shining Star honor to a hospice provider in good standing with the association that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation within the local hospice community.

WASHINTON and ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—Following a series of meetings with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Members of Congress on efforts to improve and protect hospice program integrity, four national hospice organizations—LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee—IntellaTriage, a provider of after-hours nurse-first triage services for hospice and home health, announced its strategic acquisition of NurseLine, a prominent nationwide provider of hospice and home health triage services. The transaction was completed for an undisclosed sum.

WASHINGTON—A federal jury convicted a California man for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by billing $2.8 million for hospice services that patients did not need.

Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the U.S., and Compassus, a national provider of home-based health care services, announced they have signed an agreement to form a 50/50 joint venture partnership for BSMH homecare and hospice. Under the agreement, Compassus will manage operations for 10 home health agencies and 11 hospice operations spanning five states.

NASHVILLE—Traditions Health has recently hired Michael Craig as its new vice president of sales for the hospice business line. In this new role, Craig will oversee Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina. He will also play an integral role in driving the company's sales growth and expanding market share.

WASHINGTON—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted on Jan. 11 to recommend that Congress reduce 2025 home health payment rates by 7%.

While the move was expected, advocates and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) still voiced their disappointment at the guidance. 

WASHINGTON—In the aftermath of the former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter’s passing, Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit advanced illness, hospice, and palliative care providers, released the following statement on Mrs. Carter’s passing:

WASHINGTON—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) continue to jointly explore the formation of a new as-of-yet unnamed organization that combines the strengths of NAHC and NHPCO, "creating a better and more powerful advocate for the entire home care, hospice, palliative care, and serious illness community," NAHC said. 

WASHINGTON, Maryland—The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) have laid out an “aggressive timeline” to possibly merge the two organizations and rebrand, NAHC President Bill Dombi said.  

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee—IntellaTriage, a provider of after-hours nurse triage for hospice and home health providers, announced its placement on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company List for 2023. The ranking provides a look at entrepreneurial businesses. Achieving a position among the top five percent of expanding private firms in the country, IntellaTriage earned the 234th spot, positioning them as the sixth-ranked company in Tennessee.

BATON ROUGE, Lousiana—Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) reported its financial results for the three and six-month periods which ended June 30, 2023.

Three-Month Periods Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022

WASHINGTON—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), and NORC at the University of Chicago presented a Congressional briefing on new research that highlights the quality-of-life and cost savings value that the Medicare Hospice Benefit brings to pati

BRENTWOOD, Tennesse—IntellaTriage, a provider of after-hours nurse triage for hospice and home health providers, hospitals, physician groups, health plans and specialty practices, announced the promotion of top sales performer Gio Pagano to senior vice president. Tasked with bringing on new clients and expanding the IntellaTriage impact on the market, IntellaTriage said Pagano exceeded expectations and will continue developing that reach with a growing sales team.

WASHINGTON—The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed 2024 rule for the home health payment system includes a slew of hospice-specific provisions, many of them designed to reduce fraud and so-called "hospice flipping." Here's a look at what's included, according to the National Association for Homecare and Hospice. 

FRISCO, Texas—Addus HomeCare Corporation (Nasdaq: ADUS), a provider of homecare services, announced a definitive agreement to acquire the entities comprising Tennessee Quality Care, a provider of home health, hospice and private duty nursing services. Tennessee Quality Care serves an average daily census of approximately 1,800 patients through 17 locations covering a service area of more than 50 counties in Tennessee.

DENVER, Colorado—Care Synergy announced Dr. Robert Howe, D.O. has been selected as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for all hospice, palliative care and home health affiliates across the Care Synergy network. Affiliates include The Denver Hospice (TDH), Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs, Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins and the Colorado Visiting Nurses Association which serves patients across the Front Range. Howe joined the organization last year as Chief Medical Officer for TDH.

MICHIGAN—Aspirus At Home has expanded services in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) to give residents of Iron County and the surrounding area greater local access to hospice care.

The service expansion adds hospice care and grief support to the wide range of offerings already provided by Aspirus At Home in the U.P. to meet the needs of patients wherever they are in their health care journey.

DALLAS—Homecare Homebase (HCHB) announced its home-based care software solution is the first to achieve dual verification status from Community Health Accreditation Partner, (CHAP). A non-profit accrediting body for home and community-based health care organizations, CHAP is approved by CMS and is a recognized leader in accreditation for both home health and hospice.