Author: Merikokeb Wondafrash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
AUGUST 19, 2024 

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) –The leading national organization for hospice and other providers delivering healthcare predominantly in homes, the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance, responded to a segment about hospice that first aired on the HBO and Max current events satire show, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on Sunday, August 18. While the show made some good points about the invaluable work done by hospice workers to care for patients at the end of their lives, we believe the segment missed an opportunity to educate patients and their families on the value of hospice and how to find the right hospice provider to meet their needs. It also overlooked the central role played by the hospice community to ensure proper care is delivered and bad actors are driven out of the Medicare hospice program.  

The number of Americans choosing hospice for end-of-life care has grown significantly over the last 25 years and the hospice benefit now serves approximately 1.72 million Medicare beneficiaries annually. The growth of the hospice benefit is the result of millions of families who have benefited enormously from the comprehensive, team-based, and patient-oriented care provided by hospice. There are several thousand dedicated, mission-driven, patient centered hospices that provide essential and comprehensive, high-quality services every day across the country. They stand in partnership with Medicare to ensure that patients get the care they need in a manner fully compliant with Medicare requirements.    

Unfortunately, just as fraud exists in all segments of our healthcare system, there is fraud that targets the Medicare hospice benefit and harms patients. The issue has received more attention in recent years based both on media coverage and on the advocacy efforts of the hospice community, which universally wants to see the end to fraud. For five years, we have been working closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress to develop and effectively implement regulations that root out fraud, protect patients, and ensure the ongoing value and viability of the Medicare hospice benefit. After years of work by NAHC and NHPCO, two legacy organizations coming together to form a new national organization, in cooperation with lawmakers, Congress passed the HOSPICE Act in December of 2020 to address the concerns raised by the “Last Week Tonight” segment. Importantly, virtually all the examples of questionable practices included in the segment were from the 2010s, prior to passage of the HOSPICE Act.  

In January of 2023, even as the provisions of the HOSPICE Act were beginning to be implemented, the predecessors to the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance – National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) – as well as two other national organizations, joined together to make 34 recommendations to Congress and CMS for additional steps that could be taken to protect patients, families, and the Hospice Benefit. While there is still work to do, we are pleased that today half those recommendations have been enacted. 

Every American who qualifies for hospice and wants the service should be able to access quality care.  

As Last Week Tonight mentioned, word of mouth in choosing a hospice can be very helpful, as can Medicare’s quality rating system. It’s also important to learn what services the hospice offers, and how those align to the patient’s goals and values. The Alliance recommends having conversations with potential providers to ask questions. Valuable resources for selecting a hospice are available from nahc.org, nhpco.org, and CaringInfo.org. 

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About the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance 
The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance brings together the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), two organizations with more than 90 years of combined experience serving providers of quality care in the home to form one new association. This historic alliance creates a national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care, forming the most powerful voice and resource the care-at-home community has seen. The integration process underway is expected to continue through the beginning of 2025. While leadership explores a permanent name, the new organization is operating under the interim name the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance. Find the latest on the NAHC and NHPCO websites. 

Press Contacts
Elyssa Katz, NHPCO Marketing and Communications Manager
ekatz@nhpco.org  |  571-281-0220
Thomas Threlkeld, NAHC Director of Communications
tom@nahc.org   |  202-547-7424 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2024

(Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance is proud to announce that Logan Hoover, Vice President of Policy & Government Relations, has been named an honoree for the 2024 Hospice & Palliative Care Future Leaders, presented by the Aging Media Network.

A Future Leader is a high-performing individual, age 40 or younger, who is shaping the next decade of care delivery. This individual must be a passionate worker who mobilizes their vision into action and is an advocate for older adults and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Hoover has shown exceptional leadership and dedication in hospice and palliative care. As NHPCO’s VP of Policy & Government Relations, he’s played a pivotal role in shaping policy and advocating for improved care standards and access to hospice and palliative services across the nation.

In his role, Hoover oversees NHPCO’s legislative and regulatory priorities, working closely with policymakers and other external stakeholders to ensure that hospice and palliative care providers can deliver high-quality, person-centered care. He is also the Executive Director of the Hospice Action Network, where he spearheads initiatives to strengthen the industry’s advocacy efforts.

“Logan’s recognition as a leader in hospice and palliative care is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the field and his impactful work in policy and advocacy,” said Ben Marcantonio, Interim CEO of NHPCO, and Chief Integration Officer for the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance. “His vision for the continuum of healthcare highlights his dedication to our members and the patients and families they serve.”

Hoover’s recent work includes addressing program integrity efforts, a key issue for the hospice community. His leadership in this area emphasizes his commitment to improving care quality and ensuring that vulnerable populations and protected from bad actors and able to receive the support they need. Prior to joining NHPCO, Hoover served as Legislative Director for former Congressman Tom Reed. He spearheaded the Congressman’s leadership in hospice and palliative care on the House Committee on Ways & Means, including as lead Republican sponsor of the HOSPICE Act and the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act.

“It is an honor to be recognized amongst my peers. This acknowledgment underscores the importance of our collective mission to enhance quality and accessibility to serious illness and end-of-life care,” said Hoover. “I am committed to continuing our advocacy efforts for policies that support patients and families during their most critical moments.”

The Future Leaders program honors individuals making significant contributions to the hospice and palliative care industry, showing leadership and vision that will shape care delivery’s future. Hoover’s inclusion in this distinguished group underscores his influence and the positive changes he continues to drive within the field.

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About NHPCO and the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO is currently in the process of affiliating with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) into a new national organization.

The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance brings together two organizations with more than 90 years of combined experience serving providers of quality care in the home to form one new association. This historic alliance creates a national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care, forming the most powerful voice and resource the home care community has seen. The integration process underway is expected to continue through the beginning of 2025. While leadership explores a permanent name, the new organization is operating under the interim name of the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance. Find the latest on the NAHC and NHPCO websites.

Press Contact
Elyssa Katz
Ekatz@nhpco.org
571-281-0220

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2024

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) – The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance recently submitted a comment letter to the office of Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) on the discussion draft of the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act), along with an overview and section-by-section summary. The Hospice CARE Act focuses on hospice payment reform and program integrity. The two trade organizations have worked closely with Representative Blumenauer for years on these issues and remain committed to continuing the dialogue to secure optimal outcomes for hospice providers and the continued delivery of quality care for patients and their families.

The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance recognizes the need for increased program integrity to combat bad actors while striving to ensure that access to care is not negatively impacted or that undue burdens are placed on quality providers. The Alliance submitted a draft outline of comments following roundtables with its members and anticipate additional conversations with congressional stakeholders in response to the formal comment submissions.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) have joined together under the “NAHC-NHPCO Alliance.” The Alliance represents the majority of quality hospice providers across the country who are committed to supporting patients and families at the end of life.  

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About NAHC-NHPCO Alliance

The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance brings together the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), two organizations with more than 90 years of combined experience serving providers of quality care in the home to form one new association. This historic alliance creates a national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care, forming the most powerful voice and resource the care-at-home community has seen. The integration process underway is expected to continue through the beginning of 2025. While leadership explores a permanent name, the new organization is operating under the interim name of the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance. Find the latest on the NAHC and NHPCO websites.

Press Contacts
Elyssa Katz, NHPCO Marketing and Communications Manager
ekatz@nhpco.org  |  571-281-0220
Thomas Threlkeld, NAHC Director of Communications
tom@nahc.org   |  202-547-7424

 

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2024 

(Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance mourn the recent passing of Dr. Bernice Catherine Harper, MSW, MScPH, LLD, and celebrate her remarkable life of leadership and service to our professional community and the world. Dr. Harper’s lifelong leadership had profound and lasting positives impact across social work; hospice care; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

Dr. Harper was one of the first Black women to earn a Master of Science in public health from Harvard University, among other notable distinctions. Her career trajectory encompassed pivotal roles at institutions like the City of Hope National Medical Center, where she honed her expertise in hospice care and social work. As an author, Dr. Harper’s influential works, including “Death: The Coping Mechanism of the Health Professional,” highlighted the complexities of death and dying and provided insights into coping mechanisms for healthcare professionals. Her contributions continue to shape the landscape of hospice and palliative care today.

In 1999, Dr. Harper played a pivotal role in launching what was then known as the Foundation for Hospices in sub-Saharan Africa, which had a particular focus on supporting AIDS patients. The organization, which was a program of NHPCO from 2004 to 2017, is now known as Global Partners in Care. It supports access to compassionate care around the world through partnerships, research and education, and raising awareness of the need for access to hospice and palliative care.

Dr. Harper’s advocacy also impacted hospice care domestically, particularly in her pivotal role in integrating hospice care benefits into Medicare. To date, the Medicare Hospice Benefit has made dignified end-of-life care accessible to nearly 30 million Americans, and counting. She worked with NHPCO on ensuring access to hospice care for groups who have been historically marginalized, including serving as a founding member and Chair of what was then known as the National Hospice Organization’s Task Force on Access to Hospice Care by Minority Groups and is now known as the NHPCO Diversity Advisory Council. In 1993, Dr. Harper was honored with the NHPCO Person of the Year Award. A few weeks prior to her death, NHPCO announced a new award that honors Dr. Harper’s legacy. The Dr. Bernice Catherine Harper Trailblazer Award will honor NHPCO members who exemplify Dr. Harper’s spirit of innovation and compassion, her commitment to advancing DEIB within their organizations, and her passion for providing high-quality, culturally appropriate, person-centered services.

“Dr. Harper was an inspirational leader for all of us. She showed so many hospice leaders, including myself as a provider, how to develop and implement culturally appropriate programs and outreach. That legacy will live forever in the form of better care, and an ever-growing focus on accessibility,” said Ben Marcantonio, Interim CEO of NHPCO, and Chief Integration Officer for the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance. “One thing that made Dr. Harper a strong leader was her presence and engagement within the community. Anyone who took part in NHPCO conferences and National Hospice Foundation Galas when Dr. Harper was active will remember her as a key contributor to the events and thought leadership that drove our community forward. She will be deeply missed. We extend our sympathies to Dr. Harper’s family, and our gratitude for the many ways she shaped our past, present, and future.”

About NHPCO and the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO is currently in the process of affiliating with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) into a new national organization.

The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance brings together two organizations with more than 90 years of combined experience serving providers of quality care in the home to form one new association. This historic alliance creates a national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, and palliative care, forming the most powerful voice and resource the home care community has seen. The integration process underway is expected to continue through the beginning of 2025. While leadership explores a permanent name, the new organization is operating under the interim name the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance. Find the latest on the NAHC and NHPCO websites.

Press Contact
Elyssa Katz
Ekatz@nhpco.org
571-281-0220

For Immediate Release
PHOTO LINK
June 18, 2024

Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, VA – On June 10, the Board Chairs and chief executive officers of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) met in Washington, D.C. to formally sign the affiliation agreement between the two leading organizations in the care at home community.

NAHC and NHPCO are the two largest organizations representing and advocating for providers of care in the home and the millions of disabled, elderly, and dying Americans who depend on that care. With more than 90 years of experience between them, NAHC and NHPCO provide world class education to help their members deliver the best possible care and tireless advocacy to expand access to home and community-based services.

“The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance will be the leading authority and unifying voice of the care at home community,” said NAHC Board Chair and Chair-Elect of the Alliance Kenneth Albert. “The leadership of both organizations have worked for 18 months to make this happen and the talented staff at NAHC and NHPCO are already hard at work integrating the two organizations. Together, we will make home the center of health care.”

“This alliance between NHPCO and NAHC will create the most powerful voice the care at home community has ever had,” said NHPCO Board Chair and Vice Chair-Elect of the Alliance Melinda Gruber. “For members, it means access to the best education and expert advice, as well as a strong advocate for sensible policies that help providers deliver the best possible care to the millions of Americans who need it the most.”

“The affiliation of NAHC and NHPCO is a historic event,” said NAHC President and CEO William A. Dombi. “Unifying the voice of health care at home has been a longstanding goal of NAHC, as it is the essence of the original formation of NAHC in 1982. Combining our two organizations will significantly strengthen that voice for the benefit of our members and the patients they serve.”

“The community of providers delivering care primarily in people’s homes is stronger when we work together,” said NHPCO Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. “We have demonstrated that strength in recent years with shared advocacy efforts and joint research that have helped change the conversation in Washington and beyond. Aligning NHPCO and NAHC into one new organization will mean we can better serve our members well into the future.”

The signing of the agreement takes NAHC and NHPCO into a new phase of an ongoing process. Beginning July 1, the organizations will begin integrating operations, a process that is expected to take the rest of the year.  That process will take place under the name the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance while the future name of the organization is determined. Considerable progress on a new name has been made and is in process of trademarking approvals. Meanwhile, a robust search for a CEO for the new organization is under way, with dozens of qualified candidates being considered.

Press Contacts:

• • • Thomas Threlkeld, NAHC Director of Communications
      • • tom@nahc.org // 202-547-7424
    • Elyssa Katz, NHPCO Marketing and Communications Manager
      • • ekatz@nhpco.org // 571-281-0220

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About National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC)
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more, visit http://www.nahc.org.

About NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org.

For Immediate Release
PHOTO LINK
June 13, 2024

(Alexandria, VA) – More than 100 hospice and palliative care advocates from across the country met with over 150 congressional offices this week to discuss key legislative and regulatory priorities for ensuring and expanding access to hospice and palliative care. The meetings were part of Hospice Action Week, hosted in Washington, DC by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its advocacy affiliate, the Hospice Action Network (HAN).

Hospice Action Week brings together leaders, advocates, and supporters from across the country to unite as one voice to drive positive, legislative change for the betterment of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. This year’s events included a virtual component, giving advocates who were not able to attend in person the opportunity to write letters of support to their Members of Congress on key policy priorities including program integrity measures, telehealth flexibilities, workforce issues, and more.

“The cornerstone of effective advocacy is storytelling. It’s about sharing why hospice holds personal significance and why serious illness and end-of-life care policy should resonate with our lawmakers,” said Logan Hoover, NHPCO’s VP of Policy & Government Relations. “From Hawaii to Rhode Island, advocates from 35 diverse states came to DC this year. The relationships they’re building with Members of Congress hold the potential to shape the future of the healthcare landscape.”

This year, advocates focused on a variety of key issues during their congressional meetings:

• • • Protecting care for patients and families through program integrity efforts, fixes to the hospice Special Focus Program to ensure proper identification of poor-performing hospices, telehealth flexibilities, expansion of bereavement services, and ensuring access to care for our nation’s Veterans.
    • Making meaningful benefit improvements to increase access and advance health equity by addressing workforce crisis by allowing practitioners to perform at the top of their licensure, reforming the outdates six-month prognosis barrier, enabling concurrent care, and advancing health equity by removing structural barriers to care.
    • Innovation in serious illness care delivery and payment by building upon previous, successful demonstration models through a community-based palliative care benefit and ensuring a seamless ending to the hospice VBID component through support for providers.
    • Protecting access and expanding quality by ensuring providers can offer the right care at the right time by securing an adequate level of reimbursement and ensuring resources are going directly to patient care by eliminating burdensome regulations that jeopardize access while strengthening effective program integrity measures to increase care quality.

In addition to advocate meetings with congressional offices on Wednesday, Hospice Action Week also featured various other meetings of hospice and palliative care leaders from across the country. Tuesday’s highlights included a Meeting of the Minds bringing together national leaders from NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans (WHV) program as well as a Combined Issues Lunch where advocates learned how to bridge the partisan gap in Congress by hearing from congressional staffers Brayden Woods (Congresswoman Van Duyne’s office, R-TX) and Asha Samuel (Congressman Blumenauer’s office, D-OR) on the importance of finding bipartisan solutions to protect and enhance the Medicare Hospice Benefit. The evening training included a presentation from Brad Fitch of the Congressional Management Foundation on how to build upon connections with one’s representatives after the fly-in is over.

HAN also presented three MyHospice Ambassador annual awards on Tuesday, recognizing advocates who stood out, led by example, and took action in 2023.

• • • 2023 Impactful Voice Award: Elleah Kes Tooker, Project Management Specialist, Indiana University School of Medicine
    • 2023 Mentor of the Year: Paul Ledford, President & CEO, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association
    • 2023 Ambassador of the Year: Tim Ingram, EVP of Interoperability, Axxess

New this year was the presentation of two inaugural awards:

• • • 2024 Advocate for Change Award – an award which celebrates a standout individual who boldly tackles challenges in their community by identifying and championing legislative solutions. This year’s honoree is Denise Formolo, Dickinson County Veteran Service Officer and Vice President of the Michigan Association of County Veteran Counselors who identified the issue that led to the creation of H.R. 234/ S. 1330 “Gerald’s Law Act;” a bill which was advocated for during Hospice Action Week.
    • 2024 Courageous Conversations Award – this recognition is presented, when merited, to a standout individual who has inspired and educated the public on the value of hospice. This year’s honoree is former US President Jimmy Carter who sparked a national dialogue when he made the courageous decision to publicly share that he elected hospice care for his end-of-life journey.

On Thursday, the NHPCO Council of States, a network of leaders of state hospice and palliative care organizations from across the country, met for its annual meeting and recognized two state associations for their exceptional contributions with the 2024 NHPCO Council of States Trailblazer Award. Established in 2012, the NHPCO Trailblazer Award recognizes state organizations demonstrating high levels of excellence, innovation, and leadership that expand access to hospice and palliative care, promote quality, and increase awareness. This year’s honorees are:

• • • Kokua Mau, Hawaii
    • California Hospice and Palliative Care Association

NHPCO and HAN celebrate the achievements of this year’s Hospice Action Week on behalf of hospice and palliative care providers nationwide. Looking forward, NHPCO and HAN’s advocacy will continue to evolve as we fight on behalf of the greater serious-illness care community.

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About NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org

About HAN
The Hospice Action Network is the advocacy affiliate of NHPCO. HAN works with provider members, state organizations, national healthcare organizations and other relevant stakeholders to advance the NHPCO legislative and regulatory agenda. HAN advocates urge Congress and the Administration to support policies that promote equitable access to high-quality hospice and palliative care for patients and families.

Press Contact
Elyssa Katz
571-281-0220

For Immediate Release
June 7, 2024

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recently revised guidance regarding the implementation of the hospice certifying physician enrollment requirement.

NHPCO and NAHC identified that some instruction provided by CMS was inconsistent with established law and regulations regarding the certification of a patient’s terminal illness for new hospice elections after the first benefit period. That instruction, if implemented, could have resulted in major negative impacts on hospices and the patients and families they serve. Both organizations requested that CMS retract the guidance to remain consistent with regulation and statute. On June 6, CMS rescinded its guidance in order to align with current regulation, offering clarity for providers.

This retraction is a direct result of NHPCO and NAHC’s ongoing engagement with the agency and represents a critical win for providers in avoiding undue regulatory and administrative burdens. This follows CMS’s previous delay of the requirement from May 1 to June 3, in response to concerns raised by NHPCO and NAHC.

“We thank CMS for its engagement and partnership on this issue. Considering the staffing constraints many providers currently face, this clarification frees up both operational and physician resources to be best allocated to delivering the highest-quality care to patients and families,” said Ben Marcantonio, COO and Interim CEO for NHPCO.

“NAHC supports the reasons for the certifying physician enrollment requirement and appreciates CMS’ ongoing engagement on the implementation of the claims processing edits for this requirement. We thank CMS for rescinding the instruction that was not consistent with statute and regulation and had spurred many questions and concerns from hospices.  This has alleviated confusion in the industry and avoids disruptive negative impacts,” said Bill Dombi, President for NAHC.

NHPCO and NAHC will continue to work closely with CMS to gain further clarification around remaining inconsistencies in the claim completion guidelines.

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About NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org

About NAHC
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more, visit nahc.org.

Press Contact
NHPCO
Elyssa Katz
571-281-0220

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2024

(Alexandria, VA) – This week marked a series of triumphs for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its advocacy arm, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), in collaboration with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Notably, the trade associations spearheaded discussions with the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee, resulting in crucial advancements in telehealth flexibility for hospice care.

The passage of the “Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act” through committee signifies a pivotal moment for the future of hospice care. This legislation extends telehealth capabilities for hospice recertifications, acknowledging the vital role telehealth plays, particularly in rural and densely populated urban areas. NHPCO achieved significant wins with two face-to-face (F2F) provisions: a two-year extension permitting virtual F2F visits in almost all cases, and a mandate for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to collect F2F visit data. These provisions reflect a concerted effort to modernize hospice care, ensuring it remains adaptable to evolving healthcare landscapes.

HAN’s meticulous engagement with the Ways & Means Committee staff also successfully thwarted potential cuts, safeguarding the capacity of hospices to provide essential care to vulnerable populations.

“With an aging population and escalating demand for end-of-life care, particularly in underserved regions, protecting hospice funding is imperative to guarantee compassionate and dignified care for all individuals in their final days,” said NHPCO COO and Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio.

In an ongoing commitment to uphold program integrity, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) spearheaded a bipartisan letter to CMS, joined by 38 lawmakers including a majority of the Ways and Means Committee, seeking accountability on recent reforms aimed at combatting hospice fraud and abuse. The letter follows multiple congressional inquiries led by Blumenauer and Van Duyne in 2023 urging CMS to address program integrity within the hospice benefit.

“CMS must take decisive action against bad actors tarnishing the reputation of hospice care,” asserted NHPCO VP of Policy and Government Relations, Logan Hoover. “This concerted effort, driven by our Congressional allies, builds upon nearly two years of grassroots, policy, and regulatory initiatives aimed at combating fraudulent practices within hospice care.”

NHPCO, alongside VITAS’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joseph Shega, convened on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to share insights from the NORC “Value of Hospice Study” with the GOP Doctors’ Caucus, a group comprised of 19 Republican House members who are also trained as doctors, dentists, or pharmacists. Presenting key findings from the study underscored the critical need to preserve and expand funding for hospice services.

NHPCO and HAN remain steadfast in their commitment to collaborating with lawmakers to enact policies that ensure equitable access to high-quality end-of-life care for all Americans.

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About NHPCO:

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers nhpco.org

About HAN:

The Hospice Action Network is the advocacy affiliate of NHPCO. HAN works with provider members, state organizations, national healthcare organizations and other relevant stakeholders to advance the NHPCO legislative and regulatory agenda. HAN advocates urge Congress and the Administration to support policies that promote equitable access to high-quality hospice and palliative care for patients and families.

Press Contact:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Public Affairs
571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
April 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 advance directives and free advance directives and instructions for all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington DC in both English and Spanish, downloadable as PDF files.

In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16, Insights has launched with three posts on advance care planning and the forms completed throughout the process.

• • • Making Your Healthcare Wishes and Medical Choices Known
    • Advance Directive vs. Living Will: Which Do You Need?
    • Types of Documents to Make Healthcare Wishes Known: Advance Directives, Living Wills, PoAs, DNRs, and POLSTs

Ben Marcantonio, NHPCO COO and Interim CEO said, “NHPCO sees National Healthcare Decisions Day as an important opportunity to educate healthcare providers and consumers about advance care planning and empower all to make their wishes for their care known. The CaringInfo blog provides us with a new, accessible outlet to connect with both our members and the communities they serve.”

Advance care planning includes completing an advance directive – sometimes known as a living will – and appointing a healthcare power of attorney – someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to. Advance care planning also means sharing this information with your loved ones to ensure all wishes are honored.

Learn more about advance care planning and read the first Insights posts now.

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About NHPCO

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org

Press Contact:
Elyssa Katz
NHPCO Communications
571-281-0220

For Immediate Release
March 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 affecting hospices nationwide,” said NHPCO COO and Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. “To continue providing the high level of care our patients and their families deserve, hospices require a payment rate that accurately reflects the current economic challenges. We know that hospice care has demonstrated $3.5 billion in annual savings for Medicare, which underscores the critical importance of investing in hospice to ensure continued beneficiary access to quality end-of-life care.”

NHPCO is closely evaluating the proposals related to the implementation of the Hospice Outcome and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment tool. Marcantonio commented, “The HOPE Assessment Tool represents a dramatic shift in how hospice care quality is measured and reported. We will continue working with CMS to ensure that this new tool will serve to enhance, not hinder, the delivery of compassionate, person-centered hospice care.”

NHPCO commends CMS for taking steps to explore the possibility of a separate payment mechanism for high-intensity palliative care services in acknowledgment of both the substantial benefits these services offer to patients and the resource-intensive nature of their delivery.

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About NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org

Press Contact
Elyssa Katz
NHPCO Communications
571-281-0220