Howe will lead a newly formed medical group that includes providers across all Care Synergy organizations.

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.

The extension also grants health plans the ability to restrict MAOs from using out-of-network providers.

Hospice patients will be able to receive concurrent care with Medicare Advantage as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended its Value-Based Insurance Design for calendar years 2025 through 2030. The extension also grants health plans the ability to restrict Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) from using out-of-network providers in 2026.

Birmingham, ALABAMA—A new report released last month by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) found that Medicare spending for patients who received hospice care was some $3.5 billion less than it would if they had not gotten that care. HomeCare talked with NAHC President Bill Dombi about the report and why getting Americans on board with hospice is so important. 

KANSAS CITY, Missouri— Husch Blackwell’s Hospice practice team handled a record number of hospice audits during 2022, part of a surge in audits witnessed by the industry, the company said. Attorneys at Husch Blackwell worked on more than 200 audit matters for hospices throughout 2022, a number the group anticipates will remain steady or potentially increase in the coming year.

WASHINGTON, DC—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should require hospice care providers to report all allegations of abuse and neglect immediately to survey agencies, regardless of whether the alleged perpetrator is affiliated with the hospice, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) urged in a new report.

The Department of Health and Human Services neither agreed nor disagreed with GAO's recommendation.

DALLAS (October 20, 2022)—After a thorough audit of its home health, homecare and hospice software solutions, Axxess has earned ACHC Product Certification. The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) offers product certification based on a comprehensive evaluation of the product’s ability to meet ACHC standards in administration, operations, fiscal management, human resources, provision of care, quality assurance/performance improvement and risk management.