In a rule proposal unveiled in March, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suggested a 2.6% increase in hospice per diems for 2025. Alongside this increase, the agency put forth two fresh quality measures and slated the 2025 rollout of the Hospice Outcome and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment tool, intending to supplant the current Hospice Item Set. However, stakeholders within the hospice sphere argue that the proposed increase fails to meet the mark, considering ongoing inflation, interest rates, staffing shortages, and wage escalations. Proposed Rate Increase NHPCO ..read more

On March 28, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule (CMS-1810-P) aimed at updating Medicare hospice payments and the aggregate cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2025, aligning with existing statutory and regulatory obligations. This proposal also suggests adopting the latest Office of Management and Budget (OMB) statistical area delineations, which would alter the hospice wage index. Furthermore, it seeks to clarify current policies concerning the hospice “election statement” and the “notice of election” (NOE), along with introducing clarifying lang ..read more

In the realm of end-of-life care, hospice providers are continuously adapting to meet the evolving needs of patients and families. In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in focus towards memory care settings and physician offices as key referral sources. This strategic move reflects a commitment to expanding access to hospice services, enhancing collaboration with healthcare partners, and ensuring that individuals facing advanced illnesses receive compassionate, tailored care that aligns with their unique needs and preferences. Rising Demand in Memory Care Settings Memory care sett ..read more

Most people prioritize improvements in quality of life at the end of life over extension of life.1 Similarly, 86% of Medicare beneficiaries express a preference to die at home.2 In practice, a home death happens for slightly less than half of cancer patients and less than a third of patients with non-cancer diagnoses.3 Physician-led end-of-life (EOL) discussions prove critical in helping patients consider their EOL preferences and in providing care concordant with patient wishes. Moreover, EOL discussions correlate with improved quality of life for dying patients, and, in turn, improved qualit ..read more

As we navigate the complex landscape of end-of-life care, recent research highlights a significant trend among Americans: the preference for home-based care in the twilight of their lives. Many elderly Americans follow one of three place-of-care trajectories during the last three years of their lives. Researchers from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, found in a study recently published in BMC Geriatrics that the three trajectories included the home, skilled home care, and institutional care. The Rising Popularity of Home-Based Care: Recent studies and surveys have revealed a notabl ..read more

The underlying premise behind hospice care is to focus on the quality of life for patients who present with a life-limiting illness and are not expected to live more than six months, instead of seeking treatment to prolong the condition or to seek a medical cure. Hospice focuses on the entire person and supports the family by combining all elements of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  Do you understand what the hospice benefits are and how they work? Who’s Eligible for the Medicare Hospice Benefit? According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, if you have Medicar ..read more

Many of us have heard it said that we all go through the circle of life. Each portion of the circle reflects a role that we have with our parents and our children. First, we are born the child. Second, we eventually become the parents of a child. Third, we become a parent of the parent. And in our final days, we essentially become the adult child of the child. People take a while to realize the adult child role has become reversed in the circle of life. Our parents are declining cognitively, physically, or becoming vulnerable in a way that requires the role reversal. As our loved ones’ age inc ..read more

The concept of hospice care is rooted in the philosophy of providing compassionate and specialized care for individuals facing terminal illnesses. The idea of hospice care is associated with the passing of a person, hence, a negative connotation. It is for this reason that many families consider hospice very late in the care of their loved one with a serious illness. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to feel a range of emotions, including guilt, when making the decision to call in hospice for a loved one. This decision can be emotionally challenging, as it may symbolize a transition from curati ..read more

Our veterans deserve the highest quality end-of-life care possible. Hospice care can be provided wherever a veteran calls home, including private residences, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. In the realm of hospice care, the importance of providing tailored and empathetic support cannot be overstated. For military veterans facing the challenges of the end-of-life journey, the presence of fellow veterans as volunteers can make a profound difference. The unique abilities of hospice veteran volunteers in connecting with veteran patients and their families foster a sense of understan ..read more

The song: “There is No Place Like Home for the Holidays” sung by the familiar voice of Perry Como, creates a feeling of coming home to a warm, full house at Christmas time. Surrounded by family and friends, celebrating the season, sharing meals and memories – home is where the heart is. No one wants to think about hospice when the holidays are approaching, but this is precisely when it should be considered. Hospice care can keep loved ones at home and in the thick of all the family activities while their pain and symptoms are expertly managed, improving quality of life. Care That Keeps Loved O ..read more