For Immediate ReleaseApril 15, 2024 (Alexandria, VA) – CaringInfo, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), has launched a new consumer blog, Insights, offering timely and practical content on serious-illness care and services from a variety of perspectives in both English and Spanish. Insights’ monthly posts will expand consumer access to information, help the community learn from others’ experiences and best practices, and improve the public’s ability to make informed decisions about care before a crisis. CaringInfo also offers more information about advanc ..read more

For Immediate ReleaseMarch 28, 2024 CMS Proposes 2.6% Payment Update, Insufficient to Meet Rising Cost Pressures (Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) published the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule which would update key components of hospice reimbursement and regulations in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. “The 2.6% proposed rate increase for hospices is not enough to support the continued delivery of hospice care amidst rising cost pressures and ongoing workforce constraints ..read more

For Immediate Release March 12, 2024 Findings Reveal Current Audit Process’ Shortcomings (Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA) – 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, the four preeminent national hospice organizations – LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) – today release findings of ..read more

For Immediate Release March 11, 2024 (Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its We Honor Veterans (WHV) program responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) clarification on concurrent care eligibility for Veteran beneficiaries. Under Change Request 13523 issued by CMS on February 22, 2024, the Medicare Benefit Manual is updated to clarify that a Veteran beneficiary who elects hospice services under the Medicare benefit may still receive services that are not included on the hospice plan of care and are furnished and paid un ..read more

For Immediate Release March 4, 2024 (Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) responded to today’s announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that as of December 31, 2024, the hospice benefit component of the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model will conclude. This model allowed participating Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) to include the Medicare hospice benefit in their Medicare Advantage benefits package. CMS cited feedback from providers, beneficiaries, and MAOs about their experience with VBID as the reason ..read more

For Immediate Release February 27, 2024 (Alexandria, Va) – In 2023, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) hosted the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) series, Equity Where It Matters, consisting of bimonthly sessions on a wide variety of topics related to increasing access to equitable serious illness and end-of-life care. Participants in the program who attended at least seventy-percent of the sessions and completed program evaluation requirements earned an NHPCO Health Equity Certificate. Project ECHO is an innovative program designed to creat ..read more

For Immediate Release February 13, 2024 Opens Enrollment for the 2024 Program Year (Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recognizes the achievements of participating member organizations who have earned rings in the third program year of NHPCO’s Quality Connections program. First launched in January 2021, Quality Connections (QC) is the only national program designed to support hospice and palliative care provider delivery of high-quality, person-centered care. The program is structured around four fundamental pillars which are represented by four rin ..read more

For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 12, 2024  MedPAC Commissioners Abandon their Previous Recommendation to Cut Payment Cap (Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today commented on the hospice implications of the public meeting of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held yesterday, as well as MedPAC’s hospice workplan, which has been presented at previous MedPAC meetings. During yesterday’s public meetings, the MedPAC Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the Chair’s hospice recommendation, which will be included in the Commission’s ..read more

For Immediate Release December 21, 2023 The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) jointly announced today that they have developed a proposed slate of Transition Board of Directors and officers for 2024. The Transition Board will oversee the transition to a new, consolidated organization pursuant to its ratification by both associations’ Boards of Directors in an agreement to combine which is contemplated in early 2024. The as-of-yet to be named organization will combine the strengths of NAHC and NHPCO, creat ..read more

For Immediate Release December 13, 2023 Includes a special section on value-based insurance design hospice benefit (Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has published its 2023 edition of Facts and Figures, an annual report on key data points related to the delivery of hospice care, including information on patient characteristics, location and level of care, Medicare hospice spending, and hospice providers. NHPCO Facts and Figures is the leading resource for hospice providers and others interested in understanding the work of the community. The findin ..read more