Spotlight on Seniors Interview with Kandyce Powell, ED of the Maine Hospice Council https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw8CYtGmBXI ..read more

Patients’ Right to Freedom of Choice of Providers: Complaint by Provider against Hospital Substantiated by State Surveyors ©2021 Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. All rights reserved. No portion of this material may be reproduced in any form without the advance written permission of the author. Providers must have a steady stream of referrals in order to be viable. By the same token, all patients have the right to choose the providers who render care to them.   Several sources affirm the right of patients to choose their providers, including the following ..read more

CMS Posts Memorandum on Nursing Shortage: CMS states that findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics continue to forecast a shortage of nurses through 2024 with a job growth rate that is faster than the average. In remote instances, a hospice provider may find that a shortage of nurses creates a temporary impact on its ability to provide nursing services to patients and as a result may create an access to care concern for hospice beneficiaries. To read full article, click here ..read more

Great News! The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care has been awarded grant funding from NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans Program and Department of Veterans Affairs  for Trauma-Informed Care for Veterans on Hospice Initiative. To read full press release, click here! The Maine Hospice Council is partnering with Maine Veterans Hospital, mental health organizations, and state hospice volunteer programs to create educational trainings to be implemented statewide. Keep watch for your opportunity to participate in one of these educational trainings ..read more

Upon election of hospice the patient should expect the hospice to provide for all services related to the patient’s terminal illness and related conditions, including ensuring the patient’s rights are respected. Failure of the hospice to comply with the Medicare requirement related to patient’s rights has the potential to lead significant consequence, such as patient neglect which may cause harm to the patient.   “Neglect in hospice may be difficult to identify and may result from inaction on the part of the hospice or its employees.” Examples of neglect may include ..read more

Summary of CMS Final Rule   Final Rule on Discharge Planning, Interoperability and Patient Preferences Summary at a Glance On September 30, CMS published a final rule which ..read more

  U.S. Supreme Court Says Government Can Dismiss Whistleblower Lawsuits Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.   Whistleblowers have brought many qui tam law suits against providers based on the False Claims Act. Enforcers love them! Now the U.S. Supreme Court has decided, in United States ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources [No. 21-1052 (U.S. June 16, 2023)], that the Government may dismiss such suits over the objections of persons or relators who filed them. This case is important to providers because it may make it more difficult for whistleblowers to continue their qui tam law ..read more

Congratulations! Maine is #1 in Hospice Utilization Growth ..read more

Elizabeth Hogue, Esq. Articles   Elizabeth E. Hogue is an attorney in private practice with extensive experience in health care. She represents clients all over the country including professional associations, managed care providers, and health care providers including hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, durable medical equipment companies, and hospices.   Elizabeth's articles focuses on Home Care. Elizabeth keeps us informed on all types of legal matters related to the home care industry. Her materials are always well-written and informative. Please see sever ..read more

Maine Legislature honors Down East Hospice Volunteers 40 years of Compassionate Care On October 13, Representative Anne Perry and Senator Marianne Moore presented Down East Hospice Volunteers Executive Director Barb Barnett and Board President Paul Strickland with a Legislative Sentiment. This Sentiment is signed by President of the Senate Troy Jackson, Secretary of the Senate Darek Grant, Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau and Clerk of the House Robert Hunt. It was introduced by Representative Perry and cosponsored by Senator Moore. “Given this fourteenth day of September, 2021 at the State C ..read more