HARTFORD, Conn. (May 3, 2022)—CareCentrix, a home-centered care company, has named longtime health plan executive and physician Carmella Sebastian, M.D., M.S., as chief medical officer. Sebastian most recently served as vice president of clinical operations at Oscar Health, and before that, held leadership roles at Florida Blue, Humana, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

HARTFORD, Conn. (April 5, 2022)—CareCentrix, an independent home-centered company that coordinates care to the home for health plans, patients and providers, announced a rebrand of the Turn-Key Health palliative care solution to Serious Illness Care at Home, which provides a population health approach to home-based serious illness care. Turn-Key began providing palliative services nationally in 2016 and was acquired by CareCentrix in 2020.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 10, 2022)—Empath Health’s CEO Rafael J. Sciullo was honored with the Galen Miller Leadership Award during the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) 2022 Leadership and Advocacy Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Sciullo's legacy of leadership and innovation in the field of hospice and palliative care won him this maximum recognition.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (March 10, 2022)—MatrixCare announced the availability of MatrixCare Link, a new tool within its home health, hospice and palliative care electronic health record (EHR) software that simplifies communication and forms management for increased efficiency and a higher quality care experience for patients, physicians, and caregivers.

MatrixCare Link includes two essential components:

 DALLAS (March 3, 2022)—Organizations providing palliative care to patients can now use a standalone software that is custom-built specifically for the delivery of this evolving type of care. Axxess, a technology innovator for health care at home, has developed and launched a fully independent palliative care software solution. Axxess Palliative Care is the latest innovation in Axxess’ complete suite of solutions developed for organizations that provide care in the home.
 

CHICAGO (December 15, 2021)—American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is pleased to announce the completion of a three-year Palliative Care Measures Project funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). AAHPM, with subrecipients National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care and RAND Corporation, was awarded a $5.5 million three-year cooperative agreement from CMS.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 2, 2021)—At a recent virtual event, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) leaders, including Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Director Liz Fowler, unveiled the agency’s refreshed strategic vision for developing, implementing, and evaluating new care delivery and payment model demonstrations.

BURKBURNETT, Texas (October 21, 2021)—HomeWell Care Services, a network of nonmedical in-home care providers, has launched the Palliative Care Support and Hospice Care Support programs to programs offer clients a personalized schedule of in-home care and companionship that complements their palliative or hospice care plan, relieves family members from the demands of caregiving, and gives clients and families the peace of mind needed to focus on quality time together. 
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 3, 2021)—Late on July 29, U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska)—co-chairs and co-founders of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus—announced the introduction of the bipartisan Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act (S. 2565). Sens. Rosen, Barrasso and Baldwin also announced the introduction of their bipartisan Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2021 (S.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (July 27, 2021)—Willamette Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, Acclivity Health,and Reliance eHealth Collaborative have partnered to improve care coordination for hospice, palliative, and seriously ill patients in Oregon. Information is not always able to be shared between doctor’s offices, hospitals, and hospice and palliative care providers. This makes it harder to get a patient the care they need in a timely manner.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (May 13, 2021)—Empath Health and Stratum Health System announced that their merged organizations will be known as Empath Health. The two not-for-profit care organizations have joined together in a merger of equals to create one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health systems delivering non-acute care and services through its skilled, medical and holistic programs to individuals with chronic, advanced and terminal illnesses and those experiencing grief. 

CARY, N.C. (April 19, 2021)—As the number of people affected by serious illnesses continues to rise, many patients are turning to palliative care to cope with pain and better manage their conditions. Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) recognizes the growing value of these services and is launching a Palliative Care Accreditation program to advance quality of care and improve patient outcomes.