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Hospice & Palliative Care

Trends in Hospice & Palliative Care

ACO MarketScan: Payments Shifting Care at Home Volume

March/April 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT ACO MarketScan: What makes it crucial for home care providers to establish connections with ACOs? With more than half of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in accountable care organizations, aiming for 100%, home care providers must craft compelling value propositions and engagement strategies to foster partnerships.

ACO MarketScan: Payments Shifting Care at Home Volume2024-03-03T20:30:45-05:00

Hospital MarketScan: Hospital Outcome and Quality Measures

March/April 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Hospital MarketScan: A thorough grasp of hospital quality and outcomes proves highly advantageous for home care providers. Establishing and fortifying referral partnerships with hospitals and health systems necessitates a more comprehensive understanding of hospital outcomes and quality measures to enhance relationship building efforts.

Hospital MarketScan: Hospital Outcome and Quality Measures2024-03-03T20:30:37-05:00

Physician MarketScan: Specialists Expanding Care in the Home

March/April 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Physician MarketScan: As CMS concentrates on integrating more specialists into value-based care, prioritizing engagement with home care providers emerges as a key strategic imperative. These engagement strategies center around areas such as readmissions, care transitions, longitudinal care, value-based payments, bundled payments, and the expansion of specialty care within a home setting.

Physician MarketScan: Specialists Expanding Care in the Home2024-03-03T20:30:21-05:00

Enforcers Target Discharge Planners/Case Managers Yet Again

March/April 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Case managers or discharge planners found in violation of the anti-kickback statute may face criminal prosecution, potentially leading to prison sentences and other repercussions. If you were aware or should have been aware, you may bear responsibility. Attorney Elizabeth Hogue provides detailed explanations of these implications.

Enforcers Target Discharge Planners/Case Managers Yet Again2024-03-02T16:20:49-05:00

A Key Health Indicator in Social Determinants of Health

March/April 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT One specific area of concern is transportation, given its high priority. Missed medical appointments incur costs of up to $150 billion annually for the healthcare industry. What is your organization's strategy to address this challenge?

A Key Health Indicator in Social Determinants of Health2024-03-02T16:20:58-05:00

Patients’ Right to Freedom of Choice of Providers

March/April 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Patients possess the right to select their care providers, and this choice is reinforced through various avenues embedded in policies and regulations. Attorney Elizabeth Hogue explains the key touchpoints.

Patients’ Right to Freedom of Choice of Providers2024-03-02T16:21:05-05:00

Payments Shifting Care at Home Volume

January/February 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN: Payments are shifting the site of care, accelerating the growth of care at home. The movement of ortho and cardiac payments from impatient to outpatient is related to increased volumes of care in the home. We provide forecasts and the impact to home care organizations.

Payments Shifting Care at Home Volume2024-03-02T16:00:05-05:00

Synergistic Referral Partnerships Gain Traction

January/February 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN: Referrals are more dependent on home care as partners for financial, quality, and patient experience measures. Shifting payments are changing traditional views of managing a patient’s care journey. Each segment of healthcare will contribute to a synergistic success level. No organization can do it alone.

Synergistic Referral Partnerships Gain Traction2024-03-02T15:59:50-05:00

Social Determinants: Changes Ahead in 2024​

January/February 2024 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN: Screening requirements for social determinants in 2024 are front and center for hospitals, dialysis centers, physicians, and post-acute providers. Coordination across various healthcare settings, including ambulatory, emergency department, inpatient, and home health will create a unified approach.

Social Determinants: Changes Ahead in 2024​2024-03-02T15:59:44-05:00

Preventing Violence in Home Care: Action Items

November/December 2023 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT According to a recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, home healthcare is one of the most dangerous places to work in healthcare. Homecare field staff members who provide services on behalf of private duty agencies, hospices, Medicare-certified home health agencies, and home medical equipment companies are extremely vulnerable.

Preventing Violence in Home Care: Action Items2023-12-31T11:22:50-05:00

Certificate-of-Need Ties Back to Health Equity Assessments

November/December 2023 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT New York State’s new requirement for certain certificate-of-need applications includes a health equity impact assessment. New York is now the first state to implement a required equity assessment in its health facility planning and approval process that went into effect June 22.

Certificate-of-Need Ties Back to Health Equity Assessments2023-12-31T11:23:21-05:00

5 Ways High-Functioning Team-Based Care Reduces Clinician Burnout

Fostering effective team-based care improves both the patient’s and the team’s experience of care delivery. In this article, we discuss the two different approaches to team-based care, the five core principles, and how to reduce clinician burnout.

5 Ways High-Functioning Team-Based Care Reduces Clinician Burnout2023-09-19T11:42:32-04:00

Supreme Court Rules on Knowledge Required to Prove False Claims

July/August 2023 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT A ruling from the Supreme Court may make it more difficult for enforcers to prove liability under the False Claims Act and more manageable for providers to defend themselves against claims of violations.

Supreme Court Rules on Knowledge Required to Prove False Claims2023-08-29T11:24:17-04:00

Get to Know the New Providers in Care-at-Home Delivery

May/June 2023 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Disruptors or non-traditional providers are quickly accelerating their footprint into the care-at-home market. These providers are addressing the pain points and healthcare gaps that traditional-for-service providers have failed to correct for many years.

Get to Know the New Providers in Care-at-Home Delivery2023-07-02T10:44:49-04:00

Potential Changes to the Home-Based Care Industry

May/June 2023 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT The Expanding Care in the Home Act: By moving an array of services for Medicare beneficiaries from hospital to home, lawmakers hope they can save money while allowing older Americans to receive care in their homes. Get an understanding of a new proposed bill.

Potential Changes to the Home-Based Care Industry2023-07-02T10:45:30-04:00

2023 CMS Adding Physician Relationships to Home Care Providers on Medicare’s Care Compare Website

January/February 2023 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Medicare’s Care Compare website is adding physician and clinician affiliations to home-based care organizations. The new information is meant to provide additional information to support patients and caregivers as they make healthcare decisions.

2023 CMS Adding Physician Relationships to Home Care Providers on Medicare’s Care Compare Website2023-04-12T16:03:48-04:00

Do You Know Which Principal Diagnosis Has the Highest Rate of 30-Day Readmissions?

As a home-based care provider, all referral partners have the same goal – how to reduce readmissions and the cost. It’s important to continue to hone in on data that can help your organization better understand your role in preventing readmissions and reducing the cost of care.

Do You Know Which Principal Diagnosis Has the Highest Rate of 30-Day Readmissions?2023-04-12T16:03:49-04:00

Clinical Service Lines that Reduce the Cost of the Top 5 Medical Conditions

New information will help your organization better align clinical services to reduce the cost of the highest medical conditions and their expenditures. The data can be used in conversations with various payer sources to align your organization’s services to reduce the cost of care and readmissions.

Clinical Service Lines that Reduce the Cost of the Top 5 Medical Conditions2023-10-25T14:25:02-04:00

Which Types of ACOs Use Home Visits the Most and Why?

November-December 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Home-based organizations eager to have partnerships with ACOs will learn in our discussion why certain ACOs engage in greater home visits and care transitions to manage complex patients. No two ACOs are alike. Get insights into the characteristics of ACOs and their decision points. We follow up with three key leadership discussion questions.

Which Types of ACOs Use Home Visits the Most and Why?2023-04-12T16:03:51-04:00

Pre-Hospice Home-Based Transition Program

November-December 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Sharp HealthCare pre-hospice program called Transitions, is designed to give elderly patients the care they want at home and keep them out of the hospital.

Pre-Hospice Home-Based Transition Program2023-04-12T16:03:51-04:00

Workforce: How Will Medicare Fee-For-Service Trends Change the Way You Think About Future Staffing Needs?

September/October 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT With all the evolving changes occurring in healthcare, you may have missed CMS’s initiatives aligning value-based arrangements across traditional Medicare programs. We discuss the eight trends to help your organization think about the impact on your labor force and referral partners.

Workforce: How Will Medicare Fee-For-Service Trends Change the Way You Think About Future Staffing Needs?2023-04-12T16:03:54-04:00

11 Strategic Actions to Improve Care Team Productivity

September/October 2022 Issue
SPECIAL REPORT In this special report, we provide 11 strategic actions to improve your care team's productivity both internally and externally. Get insights into advancing clinical communications with your referral partners, ways your care team always has real-time patient status, and how to improve the referral process. Don't miss the eight additional resources to dig even deeper into this topic.

11 Strategic Actions to Improve Care Team Productivity2023-04-12T16:03:54-04:00

Analysis: Seniors Usage of Technology and Telehealth Growing

September/October 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT The gap between the younger generation and the senior population is narrowing when it comes to smart phones, tablets, internet users, YouTube, and telehealth. A recent study provides valuable insight for healthcare providers adopting technology in the home.

Analysis: Seniors Usage of Technology and Telehealth Growing2023-04-12T16:03:55-04:00

Staffing Strategies: Efficient Ways to Leverage Scheduling for Improved Staffing Utilization and Increased Continuity of Care

September/October 2022 Issue
SPECIAL REPORT What are the four questions leadership should explore to optimize scheduling with continuity of care and staff utilization? In this special report, we answer these four questions and give you solutions to help provide better care to more patients, while making the most of your staff’s time. This effort starts with their scheduling process.

Staffing Strategies: Efficient Ways to Leverage Scheduling for Improved Staffing Utilization and Increased Continuity of Care2023-04-12T16:03:56-04:00

Trend #1: Payers Are Accelerating Into the Home-Based Care Market

July/August 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT How should your organization be responding to payers expanding their position in home-based care? What key trends support this advancement? What are key strategies to partner and align with payers? In this article, we cover the key market changes, the disruption, and growth opportunities for home-based care organizations.

Trend #1: Payers Are Accelerating Into the Home-Based Care Market2023-04-12T16:03:57-04:00

Trend #2: Payers Expanding Home-Based Care Models Nationally

July/August 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Payers are deepening their care delivery models focused on the home. In the past, we may have thought of payers in traditional roles as a medical-cost manager. Today, they are acquiring home-based care organizations to control readmissions, cost, and outcomes.

Trend #2: Payers Expanding Home-Based Care Models Nationally2023-04-12T16:03:58-04:00

Trend #3: Highest Chronic Care Conditions in Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, And Special Needs Plans

July/August 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Different payers such as Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Special Needs Plans are focusing on the highest chronic care conditions to reduce the cost of care. In this article, is the data by payer and a discussion about how organizations can support a better aligned financial and quality partnerships.

Trend #3: Highest Chronic Care Conditions in Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, And Special Needs Plans2023-04-12T16:03:58-04:00

Trend #4: Growth in Medicare Advantage Plans 2022 Signals Future in Managed Care Contracting

July/August 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Medicare Advantage enrollment is growing at a fast pace. The number of plans is expanding geographically, and payers will continue to invest in the Medicare Advantage market. In this article, we dig deep into the growth of Medicare Advantage by enrollment, states, and the future. The market signal is strong to put Medicare Advantage contracting as a high priority.

Trend #4: Growth in Medicare Advantage Plans 2022 Signals Future in Managed Care Contracting2023-04-12T16:03:58-04:00

Trend #5: Payer and Home-Based Provider Partnering to Reduce the Cost of Care

July/August 2022 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Important to all payers is the value your organization brings to reducing the cost of care. Available data can gear-up your partnership value quickly. In this article, we sliced and diced data to provide an overall macro/micro picture of how to reduce the cost of care.

Trend #5: Payer and Home-Based Provider Partnering to Reduce the Cost of Care2023-04-12T16:03:58-04:00

Strategic Priority: Facts Driving Why Family Caregivers Choose One Care-at-Home Organization Over the Other

July/August 2022 Issue
SPECIAL REPORT/FREE CONTENT What do family caregivers identify as important areas for choosing care-at-home provider? What area did family caregivers identify for improvement? How are your organization’s surveys being affected? What strategies made the top of the list? What are the five ways to achieve family caregiver communication success? In this special report, we give you seven family caregiver expectations to increase your competitive advantage.

Strategic Priority: Facts Driving Why Family Caregivers Choose One Care-at-Home Organization Over the Other2023-04-19T13:35:39-04:00

Six Smart Ways to Stay in Communication with Your Referral Sources

September/October 2021 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Your referral partners increasingly expect robust communications to make patient transfers as seamless as possible, for both the patient and providers. They will have to make a choice. Ultimately, they will look for relationships with organizations that are easy to work with and that can deliver proven quality care. We provide insights and strategies from high-performing organizations.

Six Smart Ways to Stay in Communication with Your Referral Sources2023-04-12T16:04:13-04:00

Three Missed Opportunities for End-of-Life Discussions

September/October 2021 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Recent research discusses the missed opportunities for discussions about end-of-life, including advance care planning, palliative care, discontinuation of disease-directed treatment, hospice care, and after-death wishes, with outpatients with advanced cancer.

Three Missed Opportunities for End-of-Life Discussions2023-04-12T16:04:14-04:00

Six Ways to Identify, Increase, and Manage Referrals

September/October 2021 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT In this new normal, it’s important to understand how your referral sources work, what they are sending to you versus the competition, how to deepen relationships with these sources, and what differentiates you as a provider in the marketplace.

Six Ways to Identify, Increase, and Manage Referrals2023-04-12T16:04:14-04:00

Seamless Care Transitions: Six Smart Ways to Stay in Communication with Your Referral Sources

SPECIAL REPORT Your referral partners increasingly expect robust communications to make patient transfers as seamless as possible, for both the patient and providers, which means you need strategies to create seamless transitions. Learn what leading home health and hospice agencies are doing in this free special report.

Seamless Care Transitions: Six Smart Ways to Stay in Communication with Your Referral Sources2023-04-12T16:04:14-04:00

Administering Specialty Drugs at Home

July/August 2021 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT A recent study found receiving certain forms of care at home instead of in the hospital can lower healthcare spending. Administering specialty drugs at home or in a provider’s office lowered healthcare spending by $4 billion.

Administering Specialty Drugs at Home2023-04-12T16:04:15-04:00

Six Ways To Recharge Clinical Engagement and Work/Life Balance

July/August 2021 Issue
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Strategies and actions to improve clinician experiences. Work/life balance is something nurses are constantly trying to achieve, and many nurses are falling short of that goal. What solutions are your peers using to combat burnout, achieve better nurse work/life balance, and improve patient care?

Six Ways To Recharge Clinical Engagement and Work/Life Balance2023-04-12T16:04:15-04:00

Advance Care Planning: Pilot Studies for Care at Home Providers

May/June 2021 Issue
The National Institute of Health advance care planning studies are focusing on the effectiveness of telehealth for patients receiving home-based palliative care and leveraging in home support services to engage patients in advance care planning. Learn more about the pilot studies supporting this research.

Advance Care Planning: Pilot Studies for Care at Home Providers2023-04-12T16:04:18-04:00

What Legal Parameters Establish Patient Choice?

May/June 2021 Issue
The right of patients to choose providers has generated considerable conflict within the provider community. In this article, learn the four key legal sources supporting patient choice and actions your organizations and patients can take to have them enforced.

What Legal Parameters Establish Patient Choice?2023-04-12T16:04:18-04:00

Are CMS Payment Models Delayed … Or Gone Forever?

May/June 2021 Issue
A review of payment models under CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is quietly under review to decide if they will be implemented. Many of these models were popular with care at home providers. We provide insight into each of these payment models.

Are CMS Payment Models Delayed … Or Gone Forever?2023-04-12T16:04:18-04:00

Market Signals Broaden Continuum-of-Care Services

March/April 2021 Issue
Expanding continuum of care services is an important strategy for future market positioning. We explore how providers, payers, and physicians are broadening services to expand partnership referrals, create innovation, and ensure sustainability.

Market Signals Broaden Continuum-of-Care Services2023-04-12T16:04:19-04:00

How to Accelerate Business Growth and Technology Innovation for Home Health, Hospice, Palliative Care, and Private Duty Providers

March/April 2021 Issue
National leaders discuss how to lean into new approaches to accelerate growth, improve performance, and address technologies that create faster reimbursement, better work-life balance for clinicians, and optimal patient outcomes.

How to Accelerate Business Growth and Technology Innovation for Home Health, Hospice, Palliative Care, and Private Duty Providers2023-04-12T16:04:20-04:00

4 Strategies to Dramatically Improve Productivity, Volume, and Revenue

SPECIAL REPORT National leaders discuss how to lean into new approaches to accelerate business growth, improve performance, and address technologies that create faster reimbursement, better work-life balance for clinicians, and optimal patient outcomes. They share how their organizations address four key questions.

4 Strategies to Dramatically Improve Productivity, Volume, and Revenue2023-04-12T16:04:21-04:00

Should Your Organization Be Preparing for Greater Value-Based Payments?

January/February 2021 Issue
Beginning in 2021, several value-based payment models will begin the shift from fee-for-service to value-based. Earmark this as the transformation of payment reform for care at home providers and how they will be paid in the future.

Should Your Organization Be Preparing for Greater Value-Based Payments?2023-04-12T16:04:22-04:00

How is Your Organization Rethinking Strategic Positioning to Offer Continuum-of-Care Services from Pre- And Post-Discharge to End-of-Life?

January/February 2021 Issue
The question for leadership is how do you want to position your organization? As an integrator? Or as an aggregator? For care at home providers, the goal is to create a post-acute continuum model as patients transition from one care setting to another whether that be in-home personal care services, skilled home health, palliative care, or hospice.

How is Your Organization Rethinking Strategic Positioning to Offer Continuum-of-Care Services from Pre- And Post-Discharge to End-of-Life?2023-04-12T16:04:23-04:00

Marketing Hospice Service to ALF: Preferred-Provider Agreements

September/October 2020 Issue
How do anti-kickback statutes apply if providers or Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) are involved in referral arrangements and receive any type of federal or state funds? Attorney Elizabeth Hogue breaks it all down.

Marketing Hospice Service to ALF: Preferred-Provider Agreements2023-04-12T16:04:28-04:00

Report: Medicare’s Hospital Post-Acute Care Transfer Policy to Hospice

The Bipartisan Act (BBA) of 2018 Act updated the hospital transfer policy for early discharges to hospice care. The law required that, beginning in FY 2019, discharges to hospice care would qualify as a post-acute care transfer and be subject to payment adjustments.

Report: Medicare’s Hospital Post-Acute Care Transfer Policy to Hospice2023-04-12T16:04:35-04:00

Study: Hospice Top 13 Diagnosis

Cancer accounts for less than one-half of all hospice admissions. Here is a list of the top 13 diagnoses for admissions to hospice care.

Study: Hospice Top 13 Diagnosis2023-04-12T16:04:52-04:00

Home-Based Palliative Care Models

SUBSCRIBER CONTENT Palliative care focuses on relieving patients’ stress, pain and other symptoms as their health declines, and it helps them maintain their quality of life.

Home-Based Palliative Care Models2023-04-12T16:04:57-04:00

Hospice Quality of Care Varies

In a large cohort study, hospice visits in the last 2 days of life by professional staff varied by race, hospice program, and geographic region.

Hospice Quality of Care Varies2023-04-12T16:04:58-04:00

Palliative Care Oncology Guidelines

A new guidance statement to define high-quality primary palliative care delivery in medical oncology has been developed by ASCO and AAHPM.

Palliative Care Oncology Guidelines2023-04-12T16:04:58-04:00
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