Category: Press Release

For Immediate Release
November 1, 2023 

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) – The four preeminent national hospice organizations – LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) – strongly oppose the final design of the hospice special focus program (SFP) as presented in the CY2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update (CMS-1780-F), released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today.   

CMS’ decision to progress using a flawed methodology for the SFP algorithm will threaten the ability of millions of older adults and other hospice beneficiaries to access quality hospice care.  

In addition, the implementation of the poorly designed algorithm, which has been widely criticized by congressional leaders, technical expert panel participants, and hospice community and association leaders, will hinder a widely shared goal of improving sector quality. As a community, we are profoundly disappointed with this decision.  

Over the past two years, the national hospice associations have presented CMS — in letters, in-person meetings and via other channels — with a wide array of research and well-supported advocacy outlining our concerns. We’ve reiterated those concerns to the White House Office of Management and Budget and Domestic Policy Council as well. Nonetheless, CMS has opted to ignore our  feedback, along with concerns from congressional leaders dating as far back as 2021.  

To be clear: our associations support the spirit and intent of the SFP, which, in keeping with the HOSPICE Act passed in 2020, aims to improve poor performing hospices. CMS’ approach is not aligned with congressional intent, nor does it effectively identify the lowest quality performing providers, and does not achieve the goals set forth in the HOSPICE Act.  

On behalf of hospice provider members serving beneficiaries around the country, our organizations are committed to continued advocacy on this issue. We will explore all options to prevent the flawed SFP design from moving forward and will work to find a solution which accomplishes the goals of the hospice community and Congress for improving the quality of care delivered.  

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Press Contacts:
Lisa Sanders
LeadingAge
202-508-9407
lsanders@leadingage.org

Tom Threlkeld
NAHC
tom@nahc.org

Madison Summers 
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

Matt Wilkinson
NPHI Communications Manager
mwilkinson@hospiceinnovations.org
801-615-4207

Immediate Release:
October 31, 2023

Courageous Conversations

(Alexandria, VA) – The beginning of November marks the start of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month (HAPCM), and this year’s theme is “Courageous Conversations.” Throughout the month, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is encouraging everyone to engage in Courageous Conversations to start a meaningful dialogue on dying a good death.

In a culture that often teaches us to resist mortality and a healthcare system defined by interventionism, the seemingly simple act of having a conversation about dying can have a profound impact. What does death mean in my life? If I am faced with a terminal diagnosis, how would my values shape my end-of-life journey? How do I want my loved ones to engage with me toward the end of my life? It’s difficult to think about these questions but having these courageous conversations with ourselves, family, friends, and doctors can mean the difference between having the type of death a patient wants – one that matches up with their values and desires – and one that doesn’t allow them to have a say in their own end of life.

“Throughout the month, NHPCO members and other organizations across the nation will raise awareness of the role that courageous conversations can have in helping patients with serious illness receive the right care at the right time, and helping their families’ know their loved ones are getting the care they want,” said NHPCO Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. “National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is an important opportunity to continue the national conversation, accelerated in part by former President Jimmy Carter’s decision to make his hospice election public, about the benefits of early access to goal-oriented serious-illness and end-of-life care.”

NHPCO encourages individuals and organizations to participate in a special HAPCM Social Media Action Day on Friday, November 3, 2023, using the hashtags #HAPCM and #CourageousConversations. NHPCO Members will find a range of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month outreach resources online in the Community Outreach Resource section of the website.

For more information on hospice, palliative care, advance care planning, and more, visit NHPCO’s consumer website, www.CaringInfo.org.

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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:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
October 25, 2023

See the Spanish language version

(Alexandria, VA) – CaringInfo.org, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a consumer-focused website that offers information on a breadth of topics related to serious illness and end-of-life care. The mission of CaringInfo is to empower patients and caregivers to make decisions about the care and services they wish to receive.

The full CaringInfo website, including all the downloadable resources, is now available in Spanish. Site visitors must simply click the “English” button in the top right corner of the page and select “Español” from the dropdown to view the translated site. All pages on the website are available in translation and NHPCO will continue to translate any new site additions.

CaringInfo currently provides information on topics including the services provided with hospice care, the differences between hospice and palliative care, the benefits of advance care planning and how to get started, and financial matters to consider and plan for at the end of life. CaringInfo also offers a regularly updated library of each state’s advance directives, including tips for completing each form.

Notably, these advance directive forms are also available in Spanish, offering the first comprehensive, free tool for accessing annotated advance directives for each state in Spanish. The site currently offers the Spanish directives for over 30 states, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. to be available in the coming weeks.

“Increasing access to care and education about that care for all, including within Hispanic/Latino communities, continues to be a main goal of NHPCO and the CaringInfo program,” said NHPCO Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. “Based on the demand we’ve already seen and the lack of written resources that exist in Spanish, we know this website will serve as a valuable resource for providers communicating with patients and their loved ones as well as for the Spanish-speaking community in learning about options for the care and services they and their loved ones wish to receive.”

Visit CaringInfo.org, which is free and available to all, to explore the full site in English and Spanish.

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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:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
571-412-3973

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PARA DIFUSIÓN INMEDIATA
25 de octubre de 2023

El sitio web y los recursos de CaringInfo de la NHPCO ahora están disponibles en español

(Alexandria, VA) – CaringInfo.org, un programa de la National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), es un sitio web centrado en el consumidor que ofrece información sobre una amplia gama de temas relacionados con enfermedades graves y cuidados al final de la vida. La misión de CaringInfo es capacitar a los pacientes y cuidadores para que tomen decisiones sobre la atención y los servicios que desean recibir.

Todo el sitio web de CaringInfo, incluidos los recursos descargables, está ahora disponible en español. Quienes visitan el sitio solo deben hacer clic en el botón “Inglés” en la esquina superior derecha de la página y seleccionar “Español” en el menú desplegable para ver el sitio traducido. Todas las páginas del sitio web traducidas ahora están disponibles, y la NHPCO seguirá traduciendo cualquier incorporación nueva al sitio.

CaringInfo actualmente proporciona información sobre temas que incluyen los servicios proporcionados con los cuidados de hospicio, las diferencias entre cuidado paliativo y cuidado de hospicio, los beneficios de la planificación anticipada de atención y cómo comenzar, y los temas financieros a considerar, así como la planificación para el final de la vida. CaringInfo también ofrece una biblioteca de las instrucciones anticipadas de cada estado, actualizadas regularmente, que incluye consejos para completar cada formulario.

En particular, estos formularios de instrucciones anticipadas también están disponibles en español y ofrecen la primera herramienta integral y gratuita para acceder a las instrucciones anticipadas comentadas en español para cada estado. Actualmente, el sitio ofrece las instrucciones en español para 34 estados, y los 50 estados más Puerto Rico y Washington D.C. estarán disponibles en las próximas semanas.

“Aumentar el acceso a la atención y la educación sobre esa atención para todos, incluso dentro de la comunidad hispana, sigue siendo un objetivo principal de la NHPCO y del programa CaringInfo”, dijo el CEO interino de la NHPCO, Ben Marcantonio. “Con base en la demanda que ya hemos visto y la falta de recursos escritos que existen en español, sabemos que este sitio web servirá como un recurso valioso para los proveedores que se comunican con los pacientes y sus seres queridos, así como para la comunidad de habla hispana para conocer las opciones de atención y servicios que ellos y sus seres queridos desean recibir”.

Visite CaringInfo.org, que es gratuito y está disponible para todos, y explore el sitio completo en inglés y español.

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Acerca de la NHPCO

La National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) es la asociación de miembros más grande y antigua del país para proveedores que atienden a personas afectadas por enfermedades graves y que limitan la vida. Nuestros miembros brindan y amplían el acceso a una atención interdisciplinaria de alta calidad y centrada en la persona a millones de estadounidenses. La NHPCO proporciona educación y recursos para apoyar esa misión. Junto con nuestro socio de defensa, Hospice Action Network (HAN), servimos como la voz líder que promueve políticas públicas para mejorar la atención de enfermedades graves y al final de la vida, mientras que nuestro programa CaringInfo proporciona recursos gratuitos para educar y capacitar a pacientes y cuidadores. nhpco.org

Contacto de prensa:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
571-412-3973

(Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) hosted its annual leadership conference (ALC2023) in Little Rock, Arkansas, September 30 – October 4, 2023. More than 900 attendees and exhibitors joined for the in-person program which included action-packed days of keynotes, concurrent education sessions, networking opportunities, award presentations, and celebrations.

Early arrival attendees participated in four pre-conference workshops: the Hospice Manager Development Program Foundation Course, the Hospice Compliance Certificate Program, the Hospice Quality Certificate Program, and the Goals of Care Communication workshop. Sunday concluded with the Kickoff Keynote, Jennifer O’Brien, Author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow, where attendees learned about supporting the non-professional caregiver and the parallels the challenges of caregiving have to those of leadership.

Monday, October 2 was the first day of the full conference. After sunrise yoga in the Wellness Lounge, attendees joined the Opening Keynote, Marcus Whitney, healthcare investor and innovator. Before Whitney took the stage, NHPCO interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio and NHPCO Board Chair, Melinda Gruber each shared remarks about the future of the hospice and palliative care community, the need for unity, and NHPCO’s future collaboration with NAHC.

“In many ways, this is our time,” said Marcantonio. “We must be courageous about opening windows to new ways of thinking about serious-illness and end-of-life care, new ways of providing that care, and new ways of resourcing the care in the decades ahead.”

During the annual Networking and Awards Lunch, MyNHPCO leaders presented the Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards, recognizing hospice volunteers who embody the concept of volunteerism at the heart of hospice—improving the patient experience and serving as an inspiration to others. The honorees made significant contributions to hospice programs in the areas of organizational support, patient and family service, specialized volunteer service, and We Honor Veterans volunteer service; NHPCO also recognized a teen volunteer with the Young Leader Service Award.

Tuesday’s Keynote session – Jonah and David Stillman, a father-son multigenerational team, explored the differences in each generation’s approach to the workplace and offered recommendations for optimizing cross-generational teamwork. The afternoon began with Peer-to-Peer Connections sessions, where attendees met in topic-focused groups to ask questions about current challenges and share best practices before heading to the National Hospice Foundation 2023 Gala where the Galen Miller Leadership Awards were presented.

During the gala, attendees enjoyed delicious food and drinks, danced to Little Rock’s Diamond Empire Band, and participated in live and silent auctions. Thanks to the support and participation of NHPCO members and supporters, the National Hospice Foundation, NHPCO’s fundraising affiliate, raised over $200,000 throughout the evening. All funds will support the Hospice Workforce Emergency Support Fund.

The highlight of the night was NHPCO’s presentation of the Galen Miller Leadership Awards, honoring the outstanding contributions of Judi Lund Person and Norman McRae to the hospice community.

On the last day of the conference, attendees gathered for the final Keynote, Breaking Ice with Pillsbury House Theater for a courageous and productive dialogue around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We Honor Veterans presented the We Honor Veterans Outstanding Program Award to MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care is a Level Five We Honor Veterans partner and has been with the program since its inception. Before leaving Little Rock, attendees joined one of five final concurrent education sessions, including a roundtable with representatives from the Medicare Administrative Contractors.

NHPCO will continue to share updates from #ALC2023 across its social media platforms, a link to photos captured during the conference can be found here. On-demand content from the conference is available now through December 31, 2023, and includes recordings of select on-site sessions plus unique sessions designed specifically for online participation. ALC2024 will be held in Denver, Colorado from September 16 through September 18. Save the date 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
Madison Summers
Marketing and Communications Manager
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
October 5, 2023
Photo Link

(Alexandria, Va) – This week the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) honored standout members of the hospice and palliative care community during the 2023 NHPCO Annual Leadership Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.

During the conference at the National Hospice Foundation’s 2023 Gala, NHPCO honored the outstanding contributions of Judi Lund Person and Norman McRae to the community by presenting each of them with the Galen Miller Leadership Award. The Galen Miller Leadership Award, created in memory of NHPCO’s Executive Vice President, is presented to hospice champions who exhibit the same dedication and passion for the hospice and palliative care community that Galen Miller did.

Judi Lund Person, who currently serves as Senior Advisor of Regulatory and Compliance for NHPCO, is a widely acknowledged and respected hospice champion. In her decades of service, Lund Person has served as a key contact with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and helped ensure that policymakers hear the hospice voice. Over her 21-year tenure with NHPCO, Lund Person has developed and updated countless tools and resources for hospice providers, answered many regulatory questions, and worked with regulators and policymakers on a wide range of hospice regulatory issues. Prior to joining NHPCO, Lund Person led The Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care, where she worked with other early hospice leaders to establish the Medicare Hospice Benefit in Congress and was a part of the initial discussions that formulated the original conditions of participation.

Norman McRae, a hospice executive for the past three decades, currently serves as Principal of McRae Consulting Company and as the Immediate Past Chair of the NHPCO Board of Directors. In 1990, he founded the Hospice of Hope in Maysville, Kentucky and soon after, led a turnaround for Housecall Medical Resources, a publicly traded company with operations in five states. Norman then served as Founder and President and CEO for Caris HealthCare before becoming a Managing Partner and Executive Board Member.

Norman served on the NHPCO Board of Directors from 1997 to 2002, later returning to the Board and serving as Vice President from 2019 to 2020, and Chair from 2021 to 2022. He presently serves on the NHPCO Board as Immediate Past Chair.

NHPCO presented the annual Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards during a special luncheon on Monday, October 2. These awards recognize hospice volunteers who embody the concept of volunteerism at the heart of hospice; improving the patient experience and serving as an inspiration to others. The honorees have made significant contributions to hospice programs in the areas of organizational support, patient and family service, specialized volunteer service, and We Honor Veterans volunteer service; NHPCO also recognized a teen volunteer with the Young Leader Service Award. The Furst Group and NuBrick Partners sponsored this year’s volunteer awards, and the MyNHPCO Awards Committee led the selection process. The 2023 recipients of NHPCO’s Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards are:

Organizational Support Award:
Glenna Hayhoe 
Avow Hospice, Naples, Florida

Patient and Family Service Award:
Judith Arasi 
Compassus Hospice, North Andover, Massachusetts

Specialized Volunteer Service Award:
Johnnie Nettles
Lester Dierksen Memorial Hospice, Texarkana, Texas

We Honor Veterans Volunteer Service Award:
Kenneth A. Smith 
Hospice and Community Care, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Young Leader Service Award:
Alexis Hayward
Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, Ohio

We Honor Veterans, a NHPCO program, presented the We Honor Veterans Outstanding Program Award to this year’s recipient: MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care is a “Level Five” We Honor Veterans partner and has been with the program since its inception. In the last year alone, MJHS served over 200 Veteran patients. Ashton Stewart, Veteran Liaison & Cultural Sensitivity Outreach Coordinator, and a Veteran of the U.S. Navy who served during the first Gulf War, accepted the award on behalf of MJHS.

MJHS demonstrated its commitment to Veterans in one special case in 2022. Caring for the widow of a Veteran, an MJHS social worker learned of the patient’s dying wish to be buried with her husband at the Calverton National Cemetery. Her husband had died during his military service in 1979. Although she left no will, had no power of attorney, and no surviving family or children, MJHS was able to confirm her eligibility to be buried with her husband at the VA National Cemetery at Calverton in Long Island.

Thank you to all of this year’s 2023 NHPCO Annual Leadership Conference honorees and award winners.

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Press Contact:
Madison Summers
Marketing and Communications Manager
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
September 20, 2023  

(Alexandria, Virginia) – On September 18, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) met with a representative on the Domestic Policy Council, representing the Biden administration, to discuss major issues with the current design of the hospice special focus program (SFP).  

The coalition of national hospice organizations expressed concern that the current design of the SFP does not capture truly poor performing hospices and as its currently designed, would wrongly label good hospice providers among the bottom 10 percent. This would result in beneficiary access issues in rural and underserved communities.  

“We are urging the White House to have CMS go back to work with the Technical Expert Panel to create a better formula that captures poor performing hospices and helps them raise the quality of care they deliver,” said Logan Hoover, NHPCO’s VP of Policy and Government Relations. “NHPCO and the other leading national hospice organizations will continue to meet with stakeholders in the administration and congress to bring awareness to critical flaws in the current version of the special focus program and to shape a program that can identify and help improve the performance of truly poor performing providers.”  

The White House staff and hospice leaders engaged in thoughtful conversation as both sides work to ensure that hospice benefit beneficiaries have access to the highest quality hospice care.  

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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:
Madison Summers
Phone: 571-412-3973
Email: msummers@nhpco.org 

For Immediate Release
Photo link
August 17, 2023

Hospice and Palliative Care Leaders Gather in Times Square to Celebrate his Life and Legacy

(New York, New York) — Today, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) brought together an intimate group of hospice leaders in Times Square, New York City to acknowledge six months since former President Jimmy Carter entered hospice care and to thank him for his leadership.

Back in February, President Carter and his family chose hospice care for his end-of-life journey. By sharing that choice publicly, the Carters have sparked a national conversation and countless private ones about the value of hospice.

At today’s event, brief remarks were given in front of an illuminated Nasdaq screen by NHPCO COO and interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio, and other hospice leaders who joined together in one of America’s most well-known public squares to express gratitude for President Carter’s leadership and the courageous conversations he has inspired.

“The Carters’ service to humanity has served as a wonderful example to all of us. He has shown us how to be deeply human. President Carter and his family are doing that again now for his end-of-life journey,” said Marcantonio. “I hope we will all take a cue from President Carter and be more willing than ever to have courageous conversations with our doctors and loved ones that help people think about how they want to experience their own hospice journey when it’s their time.”

“The hospice approach is different from any other approach to healthcare. We put patients and their goals at the center of the plan of care. With that approach, we can help people live their final weeks or months to the fullest. For some patients, that means visiting the beach one last time. For others, it means working on their art or recording their memoirs. For some it means attending a grandchild’s wedding,” said Jacqueline Lopez-Devine, Chief Clinical Officer for Gentiva. “In all cases, it includes the patient and their loved ones being clear about what’s important, and then tailoring the plan of care to those goals.”

“Death is one of the few things that all humans have in common, yet we generally avoid talking about it. If we are willing to break through the taboos – if we’re willing to have courageous conversations – we can help people have the end-of-life journey they deserve, and the impact that has on them and their loved ones is profound,” said Susan Lloyd, President & CEO, Delaware Hospice. “Hospice care is not about living longer; it’s about making the most of the time we have left. President Carter and his family are just one example of the ways in which hospice can transform lives.”

A recording of the event is available here.

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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:
Madison Summers
Phone: 571-412-3973
Email: msummers@nhpco.org

For Immediate Release
August 10, 2023

Newly Created Organization Would be Stronger Voice to Represent the Spectrum of Home and Community-Based Healthcare Providers

(Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC) – The Boards of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) agreed to a joint process to explore the formation of a new organization to combine the strengths of both NAHC and NHPCO and better serve members with a unified voice on behalf of the entire community of hospice, home care, palliative care, serious illness, and other care at home providers.

The Boards of NHPCO and NAHC this week signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to pursue the possible combination of both organizations into a new, as-of-yet unnamed organization. Each Board voted on this course of action following the recommendations of a Steering Committee composed of member and staff leaders from both organizations. The Steering Committee’s recommendations were informed by consultations with members of both organizations. The Committee has been working, with the support of association consulting firm McKinley Advisors, since the March 8, 2023 joint announcement (NAHC website, NHPCO website) that NHPCO and NAHC would explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.

“The American healthcare system is shifting, and home and community-based care options are increasing in a multitude of forms across the country,” said Melinda Gruber, PhD, MBA, CNA, NHPCO Board Chair, and President of Caring Circle/Vice President, South Region, Medical Group and Continued Care of Corewell Health. “With decades of experience in hospice and home care, NHPCO and NAHC members are the long-standing experts, and they are evolving to meet patient needs in a shifting environment. As we look ahead, we see an opportunity for the organizations representing those providers to evolve. In this time of change, we are acting with intention and care to continue meeting the needs of providers, patients, families, and communities well into the future.”

“The collaborative process of the NHPCO and NAHC Boards over the last five months has brought the two organizations closer together,” said Kenneth Albert, R.N., Esq., NAHC Board Chair, and President and CEO of Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice. “In addition to the Board-level discussions, our organizations have been collaborating on multiple advocacy efforts, as well as projects such as the Value of Hospice research. Through these efforts, it has become crystal clear that we can do more on behalf of our members by working together. If the current discussions do not lead to a new, combined organization, the outcome will nevertheless be closer working relationships on behalf of community-based and home care providers.”

In the coming months, the NAHC and NHPCO Boards of Directors will work together, in consultation with member volunteers from both organizations, to determine details of how a consolidated organization could represent the best interests of the combined memberships. The organizations expect this process to take six to ten months. McKinley will continue to support the process as an independent, third-party advisor. To facilitate an effective process, both Boards have decided to suspend elections for new Directors this year.

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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.

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 additional information, see the Frequently Asked Questions (NAHC website, NHPCO website).

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2023

(Alexandria, VA) – In January of this year, NHPCO and other national stakeholder organizations submitted program integrity recommendations to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure regarding ongoing efforts to stop fraudulent hospice activity, focused but not limited to bad actors operating in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. In the six months since, CMS and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for Health and Human Services have acted on 17 of those recommendations. These program integrity efforts include:

1. 1. 1. Revocation of Medicare enrollment: CMS has identified fraud schemes and increased its operational ability to revoke Medicare enrollment more quickly.
      2. Organizational Deactivation: CMS proposes to revoke Medicare certification if a provider has not billed any claims within six months.
      3. Increased site visits for hospices suspected of being non-operational: CMS has initiated a National Site Visit Project to visit every Medicare certified hospice in the country and revoke Medicare Certification for non-operational hospices.
      4. Put certain new hospices into “high risk” survey category: CMS proposes moving initially enrolling hospices and those submitting applications with new ownership into the “high” level of categorical screening.
      5. Prohibit individuals with convictions for certain crimes from serving as hospice administrators or owners: CMS proposes to require all hospice owners with five percent, or greater, direct or indirect ownership to submit fingerprints for a criminal background check allowing CMS to detect parties potentially posing a risk of fraud, waste, or abuse before it begins.
      6. Ownership disclosure: If the company is not publicly traded, require disclosure of ownership and control, major investors over a certain threshold: CMS proposes modifying the provider enrollment application to collect additional information, including new categories of organization types and organizational ownership.
      7. Drive-by surveys to confirm operations: As previously mentioned, CMS has implemented a National Site Visit Project to visit every Medicare certified hospice in the country.
      8. Require a hospice agency to have specified personnel categories on a CCN application or revalidation and require the hospice agency to provide certain information for individuals in these types of positions: CMS proposes to add hospice administrator and hospice medical director to the definition of “managing employee” which requires hospices to report these roles.
      9. Require new hospices to undergo more frequent surveys: CMS announced enhanced oversight for newly enrolling hospices and hospices submitting a change of ownership, in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas.
      10. Care Compare Website: CMS proposes to post data about hospices in the Hospice Special Focus Program at least annually on a CMS public-facing website, increasing hospice transparency.
      11. Require an onsite survey within one year when there is a change in ownership: CMS announced enhanced oversight for hospices submitting a change of ownership, in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas.
      12. Prohibit sale or transfer of hospice certification number for specified timeframe: CMS proposes prohibiting sale or transfer of certification within 36 months of certification or most recent ownership change.
      13. Ensure survey oversight for ability to provide all 4 levels of care, including General Inpatient Care (GIP) and respite contracts, as well as provision of continuous home care (CHC) and afterhours care: CMS published a Request for Information (RFI) on Hospice Utilization; Non-Hospice Spending; Ownership Transparency; and Hospice Election Decision-Making. Through this RFI, CMS requested feedback on barriers to higher intensity levels of care.
      14. Presence of corporate compliance plan: OIG announced it would be modernizing its Compliance Program Guidance (CPGs), including the industry-specific CPGs (ICPGs) by the end of 2023.
      15. Hospice Special Focus Program: CMS proposed moving forward with the Special Focus Program targeted at poor performing hospices identified through surveys and quality metrics.
      16. State Operations Manual – Appendix M Hospice Guidance for Surveyors: CMS revised Appendix M to include guidance for surveyor training, accrediting organizations in surveyor training, and protocols for surveyor conflict of interest.
      17. Background Checks (Require background checks on hospice agency owners/administrators): CMS proposed newly enrolled hospices requiring all owners with five percent direct and indirect ownership to submit a criminal background check, including fingerprinting.

This approach is core to NHPCO’s advocacy efforts. For high-quality hospice to continue to exist, hospice care needs to stay true to its core value. In protecting those values, the hospice national stakeholder groups must work together to weed out any bad actors and support the delivery of the highest quality of care.

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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
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2023

(Alexandria, VA) – The Hospice Action Network (HAN), the advocacy affiliate of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is pleased to announce that Chris Taelman and David Klementz have joined its board of directors.

Klementz is President and CEO of Traditions Health, a nationally recognized leader in high-quality home health, hospice, and palliative care. Taelman joins HAN as a new board member representing the Center for Hospice Care where he serves as Chief Development Officer. The Center for Hospice Care is the largest non-profit provider in Indiana.

“The Hospice Action Network has a long history of members who are dedicated to advocating for the hospice benefit,” said HAN Board Chair, Susan Lloyd. “We’re excited to have David and Chris join our Board of Directors to fulfill our mission of speaking with one voice to ensure all Americans have access to quality hospice.”

“It’s wonderful to see individuals who are committed to supporting and advancing the hospice community. I am confident that the advocacy work of David and Chris with HAN will help raise awareness and foster innovation in end-of-life care,” said HAN Board Vice-Chair, Mark Slobodien.

HAN serves as the hospice community’s preeminent voice in Washington, DC by working directly with members of Congress and regulators, and through participation in the political process. HAN advocacy efforts are focused on policies which create equitable access to hospice and palliative care services serving millions of Americans. Additionally, HAN advocates for the hospice communities’ commitment to ongoing program integrity, and ensuring Congress gives appropriate funding to address the increased demand for a larger workforce, which is providing high-quality care to more hospice patients than ever before.

More information about HAN is available on the Hospice Action Network website. Those interested in learning more about grassroots advocacy efforts for the hospice and palliative care community are encouraged to register with HAN to receive periodic updates and calls to action.

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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.

About NHPCO: The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 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:
Madison Summers
NHPCO Communications
Ph: 571-412-3973