Author: Merikokeb Wondafrash

For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2022 (Updated 04/05/22)

249 Hospice Organization Participated in Inaugural Year of Innovative Quality Improvement Program

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is proud to share the names of member organizations that have earned rings in the inaugural year of its Quality Connections program. Launched by NHPCO in January of 2021, Quality Connections (QC) was designed to enhance the knowledge base, skills, and competency of hospice and palliative care professionals and providers for continuous quality improvement.

QC is structured around four fundamental pillars which are represented by four QC rings: Education, Application, Measurement, and Innovation.

“To simply say that a hospice organization is interested in quality is not enough. A hospice must demonstrate its commitment to patient- and family-centered care with measurable results and outcomes. One of the most effective ways to do this is through active participation in NHPCO’s Quality Connections,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach.  “As we share the results from the first year of Quality Connections, we are able to shine a light on hospice organizations that have made significant strides in improving their quality of care. This matters to patients, families, payers, and providers, and I congratulate the providers that participated.”

Of the hospice organizations that embarked on a continuous quality improvement journey last year, 116 programs earned rings reflecting their success in Quality Connections. Among those programs, 27 hospices have the distinction of achieving the top levels of earning three or four rings.

NHPCO salutes all the hospice programs that worked to demonstrate an organizational wide commitment to quality.

Earning Four Rings

• • • Bluegrass Care Navigators
    • BridgingLife Hospice
    • BSA Hospice of the Southwest
    • Calvert Hospice, Inc.
    • Caring Circle
    • Delaware Hospice, Inc. – Delaware Office
    • Heart’s Way Hospice
    • HoriSun Hospice, Inc.
    • Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Inc.
    • Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care (formerly Joliet Area Community Hospice)
    • Partners In Home Care-Hospice
    • St. Croix Hospice
    • UnityPoint Hospice, Cedar Rapids
    • UnityPoint Hospice, Central Iowa
    • UnityPoint Hospice, Fort Dodge
    • UnityPoint Hospice, Quad Cities
    • UnityPoint Hospice, Waterloo

Earning Three Rings

• • • Caris Healthcare Hospice
    • Center for Hospice Care
    • Centra Hospice Farmville
    • Circle of Life Hospice
    • Hope Healthcare
    • Hospice of Hilo dba Hawaii Care Choices
    • Hospice of Humboldt
    • Hospice of the Chesapeake
    • Hospice of the Northwest
    • MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care Program
    • Serenity Hospice and Home
    • UnityPoint at Home
    • UnityPoint Hospice
    • VITAS Healthcare
    • VITAS Healthcare Chicago South

Earning Two Rings

• • • Agape Hospice Services
    • Avow Hospice
    • Columbus Hospice of Georgia and Alabama
    • Goodwin House Palliative Care and Hospice
    • Harbor Hospice
    • Heart’s Way Hospice
    • Hospice & Community Care
    • Hospice of Huntington
    • Hospice of Jackson County, Inc.
    • Hospice of North Central Florida, Inc
    • Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Inc.
    • Hospice of St. Mary\’s
    • Hospice of the Ozarks
    • Hospice of the Panhandle
    • Hospice of West Tennessee
    • Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice (Northwest New Jersey)
    • Lakeland Area Hospice
    • Meadowlark Hospice
    • Providence Hospice and Palliative Care (East)
    • Providence Hospice of Seattle
    • Providence St. Joseph Health – Home and Community Services
    • Sangre De Cristo Community Care
    • Suncoast Hospice
    • Tabitha Hospice
    • The Denver Hospice
    • Transitions LifeCare
    • Treasure Coast Hospice
    • Trellis Supportive Care
    • VNA Hospice and Palliative Care of Southern California

Earning One Ring

• • • Arizona Care Hospice
    • Arkansas Valley Hospice, Inc.
    • Bristol Hospice, LLC
    • Care Partners
    • CareFirst
    • Carris Health-Rice Hospice
    • Casa De La Luz Hospice
    • Center for Hospice Care
    • Centra Hospice of the Hills
    • CentraCare Hospice
    • Community Hospice
    • Community Hospice Care
    • Community Hospice Care
    • East End Hospice
    • Endless Journey, LLC
    • Faith Hospice
    • Franciscan Hospice Care
    • Freedom Hospice
    • Goodwin House Palliative Care and Hospice
    • Grace Hospice – Marysville
    • Gulfside Healthcare Services Inc.
    • Harbor Hospice
    • Harmony Hospice of Tucson
    • HealthPartners Hospice & Palliative Care
    • Heartland Home Health & Hospice
    • Heritage Hospice, Inc.
    • High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care – Mineville
    • High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care – Mineville
    • Horizon Hospice LLC
    • Hospice & Community Care
    • Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County
    • Hospice at Home Arizona
    • Hospice of Douglas County – A Division of Horizon Public Health
    • Hospice of Dubuque
    • Hospice of Health First Inc
    • Hospice of Jackson County, Inc.
    • Hospice of Limestone County
    • Hospice of Limestone County
    • Hospice of Montezuma, Inc.
    • Hospice of North Idaho
    • Hospice of the Red River Valley
    • Hospice of Yuma
    • HospiceCare in The Berkshires, Inc.
    • Housecall Providers Services LLC
    • Inspire Hospice, LLC
    • Interim Hospice of the Twin Cities
    • Intrepid USA Healthcare Services
    • Iowa City Hospice
    • Iowa City Hospice
    • Lakeside Hospice, Inc.
    • Lakeside Hospice, LLC
    • Lehigh Valley Hospice
    • Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care
    • Main Line Health Home Care and Hospice
    • Montgomery Hospice
    • Northern Illinois Hospice
    • NorthShore University HealthSystem Home and Hospice Services
    • Notre Dame Hospice
    • Notre Dame Hospice
    • Oklahoma Hospice & Palliative Care Association
    • Pathways
    • Presbyterian Homes Hospice, Inc.
    • ProCare Hospice of Nevada
    • ProMedica Hospice
    • Providence Hospice & Home Care of Snohomish County
    • Providence Hospice Medford
    • Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice
    • Providence TrinityCare Hospice
    • Quality Hospice
    • Sea Crest Hospice Services, Inc.
    • Seasons Hospice
    • Serenity Hospice and Home
    • Snowline Hospice
    • Southwest Medical Hospice
    • St. Mary High Desert Hospice (formery Living Care Hospice, Inc.)
    • Talbot Hospice
    • The Elizabeth Hospice
    • Tidewell Hospice, Inc.
    • Topkare Hospice, Inc.
    • Trustbridge, Inc.
    • Upland Hills Health Hospice
    • UVMHN Home Health & Hospice
    • Village Hospice
    • Visiting Nurse Association of NWI
    • VITAS Healthcare Chicago South
    • Willamette Valley Hospice
    • Yolo Hospice

Each Ring has specific activities incorporating practical resources to progressively track and improve both clinical and organizational quality. Activities such as quarterly data reporting and benchmarking, NHPCO’s E-Online courses, peer case studies, and engagement will be part of an organization’s quality journey. Additionally, participants will find activities that are focused on promoting diversity, access, and inclusion within an organization and with the communities they serve.

“For a hospice organization to be activity engaged with continuous quality improvement, commitment throughout the entire organization at all levels of staff is required,” said NHPCO Vice President of Quality Aparna Gupta. “And success should be celebrated at all levels within an organization with the reminder that the benefits are ultimately seen at the bedside of the person at the center of care.”

QC is a benefit of NHPCO provider membership. For organizations that already have an established quality improvement program, Quality Connections can build on and streamline what they already have in place. If a provider needs to enrich their quality improvement efforts, Quality Connections will provide the guidance and resources they need.

It is not too late for NHPCO provider members to enroll in Quality Connections for 2022. Follow the steps in the Quality Connections User Guide to enroll in the program and to start your quality improvement journey.

For their support of the Quality Connections program in 2021, NHPCO thanks its Gold Level Sponsors: Curitec and Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services, and Silver Level Sponsor ADVault, Inc.

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Contact:
Jon Radulovic
NHPCO Communications
Direct: 517-412-3973

To learn more about hospice and palliative care or for information to help people coping with serious illness, please visit NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org.

For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2022

Award Presented During NHPCO’s Leadership and Advocacy Conference

(Alexandria, Va) – In recognition of a lasting legacy of leadership and innovation in the field of hospice and palliative care, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today honors Rafael J. Sciullo with the Galen Miller Leadership Award. The award will be presented this evening at the Annual Gala of NHPCO’s charitable affiliate, the National Hospice Foundation, which is being held in conjunction with NHPCO’s 2022 Leadership and Advocacy Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

Sciullo is a longstanding leader in the hospice community. He currently serves as CEO of Empath Health, a role he assumed in early 2021 with the finalization of the merger of Empath Health and Stratum Health System. He joined Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health, in 2013, as president and CEO. In 2014, he launched Empath Health, an integrated network of care. In the time since he became the organization’s leader, Sciullo has expanded its home health program, overseen the expansion of its HIV/STI and senior care services, and developed new partnerships with other health care and community organizations. Prior to his tenure at Empath Health in Florida, Sciullo was president and CEO of Family Hospice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“There is no more important job humans can do for one another than caring for patients at the end of life,” Sciullo says.

Throughout his career, Sciullo has emphasized patient and family care. He believes in staying close to patients and families to know firsthand what’s important to them and understand their needs. He stresses the significance of focus on patients and families with his staff and with the broader hospice community.

He is widely seen as a leader within the hospice community. Sciullo has served as both a Board Member and Board Chair of NHPCO and currently serves as a Board Member for NHPCO’s advocacy affiliate, the Hospice Action Network (HAN). Additionally, Sciullo received NHPCO’s Founder Award in 2004.

“For many years, professionals throughout our field have learned from Rafael Sciullo with regards to organizational excellence, quality of care, the value of the interdisciplinary team in providing person-centered care, and the importance of our community speaking with one voice on legislative and policy issues that affect patient care,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach. “His insight and expertise are unparalleled and his willingness to share with others for the benefit of all have made a tremendous contribution to the provider community. Not only is he recognized for his attention to detail and fiscal responsibility, but he has always put people at the center of care and been a passionate advocate for the patient and family.”

The Galen Miller Leadership Award was created in 2014 to honor the memory of Dr. Galen Miller, who served as NHPCO Executive Vice President for 12 years and previously served seven years as Vice President and Director of Professional Development, Research, and External Relations. This award recognizes a champion and advocate from the field who has demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and passion for the hospice and palliative care community and the patients and families that receive care. While some NHPCO awards are presented annually, the Galen Miller Leadership Award is presented on a select basis in recognition of a lasting legacy of leadership and innovation in the field of hospice and palliative care. Rafael Sciullo will be the sixth Galen Miller honoree in the nine years since the creation of the award.

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

For Immediate Release:
March 7, 2022

Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards Celebrate Outstanding Volunteers

(Alexandria, Va) – This week the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) will present its annual Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards during the 2022 Leadership and Advocacy Conference hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center (March 7 – 9).

These awards, presented at the conference keynotes sessions, recognize hospice volunteers who best reflect the universal concept of volunteerism in its truest sense—serving as an inspiration to others. The honorees have made significant contributions to hospice programs in the areas of care delivery, organizational support, and teamwork and have stepped up to meet challenges that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Volunteers are an integral part of every hospice organization, and these selfless people truly represent the best of what we can be. That’s why we celebrate the volunteers who demonstrate remarkable service, compassion, and commitment in service of hospices in their communities. Their gift of caring has a profound impact on patients, families, and the communities they serve, and we cannot thank them enough for the support they provide,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach.

The 2022 recipients of NHPCO’s Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards are (click on the links below to learn more about each honoree):

Patient and Family Service Award:
Henry “Hank” Newman
The Elizabeth Hospice, Escondido, CA

Specialized Volunteer Service Award:
Jane E. Lewis
Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s County Hospice, Rockville, MD

Organizational Support Award:
Daniel Poel
Harbor Hospice, Muskegon, MI

Young Leader Award:
Erin Tilly
Suncoast Hospice/Empath Health, Clearwater, FL

We Honor Veterans Volunteer Service Award:
Tom Howard
Hospice of Marion County, Ocala, FL

“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,” added Banach.

These volunteer awards were created and are administered by NHPCO’s MyNHPCO Professional Community, a section of the organization’s membership that promotes the contributions and skills of the different professional disciplines that make up the hospice interdisciplinary team, including volunteer management. The awards are presented as part of the Leadership and Advocacy Conference, the premier conference for leaders and aspiring leaders working to advance the field of hospice and palliative care.

Learn more about hospice and palliative care at NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org website.

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This year’s Leadership and Advocacy Conference includes curated content that is available on-demand through May 31, 2022. Registration for on-demand access is available at www.nhpco.org/lac2022.

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

For Immediate Release:
March 6, 2022

The NHPCO Leadership and Advocacy Conference is the First Hospice and Palliative Care Gathering of this Size in More than Two Years 

Conference Marks 40 Years of the Medicare Hospice Benefit

(Alexandria, Va., and National Harbor, Md.) – More than 825 hospice leaders from across the country gather this week in National Harbor, Md. for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO’s) 2022 Leadership and Advocacy Conference, or LAC22, with nearly 100 additional participants signed up for access to online, on-demand content through the virtual conference. The annual conference is the premier gathering for hospice leaders to learn, network, reflect, and recharge, so they can help their teams continue to provide high-quality, patient- and family-centered, interdisciplinary care. LAC22, with preconference sessions March 4-5 and the main conference March 7-9, is unique in that the hospice community and palliative care community has largely foregone in-person gatherings for two years due to COVID-19.

“The hospice and palliative care community has faced incredible challenges – from a national shortage of health care workers to a global pandemic. Through it all, these professionals have stepped up to the challenge. They reinvented how they deliver care to keep their teams, patients, and communities safe, while continuing to deliver the high-quality care that every American deserves through serious illness and at the end of life,” said NHPCO President and CEO, Edo Banach. “Now, with the majority of Americans vaccinated, and with COVID indicators moving in the right direction for weeks, we are finally able to safely gather as a fully vaccinated group to learn, to be inspired, and to look to the future. I’m so pleased NHPCO is able to give back to this community at this time.”

This year marks 40 years since Congress passed the legislation that created the Medicare hospice benefit, making the conference location just a few miles from the Capitol especially appropriate for this year. As part of the official conference program, LAC22 attendees will reflect on the history of hospice, celebrate the pioneers who worked to make hospice part of our national health care landscape, and look ahead to how the community can collectively advocate to provide hospice and palliative care to more Americans, in more communities, with more equitable access. Secretary Leon Panetta, who was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and was one of the key advocates for the hospice benefit legislation, will speak to attendees on the final day of the conference.

The conference program offers Continuing Education/Continuing Medical Education (CE/CME) for Compliance Officers, Nurses, Physicians, and Social Workers who attend in person and an on-demand library for Compliance Officers, Nurses, and Physicians, with education topics ranging from leadership, to outreach, from value-based contracting to clinical models. Keynote speakers include Emily Esfahani Smith, Journalist and Author of The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life that Matters, Mark Shulman, World-Renowned Drummer and Author, and Mara Liasson, Political Analyst for FOX News and National Political Correspondent for NPR.

Banach added, “Hospice and palliative care are built around the idea of meeting people’s needs. This work is truly a calling. As the national organization representing these incredible care providers, I am honored that we are finally able to bring the community together again to meet their needs, so they can go back home, recharged, to support their staffs, partners, patients, and communities.”

Follow NHPCO’s 2022 Leadership and Advocacy Conference on social media: #LAC22. Learn more about the conference and register for the on-demand library of conference content at nhpco.org/lac2022.

The next NHPCO conference will be the fully virtual 2022 Interdisciplinary Conference, September 19-21, 2022. In 2023, NHPCO will implement new timing for its two main conferences. The 2023 NHPCO Interdisciplinary Conference will take place in April, as a virtual event and the 2023 Leadership Conference will take place October 16-18, 2023, in Little Rock, Ark. (preconference sessions October 14-15). Learn more at nhpco.org/conferences.

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

For Immediate Release:
March 4, 2022

Rory Farrand Has 20 Years of Health Care Experience

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today announced that Rory will join the organization as the Vice President of Palliative and Advanced Care. Farrand, who will start in her new role at the end of this month, brings more than 20 years of proven health care success in focus areas including palliative care, geriatric primary and acute care, geriatric psychiatry, assisted living management, Alzheimer’s/dementia care, clinical health care management and operations, clinical research, innovative program development, nursing, and training. She has been an active member of NHPCO and of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), serving on volunteer committees and advisory councils with both organizations.  

NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach said, “As the need for community-based palliative care continues to grow across the country, NHPCO members are ideally positioned to meet that need. At the same time, NHPCO is the organization that can lead the effort to define palliative care for the health care sector and for consumers. Rory comes into the position with deep knowledge and experience delivering palliative care services as a provider, plus a member’s understanding of how NHPCO can continue improving our support for those providers. With her leadership, we can lead the next evolution of palliative care.”  

Farrand said, “I was inspired to get into palliative care by the personal experience of my mother’s death from cancer. Working as a provider, I have seen the benefits that high-quality, high-touch, interdisciplinary palliative care brings to patients with serious illnesses and their families. I look forward to working with the hospice and palliative care community to continue expanding availability of palliative care, raising consumer awareness, and increasing access by moving upstream along the continuum of care.” 

Farrand joins NHPCO from VITAS Healthcare, where she is currently winding down her tenure as National Director of VITAS Palliative Care. In that role, she has overseen all of VITAS’ palliative care initiatives to improve and expand palliative care for VITAS patients, families, and health care providers. Her key objectives include embedding goals-of-care conversation expertise into the palliative care specialty and serving as an industry advocate for legislative and regulatory action toward community-based palliative care delivery models. 

Prior to VITAS, Farrand served as Vice President of Medical Management for Centene Corporation’s PA Health and Wellness, serving Pennsylvania—a role that included national program development for projects on palliative care and social determinants of health. She previously served as Vice President of Clinical Learning & Development and Regional VP of Clinical Operations for PA/WV for Aspire Health, with multistate oversight of dispersed interdisciplinary teams providing high-quality palliative care. 

Farrand is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner with an MSN focused on geriatric and adult health. Additionally, she holds an advanced practice certificate in palliative care, a BA in Psychology, an MS in Behavioral Neuroscience, and an MA in Art Therapy. She has worked as both a Nurse Practitioner and an Art Therapist. She is active in multiple professional organizations, including HPNA and the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. Rory enjoys baking, yoga, reading, and spending time with her sons.  

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

For Immediate Release:
February 9, 2021 

 Hospice Action Network Honors 2021 Congressional Champions

NHPCO advocacy affiliate recognizes members of Congress who have supported hospice 

(Alexandria, Va) – The Hospice Action Network (HAN), the advocacy affiliate of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Hospice Action Network Angel Award. This award was created to recognize select members of Congress who serve hospice and palliative care patients and their families through their efforts to support the vital mission of hospice and palliative care. These honorees use their platform to amplify the voices of patients facing a serious or life-limiting illness and their families. 

The award recipients are as follows: 

• • • Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 
    • Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) 
    • Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) 
    • Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) 
    • Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) 

• • • Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV-04) 
    • Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY-25) 
    • Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) 
    • Representative Tom Reed (R-NY-23) 
    • Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) 

• • • Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) 
    • Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-05) 

The honorees expressed their appreciation for the recognition.  

“I was raised by my maternal grandparents and later served as my grandmother’s primary caregiver as she grew older, which is why hospice and palliative care are extremely personal to me,” Senator Tammy Baldwin said. “I’m proud to have worked across party lines to advocate for this critical care being made more accessible for Americans. I will continue to be a voice for patients and their families and remain committed to working to grow and support our palliative and hospice health care workforce which provides quality of care for the growing number of patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses.” 

“My family personally experienced the care and compassion provided by hospice. This is why I am proud to support hospice providers in Wyoming and across our nation. I am honored to receive this award and will continue working to improve hospice access for American patients and their families,” Senator John Barrasso said. 

“People in the final stages of life should have access to the compassionate care that hospice and palliative care provide. As someone who cared for aging parents and experienced firsthand what it is like to have a family member receive hospice care, I have been and continue to be committed to making sure this critical service is available in all communities, including rural areas,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito said. “I also know the incredible strain that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on this type of care, which is why I have introduced legislation to ensure patients have access to more time with loved ones throughout the pandemic, and fought to delay Medicare payment cuts that would be detrimental to our home health, hospice, health center, and durable medical equipment suppliers. I’m honored to be selected as one of HAN’s Angel Awardees again this year, and I am so grateful for the work HAN, NHPCO, and all the hospice and palliative caregivers do on behalf of people across West Virginia.” 

“I have long worked to advance bipartisan solutions that expand the public’s access to palliative and end-of-life care. These services provide patients facing serious illness and their families with the high-quality care and comfort they deserve. Thank you to the NHPCO for this award and their work on behalf of the American people,” Senator Deb Fischer said.      

“When I was nine weeks old, my grandmother suffered a debilitating stroke that left her reliant on nursing care for the rest of her life. I know the difference that palliative care makes, and I will always fight to make sure patients have the high-quality care they need and deserve,” Representative Steven Horsford said. “I’m honored to receive the 2021 Hospice Action Network Angel Award, and I look forward to working with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to continue to advocate for all patients and families.” 

“Our nation is suffering a collective and overwhelming grief as a result of this pandemic,” Representative Joe Morelle said. “Hospice and palliative care providers have been there supporting patients and their families through their darkest hours—bringing them light, and peace. I am humbled and honored by this award, and I remain committed to working alongside NHPCO to continue supporting patients going forward.”  

“The facilities that serve hospice and palliative care patients and their family members, and employ caregivers and administrative staff, should always meet high standards of quality, safety, and transparency,” Representative Jimmy Panetta said. “That’s why I worked closely with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to introduce and pass the Hospice Act, which was signed into law in 2020. Although I greatly appreciate this recognition for my work on that legislation, the grassroots advocacy and bipartisan collaboration was the foundation for this law that will ensure accountability for the safety and wellbeing of hospice caregivers and those in their care.” 

“We will always be an advocate for hospice care and the quality care and support they give to families and their loved ones. At the end of my mother’s life, I witnessed firsthand the compassion of hospice care professionals and was inspired to become a hospice volunteer as my way of saying thank you. We are honored that Hospice Action Network has chosen to recognize us for our work and we commend them in their efforts to expand access to hospice care here in America,” Representative Tom Reed said. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization for my work to provide seniors in Nevada and across the country better access to comprehensive health services, including hospice and palliative care,” Senator Jacky Rosen said. “I will continue to lead on this issue and look forward to partnering with the nation’s hospice and palliative care providers to make sure that America’s seniors receive the best care possible.” 

“Our hospice and palliative care workers take incredible care of their patients and their families. They provide kindness and compassion during an exceedingly difficult time. I am honored to be recognized by the Hospice Action Network and will continue to fight for Americans facing serious or life-limiting illness in Congress,” Representative Steve Scalise said. 

“I am honored to receive the 2021 Hospice Action Network Angel Award from the Hospice Action Network,” Representative Mike Thompson said. “As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I have worked to pass legislation that provides security and dignity to hospice and palliative care patients. My wife, Janet, is a former hospice nurse and I know well the difficulties that families experience with loved ones facing serious and terminal illness. I am committed to continuing these efforts to support these patients and the brave health care heroes who care for them.” 

HAN and NHPCO are proud to recognize these lawmakers. 

“We are thankful to these members of Congress for their leadership and support of hospice and palliative care patients and their families who rely on person- and family-centered, interdisciplinary care during their greatest time of need,” said Edo Banach, President and CEO of NHPCO and HAN. 

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

About HAN
NHPCO and the Hospice Action Network 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. HAN’s mission 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. 

For Immediate Release:
January 27, 2022 

Dr. Aparna Gupta Joins NHPCO from UnitedHealth Group

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today announced it has hired a new Vice President of Quality, Dr. Aparna Gupta DNP, FACHE, CPHQ, CRNP. Gupta, who will start with NHPCO next month, most recently served as Vice President of Clinical Operations, Bundled Payment Solutions, Medicare, and Retirement for UnitedHealth Group (UHG). Prior to joining UHG, Gupta served as Director of Quality, Safety, and Value for the Allegheny Health Network (AHN). Gupta is a board-certified nurse practitioner with more than 20 years of health care leadership experience spanning quality improvement, health care operations, executive leadership, acute care, ageing, complex disease management, clinical services, and implementation of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) programs.

NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach said, “Delivering high-quality care is the cornerstone of any successful hospice or palliative care program, and NHPCO is the leader in supporting providers for continuous quality improvement. With Dr. Gupta leading our Quality programs, I know NHPCO will continue to grow participation in programs like Quality Connections, ensuring that providers across the country are able to deliver better and better services for patients and their families.”

Gupta said, “I look forward to working with the hospice and palliative care communities to improve the quality of patient care. With more than 20 years of health care experience on both the provider side and the payer side, I have a passion for programs that create incentives to reduce costs while increasing quality of care. I admire NHPCO’s focus on quality as essential in serious illness and end-of-life care, and I look forward to supporting the organization as it continues to lead person-centered care.”

Prior to her roles with UHG and AHN, Gupta served as a consultant leading an initiative for 34 hospitals and health systems across Pennsylvania to reduce sepsis-related hospital admissions by working across the continuum of care to reduce gaps that lead to sepsis. She previously served as a Senior Nurse Practitioner with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as well as a Registered Nurse and Charge RN at two hospitals in Colorado.

As part of her doctoral work, Gupta successfully implemented an evidence-base collaborative depression care management protocol in a primary care practice, improving mental health screening and interdisciplinary team-based care for populations with complex health conditions. Gupta has been an active leader in several professional organizations, including serving as President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. Gupta’s focus on outcomes-driven care delivery has led to significant improvements in value-based outcomes across complex and high-risk populations. As a health care quality expert, Dr. Gupta has been invited to speak on topics such as social risk, sepsis readmissions, managing the ageing continuum, and integration of mental health in primary care at events including the Institute of Healthcare Improvement Annual Forum. Gupta has led Transforming Care at the Bedside Teams (TCAB) and served as a master trainer for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) projects. Her years of delivering high-quality health care have resulted in the achievement of Fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, volunteering, and spending time with her family and her four-year-old Bichon.

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Contact:
Jon Radulovic
NHPCO Communications
571-412-3973

For Immediate Release:
January 13, 2022

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) offers comment following the decision released today by the Supreme Court.

Today, the Supreme Court issued its decision allowing the CMS vaccine mandate to go into effect for all states. On Friday, January 7, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether to allow the CMS vaccine mandate to go into effect for the 25 states part of the litigation while it is reviewed by lower courts. We expect additional guidance from CMS soon.

“NHPCO has clearly supported the important role that CMS and HHS have in protecting the health and safety of consumers and health care providers. We supported and continue to support a vaccine mandate because we care about health care providers and the people and communities they serve. Today’s Supreme Court decision recognizes that role and gives health care providers the clarity that they need to assure that their staff members, and the people they care for, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach.

For more background on the ongoing litigation, NHPCO members can review the December 16 Regulatory Alert available on the NHPCO website.

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

For Immediate Release
January 13, 2022 

PHE Helps Hospices and Palliative Care Providers Deliver Patient Care During COVID-19 

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today requested that the Biden Administration extend the COVID-19 public health emergency, which is currently set to expire on January 16.  

 In a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Honorable Xavier Becerra, NHPCO stated that: “Hospice and palliative care providers are still being severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically through staff and testing shortages. Extending the public health emergency will provide essential support and flexibilities to hospices and palliative care providers as they continue to serve patients safely and effectively, while facing another record COVID-19 surge.” 

Download the full letter.  

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

For Immediate Release:
January 5, 2022

Appreciation to those professionals who are committed to advancing person- and family-centered care through service on NHPCO board of directors

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is proud to welcome five new members to the organization’s board of directors and thanks those individuals returning for a second term. The full NHPCO board will meet for its first meeting of the year on January 26, 2022.

Joining the NHPCO board of directors for three-year terms are:

• • • Trisha Crissman, CommonSpirit Health at Home, Milford, OH
    • Jim Deal, Compassus, Brentwood, TN
    • Clevis Parker, ProCare Hospice of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
    • Lynne Sexten, Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care, Madison, WI
    • Kristen Yntema, AuthoraCare Collective, Greensboro, NC

Returning to the NHPCO board for a second terms are:

• • • Ron Crossno, Kindred at Home, Hutto, TX
    • Carla Davis, LHC Group, Charleston, SC
    • Elizabeth Fowler, Bluegrass Care Navigators, Lexington, KY
    • Brian Jones, SHARE Foundation, El Dorado, AR
    • Katy Lanz, TopSight, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Norman McRae, Caris HealthCare, LP, Knoxville, TN

“For their commitment to our organization and the nation’s hospice and palliative care community, we welcome these new members to the NHPCO board of directors and extend our appreciation to those continuing their board service. Our board members come from programs that vary in size, structure, and service area and represent the wide range of organizations across the country that share our common goal of leading person- and family-centered care,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach

Appreciation goes out to Sally Aldrich of Baptist Trinity Health, Darren Bertram of Infinity Hospice Care, Rafael Sciullo of Empath Health/Suncoast Hospice, and Paul Ledford of the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association who concluded their terms on the NHPCO board at the end of 2021.

“To those who have concluded their board service, we thank them for their many contributions to our organization and the provider community,” added Banach.

Executive Committee
Additionally, NHPCO extends its appreciation to those serving on the 2022 executive committee:

• • • Chair – Norman McRae, Caris HealthCare, LP, Knoxville, TN
    • Vice Chair – Melinda Gruber, Caring Circle, St. Joseph, MI
    • President – Edo Banach, NHPCO, Alexandria, VA
    • Treasurer – Peter Brunnick, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, Charlotte, NC
    • Secretary – Elizabeth Fowler, Bluegrass Care Navigators, Lexington, KY
    • At-Large – Balu Natarajan, AccentCare Hospice, Rosemont, IL
    • At-Large – Tarrah Lowry, Trustbridge, West Palm Beach, FL
    • Hospice Action Network Representative – David Totaro, BAYADA Home Health Care, Philadelphia, PA

A full list of NHPCO’s board of directors is available in the “About NHPCO” section of the organization’s website.

To learn more about hospice and palliative care, visit NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org website.

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