Author: Merikokeb Wondafrash

For Immediate Release
August 11, 2022 

(Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its advocacy affiliate, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), are pleased to endorse the Travel Nursing Agency Transparency Study Act (S.4352/H.R. 8576), sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and
Congressman Greg Murphy (R-NC), which will take crucial next steps to better understand the current workforce crisis by requiring the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study and report on the effects of travel nursing agencies on the healthcare industry during the pandemic.

This study includes information on travel nursing agency practices across the country, including any potential price gouging and taking of excessive profits, the difference between how much such agencies charged healthcare institutions and how much they paid their contracted nurses, and the extent to which travel nurse agency practices contribute to workforce shortages.

“Hospices and palliative care providers have experienced nursing shortages pre-COVID, but the pandemic has exacerbated the issue. Hospices cannot compete with the high contract, excessive rates required by travel nursing agencies. These agencies appear to have capitalized on the public health
emergency by charging exorbitant rates,” said Ben Marcantonio, interim President and CEO of NHPCO and President of HAN. “We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Cramer and Congressman Murphy to garner additional support and prioritize finding immediate workforce solutions to ensure access to quality end-of-life care.”

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Press Contact:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
August 3, 2022 

Alexandria, VA – It is with deep sadness that the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and Hospice Action Network (HAN) learned of the tragic death of Representative Jackie Walorski (IN-2) in a car accident that killed four people including two members of her team. 

Representative Walorski was a strong champion for hospice care who played an instrumental role in supporting and passing the Rural Access to Hospice Act as a lead sponsor. She was honored in 2020 with a Hospice Action Network Angel Award which recognizes members of Congress who use their platform to support the vital mission of hospice and palliative care and amplify the voices of patients facing serious and terminal illness.  

“Representative Walorski was a friend of hospice and longtime advocate for access to end-of-life care, particularly for those living in rural areas. NHPCO and HAN have been honored to work with her over the years. Her leadership and voice will be sorely missed,” said Ben Marcantonio, Interim President and CEO of NHPCO and President of HAN.  

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Press Contact:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release:
July 27, 2022

Alexandria, VA – Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted for public inspection the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements Final Rule. The final rule includes a payment increase of 3.8% for FY23, representing a slight increase from the proposed rule, along with other key updates to the hospice regulatory framework related to payments, quality, and equitable access.

“After weeks of advocacy efforts, today is a step in the right direction to meet the needs of our hospice and palliative care providers. However, the CMS rates for FY23 still do not accurately reflect the reality of higher gas prices, unrelenting labor shortages, and additional pandemic-related expenses that hospice providers and programs are facing across the country. We call on the Biden Administration and Congress to step in to provide additional reimbursements in 2023 which accurately reflect the unprecedented demands and costs providers are facing in order to ensure long-term viability for the hospice and palliative care that Americans want and deserve,” said Ben Marcantonio, Interim President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and President of the Hospice Action Network (HAN).

NHPCO and its advocacy affiliate, HAN, will continue to work with Congressional champions and members on key committees to protect hospice and other providers from further financial hits during this ongoing public health emergency. NHPCO members will have access to detailed analysis of the FY23 Final Rule via the Regulatory & Compliance Center on nhpco.org.

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Press Contact:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release:
July 12, 2022

(Alexandria, VA) – Today, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and Hospice Action Network (HAN) led a letter to Congress, joined by organizations representing a broad coalition of the hospice and palliative care community. The letter requests protection of access to high-quality hospice care for Medicare beneficiaries by calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make changes to the proposed payment rate increase for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). A more sufficient rate would reflect the unprecedented demands and costs that hospice providers and programs are facing across the country.

CMS released its FY23 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements proposed rule, which proposes updates to the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for the coming fiscal year. For the hospice payment update percentage, CMS proposed an increase of 2.7% from FY2022.

“The purpose of a payment update is to ensure hospice providers are fairly and adequately reimbursed for the critical services they provide to individuals with life-limiting illnesses based on the cost of providing those services. Unfortunately, CMS’ recent update ignores the reality on the ground; higher gas prices, unrelenting labor shortages, increased wages, and additional pandemic-related expenses. We need the Biden Administration and Congress to step in and fix this wrong. Failing to do so would be a mistake,” said NHPCO Director of Legislative Affairs, Logan Hoover.

To read the full letter, click here

Be a Hospice Advocate: Urge your Members of Congress to protect access to end-of-life care by calling on CMS to provide a more sufficient hospice payment rate increase. Hospice Action Network’s Legislative Action Center makes it easy to take action.

About NHPCO and HAN: NHPCO and the Hospice Action Network (HAN) – work closely together to make an impact. NHPCO sets the public policy agenda through its Legislative Affairs Committee. HAN implements the agenda through direct lobbying, grassroots advocacy, and by empowering Hospice Advocates to share their hospice story with Congress. Our mission at HAN is to advocate, with one voice, for policies that ensure the best care for patients and families facing serious illness and the end of life.  

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Press Contact:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2022

After five years as the President & CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), Edo Banach has decided to step down from that role at the end of August.

Norman McRae, Chair of the NHPCO Board of Directors, said, “Edo came to NHPCO with the skills and expertise needed at a time of transition in the hospice and palliative care community and in the direction of NHPCO and our advocacy affiliate, the Hospice Action Network. For five years he poured his heart and soul into this organization. His leadership has helped us professionalize key elements of the benefits we provide to the community, most notably our best-in-class advocacy operations. During his tenure, NHPCO’s financial position has improved greatly, despite the tremendous challenges of the last two years. We are grateful to Edo for his leadership. His work has positioned NHPCO to continue to succeed into the future on behalf of our members and the entire hospice and palliative care community.”

Banach said, “My time with NHPCO has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. Over the last five years, NHPCO has delivered on the promise to provide our members with the best possible resources, networking, education, and advocacy to advance their organizations, their careers, and the interests of the hospice and palliative community. I am proud of that work, I look forward to my next challenge, and I’ll remain a cheerleader for NHPCO.”

McRae continued, “The NHPCO Board of Directors will use this summer to work with Edo and the NHPCO Leadership Team to plan for a smooth transition as we work with a national search firm to hire the organization’s next President & CEO. During the search, Ben Marcantonio, NHPCO’s COO will serve as interim President & CEO. Ben has more than 20 years of hospice and palliative care experience, including nine years of executive leadership with providers on both the east and west coasts.”

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Contact:
Caleb Tiller 
Ph: 571-412-4032 

For Immediate Release:
May 19, 2022

Bill Would Invest in Palliative and Hospice Care Research and Education

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its advocacy affiliate, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), welcomed the introduction of the Palliative Care & Hospice Education Training Act (PCHETA) today in the Senate. The bill, introduced as S. 4260 and cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, would support research and education to develop hospice and palliative care medicine.  

“Senators Baldwin and Capito understand that palliative and hospice care are essential components of the American healthcare system and worth investing in,” said Edo Banach, NHPCO president & CEO, and HAN president. “Like other parts of the healthcare sector, hospice and palliative care providers are in the midst of a long-term staffing crisis that got dramatically worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. PCHETA offers an important first step toward ensuring that we are developing the hospice and palliative care workforce of tomorrow, so we can continue offering the interdisciplinary, patient-centered, serious-illness and end-of-life care that Americans deserve.”   

Estimates indicate that without additional investments, the palliative care and hospice physician workforce will grow a little over one percent in the next 20 years while the number of Americans eligible for these types of care will increase by more than 20 percent. PCHETA would begin addressing this growing gap by supporting relevant research and education programs, including learning centers, fellowships, and academic medicine. 

Banach added, “PCHETA passed the House with more than 280 bipartisan cosponsors in the last two Congresses and was supported by more than 55 Senators – a feat not achieved by many bills anymore. However, despite overwhelming support from both sides, Congress has stalled on passing PCHETA and delayed much-needed investments in our nation’s hospice and palliative care workforce. NHPCO and HAN look forward to the bill’s introduction in the House and to working with our members and with Congress to pass PCHETA this session in order to train more doctors, nurses, and other health professionals in hospice and palliative medicine. At the same time, our country needs to step up to the reality that we are already in a healthcare workforce crisis, and it is going to get worse over the next 10-20 years as the American population continues aging. PCHETA is a down payment. We need a comprehensive plan for addressing this ongoing and growing emergency.” 

Take action: Call on your Senators to invest in the hospice and palliative care workforce by cosponsoring PCHETA. HAN’s Legislative Action Center makes it easy. 

About NHPCO and HAN: NHPCO and the Hospice Action Network (HAN) – work closely together to make an impact. NHPCO sets the public policy agenda through its Legislative Affairs Committee. HAN implements the agenda through direct lobbying, grassroots advocacy, and by empowering Hospice Advocates to share their hospice story with Congress. Our mission at HAN is to advocate, with one voice, for policies that ensure the best care for patients and families facing serious illness and the end of life.  

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Contact:
Caleb Tiller 
Ph: 571-412-4032 

For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2022

NHPCO Issues Proclamation Honoring Hospice Volunteers During National Volunteer Week, April 17 – 23, 2022

Volunteers are the Heart of Hospice

(Alexandria, Va) – In recognition of National Volunteer Week (April 17 – 23), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has issued the following proclamation to celebrate the contributions and gifts of America’s dedicated hospice volunteers. During the past two years, while the world was coping with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospice volunteers remained active helping support staff needs in the office, making calls to patients and team members letting them know they were not forgotten, creating cards and gift baskets to bolster spirits, helping with outreach and fundraisers, and doing what they could within safety guidelines to let patients and families know that they were being thought of and cared for despite the public health emergency.

“Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling hospice and palliative care organizations to offer the highest-quality care and support possible for the people they serve. By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach.

NHPCO National Volunteer Week Proclamation

Whereas, volunteering is an important activity for millions of Americans throughout the U.S., the compassionate individuals who serve as trained hospice volunteers deserve special recognition during this week of celebration and awareness;

Whereas, these dedicated hospice volunteers give of their time and talent in support of patients and families who are our relatives, friends, and neighbors;

Whereas, these volunteers are essential members of hospice and palliative care teams that care for an estimated 1.55 million hospice patients every year and ensure that they live with hope, dignity, and love despite serious and life-limiting illness;

Whereas, hospice volunteers contribute in creative ways to support health care workers as well as patients and families during this time of a global pandemic;

Whereas, National Volunteer Week provides the opportunity to recognize the contributions of these caring hospice volunteers and raise awareness of the benefits of hospice and palliative care;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the NHPCO board of directors do hereby proclaim April 17 – 23, 2022 as National Volunteer Week across the U.S. and encourage the support and participation of all citizens in learning more about and participating in the provision of hospice and palliative care to those in our community.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Board of Directors
April 17, 2022

Learn more about volunteering for a hospice in your community by reaching out to a local hospice provider or connecting with the We Honor Veterans program. NHPCO’s Find a Provider online tool will help you find a provider in your area. Learn about volunteering with We Honor Veterans.

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Contact:
Jon Radulovic
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release:
April 13, 2022

NHPCO Encourages People to Put Their Needs at the Center on National Healthcare Decisions Day

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is encouraging Americans to use National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16, as an opportunity to pause and think about their health care wishes and to take action to make sure their wishes are known, even if they unable to direct their own care.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is recognized each year on April 16 – the day after the date traditionally known as tax day – as a way to engage the American public in conversations that encourage people to think about their own personal wishes for their health care, particularly at the end of life, with the goal of getting people to plan ahead, document those plans, and let loved ones know their wishes.

NHPCO President and CEO, Edo Banach, said, “Hospice and palliative care providers always put patients at the center of the care plan. National Healthcare Decisions Day gives everyone a reminder to do that for themselves: put yourself at the center and think about your own health care wishes. That way, if your loved ones ever need to direct your care, they will know what you want because your voice has already been heard.”

Banach continued, “The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a lot of people into caregiving roles they never imagined for themselves. Making decisions for a loved one who is not able to do it for themselves can be agonizing. Take time now to think through the possible scenarios and make your wishes known to those who care about you most. And remember, we have a lot of resources for caregivers and care planning – including Advance Directives forms for every U.S. state – on our CaringInfo.org website.”

Advance care planning includes completing an Advance Directive (also known as a living will) and appointing a Health Care Power of Attorney (someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself). Then, most importantly, sharing your decisions with your family and loved ones.

NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org has free resources that include:

• • • Free downloadable state-specific Advance Directive forms
    • Information on advance care planning
    • Links to digital Advance Directive services
    • Tips for talking about your care wishes

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Contact:
Jon Radulovic
Communications Director
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2022

NHPCO and HAN Call on Congress to Protect Hospice Medicare Benefits

(Alexandria, Va) – Today, Congress is leaving town for a two-week vacation without addressing the cuts to hospice. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and Hospice Action Network (HAN) are voicing their concerns for the hospice provider community.

Due to congressional inaction, a one percent cut to Medicare payments known as sequestration went into effect on April 1 amidst an ongoing Public Health Emergency, a shortage of health care workers, and historic inflation—none of which were accounted for when the sequestration requirement was put into place more than a decade ago. This cut will have a major impact on access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. This is a direct attack on access to the care that Medicare promises seriously ill beneficiaries.

“Congress found an additional $200 billion dollars to spend above last year’s appropriations, but they ignore the plight of hospices struggling to keep their doors open with skyrocketing inflation and a health worker shortage,” said Edo Banach, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and president of the Hospice Action Network (HAN). “Once again, our seniors and those with life-limiting illnesses get the short end of the stick.”

NHPCO and HAN will continue to work with Congressional champions and Members on key committees to protect hospice and other providers from further financial hits and ensure all Americans have access to quality hospice and palliative care.

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Be a Hospice Advocate: Register with the Hospice Action Network’s Legislative Action Center to stay up to date on activity and receive Call to Action Alerts from HAN.

Contact:
Jon Radulovic
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

NHPCO and the Hospice Action Network (HAN) – work closely together to make an impact. NHPCO sets the public policy agenda through its Legislative Affairs Committee. The Hospice Action Network implements the agenda through direct lobbying, grassroots advocacy, and by empowering Hospice Advocates to share their hospice story with Congress. Our mission at HAN is to advocate, with one voice, for policies that ensure the best care for patients and families facing serious illness and the end of life.