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All posts tagged with “Palliative Care Provider News | Operations News | Financial.”
Change Healthcare's temporary funding program 'not even a Band-Aid,' AHA says
03/05/24 at 03:00 AMChange Healthcare's temporary funding program 'not even a Band-Aid,' AHA says Becker's Health IT, by Giles Bruce; 3/4/24 The American Hospital Association called Change Healthcare's temporary funding program for providers affected by the cyberattack on the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary inadequate, while a U.S. Senate leader asked CMS to speed up payments to hospitals. Change Healthcare set up the funding assistance March 1 for providers facing cash-flow issues after losing access to its payer systems, which have been down since the Feb. 21 ransomware attack. However, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack wrote in a March 4 letter to UnitedHealth Group that the program is "not even a Band-Aid on the payment problems you identify."
Contract CNA staffing associated with worse care quality outcomes: study
03/05/24 at 03:00 AMContract CNA staffing associated with worse care quality outcomes: study McKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 3/1/24Nursing homes that use contract staffing to fill certified nursing assistant position vacancies are more likely to experience worse care quality than those that do not, according to the results of a study by PHI. The proportion of total CNA hours filled by contract CNAs in SNFs increased from 2% in 2017 to 11% in 2022, the study found.
Home health disparities: Medicare Advantage patients receive fewer visits, worse outcomes
03/05/24 at 02:00 AMHome health disparities: Medicare Advantage patients receive fewer visits, worse outcomes Home Health Care News, by Patirck Filbin; 3/1/24Home health patients under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have worse functional outcomes compared to traditional Medicare patients, likely as a result of receiving fewer visits, according to a new study.
Double your cybersecurity spending, CIO warns amid Change Healthcare attack
03/04/24 at 03:15 AMDouble your cybersecurity spending, CIO warns amid Change Healthcare attack Becker's Health IT, by Naomi Diaz; 2/29/24What does the Change Healthcare ransomware incident mean for healthcare organizations? Doubling your cybersecurity spending, according to one health system CIO. Will Weider, CIO and senior vice president of Wausau, WI-based Aspirus Health, shared five thoughts on LinkedIn Feb. 29 about the incident, saying, "Whatever you planned to spend to improve cybersecurity, double it." Additionally, Mr. Weider stated that in light of this incident, healthcare organizations should: ...
CMS upends Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits data reporting for payers
03/04/24 at 02:00 AMCMS upends Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits data reporting for payers DLA Piper, by Daivd Kopans and Sua Yoon; 2/27/24 On February 21, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance via a memorandum to Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations, and Demonstration Organizations (collectively, Plans) that upends how these Plans have been reporting (or not reporting) encounter information for their covered supplemental benefits. The guidance in the memorandum is effective retroactively to January 1, 2024. [In this article] is a Q&A explaining the top points of the guidance and highlight its impact on companies across industries.
Why not-for-profit health systems need positive margins: Deloitte
03/01/24 at 03:00 AMWhy not-for-profit health systems need positive margins: Deloitte Becker's Hospital CFO, by Andrew Cass; 2/28/24Health system margins are the "lifeblood of a healthy, patient-centered, innovative health care system and community," according to a report from consulting firm Deloitte. "Claims that profits are not important in fact undermine the ability to fund the mission, serve the community, and deliver better, equitable care," Deloitte said in the report. ... "[Systems] should consider a holistic approach that integrates margin drivers to create a balanced transformation portfolio, according to the report. Timing and sequencing are important within each driver and "a full understanding of the dollar impact and priority of each is necessary for margin improvement to be successful."
False Claims Act - 2023 Year in Review
03/01/24 at 03:00 AMFalse Claims Act - 2023 Year in ReviewJD Supra; by William Athanas, A. Lee Bentley III, Gene Besen, Ryan Dean, Jonathan Ferry, Daniel Fortune, Giovanni Giarratana, Ty Howard, Elisha Kobre, Anna Lashley, Gregory Marshall, Lyndsay Medlin, Stephen Moulton, Ocasha Musah, Scarlett Singleton Nokes, Cara Rice, Brad Robertson, Tara Sarosiek, Jack Selden, Erin Sullivan, Courtlyn Ward, Virginia Wright; 2/28/24As we do every year, this issue revisits the key cases and other developments from the year gone by. And by most metrics, 2023 was a notable year for the False Claims Act (FCA).
How AI will help the world's top hospital CEOs transform health care
02/29/24 at 03:00 AMHow AI will help the world's top hospital CEOs transform health careNewsweek, by Jeff Young; on 2/28/24Artificial intelligence is quickly showing the potential to revolutionize many aspects of care giving, from cancer diagnoses to clerical work. But AI also presents new risks, uncertainties and vexing ethical questions. With the release of Newsweek's ranking of the "World's Best Hospitals," executives at leading hospitals around the world told us how they are using the power of AI.
Palliative care startups require creativity, flexibility
02/29/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative care startups require creativity, flexibility Hospice News, by Audrie Marton; 2/27/24 According to the World Health Organization, each year, an estimated 56.8 million people need palliative care. Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need this care currently receive it. ... Tiffany Hughes, chief operating officer of Texas-based PalliCare, found that the secret to a successful palliative care model is creating a continuum of care between home health and hospice for patients within the last 18 to 24 months of life.
The best changes 32 healthcare leaders made this year
02/29/24 at 02:10 AMThe best changes 32 healthcare leaders made this year Becker's Payer Issues, by Rylee Wilson; 2/27/24Question: What is one change you made in the last two years that had great results?Leaders in the payer space are making changes to simplify members' experiences, improve equity and level-up the way their teams work together. The 32 leaders featured in this article, part of an ongoing series, [answered this question].
Sierra Community Palliative Care receives generous seed funding grant from Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMSierra Community Palliative Care receives generous seed funding grant from Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital YubaNet.com, by Hospice of the Foothills; 2/27/24 In a significant affirmation of its commitment to compassionate care, Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial, through Common Spirit Community Health, awards Hospice of the Foothills’ Sierra Community Palliative Care a $94,000 seed funding grant. Sierra Community Palliative Care led by Hospice of the Foothills is a collaborative program that includes primary healthcare providers, healthcare clinics, and the local hospital to bring comprehensive palliative services to Nevada County [CA].
Chapters Health System CEO on prioritizing value-based care initiatives in the home
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMChapters Health System CEO on prioritizing value-based care initiatives in the home Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 2/26/24Andrew Molosky, the president and CEO of Chapters Health System, is keenly aware of the struggles that coincide with turning a large health care provider organization into a value-based one. The first priority in that situation, in his mind, is making sure that the entire organization is on the same page in terms of what value-based care really means, he told Home Health Care News ... “You want to get to the point where you can manage populations in the home,” Molosky said. “That becomes a parlay to reducing ER spend in a full-risk environment. It becomes earlier intervention for a hospice or home health episode.
Palliative Care market revenue to surpass USD 6.43 billion by 2028
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative Care market revenue to surpass USD 6.43 billion by 2028freePRnow; 2/27/24The global market for palliative care reached a value of USD 3.53 Billion in 2020 and is projected to experience a revenue Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% throughout the forecast period. Factors such as an increasing emphasis on enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing life-threatening or debilitating conditions through the alleviation of pain and symptoms, the establishment of professional palliative care organizations, and the broader accessibility of advanced palliative care services worldwide are anticipated to propel market revenue growth in the foreseeable future.
C-suites, clinicians are burning out at both ends
02/26/24 at 03:30 AMC-suites, clinicians are burning out at both endsBecker's Hospital Review, by Alexis Kayser; 2/22/24C-suite leaders and clinicians often feel they are on opposite sides of an ever-expanding chasm. But they actually have a lot in common, according to Bruce Cummings and Paul DeChant, MD — a former executive and a former practicing physician, respectively, and perhaps an unlikely pair. Executives and physicians are both knowledge workers. Both are trained to spot and solve problems. Both crave the autonomy to fix those problems — but often, neither feels they truly have it. Both are far strides from the bright-eyed, difference-driven graduates they once were. Both are exhausted, and neither really knows how to talk about it.
MA [Medicare Advantage] may be worth the gamble: How agencies can win at a new game
02/26/24 at 03:00 AMMA may be worth the gamble: How agencies can win at a new game HomeCare, by Lindsay Doak; 2/23/24 Over the past decade, a major shift has occurred in the Medicare market that many of us didn’t see coming: the takeover of Medicare Advantage (MA). ... This is a true game changer for the home health and hospice industry. ... So, how can agencies successfully contract with MA plans, while ensuring their costs are covered? This is where I like to refer to the wise words of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” who said, “If you’re gonna play the game…You gotta learn to play it right.”
New Jersey system gets historic 'A+' credit rating
02/22/24 at 03:00 AMNew Jersey system gets historic 'A+' credit ratingBecker's Hospital CFO Report, by Alan Condon; 2/19/24Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care has earned an "A+" credit rating from Fitch Ratings after receiving two credit upgrades from S&P Global and Moody's since 2022. ... "Fitch's rating is another indicator that our focus on becoming an exceptional academic health system by managing our finances in a way that allows us to continue to grow to meet increasing demand from patients seeking the higher level of care our experts provide is the correct strategy," Cooper co-CEO Anthony Mazzarelli said.Editor's Note: Cooper University's Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Fellowship is an important component of their academic health system.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services corrects rule involving 2024 home health prospective payment system rate update
02/22/24 at 03:00 AMCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services corrects rule involving 2024 home health prospective payment system rate updateCMS Federal Register; 2/21/24This document corrects technical errors in the final rule that appeared in the November 13, 2023 Federal Register titled “Medicare Program; Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Home Health (HH) Prospective Payment System Rate Update; HH Quality Reporting Program Requirements; HH Value-Based Purchasing Expanded Model Requirements; Home Intravenous Immune Globulin Items and Services; Hospice Informal Dispute Resolution and Special Focus Program Requirements, Certain Requirements for Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics and Orthotics Supplies; and Provider and Supplier Enrollment Requirements” (referred to hereafter as the “CY 2024 HH PPS final rule”).
The bottom line: Top billing, financial mistakes responsible for home health agency struggles
02/21/24 at 03:20 AMThe bottom line: Top billing, financial mistakes responsible for home health agency struggles
Ascension posts $708M quarterly turnaround
02/21/24 at 03:00 AMAscension posts $708M quarterly turnaroundBecker's Hospital CFO Report, by Alan Condon; 2/19/24Ascension reported a net income of $359.5 million in the fiscal second quarter ending Dec. 31, which is a $708 million improvement on the $238.1 million net loss it reported during the same quarter in 2022. "We remain focused on improving hospital operations, ensuring sustainability for the future and making purposeful decisions that improve the health of individuals and the communities we are privileged to serve,"CFO Liz Foshage said. "Our Q2 quarterly results are a demonstration of this commitment and a signal that we continue to move in the right direction."
Reduced federal share may force state Medicaid programs to cut services, HCBS expert says
02/20/24 at 02:00 AMReduced federal share may force state Medicaid programs to cut services, HCBS expert saysMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 2/15/24The Congressional Budget Office this month released its “Budget and Economic Outlook” report for the coming decade. In its report, CBO predicted a roughly $58 billion drop in federal Medicaid outlays for 2024 compared to 2023 — a 9% decrease in federal Medicaid spending, due in part to fewer beneficiaries on states’ Medicaid rolls. Reduced Medicaid outlays ... has placed an even greater strain on states to pay for these Medicaid programs, according to Damon Terzaghi, director of Medicaid HCBS for the National Association for Home Care & Hospice.
OBI says proposed bill would improve quality of life for at-home hospice patients
02/19/24 at 03:00 AMOBI says proposed bill would improve quality of life for at-home hospice patientsNews on 6; 2/16/24Our Blood Institute is bringing awareness to an Oklahoma Senate Bill it says would improve the quality of life for at-home hospice patients. The OBI said Senate Bill 2186 would make access to blood transfusions easier for end-of-life patients who receive care at home.
CMS issues additional guidance on program to allow people with Medicare to pay out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in monthly payments
02/19/24 at 02:30 AMCMS issues additional guidance on program to allow people with Medicare to pay out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in monthly paymentsCMS.gov; 2/15/24The Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Prescription Payment Plan will allow people to pay Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs over the course of the year starting in 2025. [On February 15th,] the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the second part of draft guidance for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that outlines requirements for Medicare Part D plan sponsors, including outreach and education requirements, pharmacy processes, and operational considerations, for the program’s first year, 2025.
Chapters CEO Andrew Molosky: Building an ecosystem of care around the seriously ill
02/16/24 at 03:00 AMChapters CEO Andrew Molosky: Building an ecosystem of care around the seriously illHospice News, by Jim Parker; 2/13/24Going forward, hospice and other post-acute providers are preparing to operate within a value-based ecosystem, and Florida-based nonprofit Chapters Health System is no exception. ... The organization has been hard at work in recent years to position itself for risk-based relationships and build out a continuum of care for chronically and terminally ill patients, while maintaining positive employee engagement.
Gentiva engineers unique palliative care payment system via AIM program
02/16/24 at 02:45 AMGentiva engineers unique palliative care payment system via AIM programHospice News, by Jim Parker; 2/12/24Gentiva Health Services has committed to expanding its recently established Advanced Illness Management (AIM) palliative care model in 2024, including its unique approach to reimbursement.
The nexus between palliative care and PACE programs
02/16/24 at 02:00 AMThe nexus between palliative care and PACE programsHospice News, by Jim Parker; 2/14/24Palliative care is becoming an increasingly prevalent component of Programs for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) programs. PACE programs offer a comprehensive approach to care for participants who meet certain eligibility criteria, mainly to seniors who have significant medical and non-medical needs to help them age in place and avoid the hospital or nursing homes. PACE allows hospices to offer services to address social determinants of health, such as homemaking, transportation, home modification and others.