(Alexandria, Va) – Five hospice organizations from across the nation have been chosen as grant recipients in the third year of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Reaching Out grants program. The grantees are:
• Guardian Hospice – Franklin, Tennessee
• Hope Hospice & Palliative Care – Medford, Wisconsin
• Hospice of Central Iowa – West Des Moines
• Mercy Hospice – Roseburg, Oregon
• Mountain Hospice – Belington, West Virginia
Funded through a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Reaching Out grants were created to support innovative programs committed to increasing access to hospice and palliative care for rural and homeless Veterans.
“These grants serve a two-fold purpose,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “They support specific, community-based programs and the lessons learned will help the VA in discovering new ways to reach veterans who are homeless or living in rural areas and in need of quality care as they near the end of life.”
Throughout 2011, grantees will be implementing outreach models in their communities designed to expand and increase the quality of care and services provided to Veterans coping with life-limiting illness.
The models guiding the work to be done in 2011 were originally developed by Reaching Out grantees in 2009 and 2010. The 18 grantees who were part of year one and two of the Reaching Out grants program focused on establishing partnerships between community hospices and VA facilities – all with the ultimate goal of increasing access and improving quality of care for Veterans.
In addition to the distinguished organizations receiving grant awards this year, work continues by the organizations that were 2010 Reaching Out grant recipients: Arkansas Hospice, Inc.; California Hospice Foundation; Delaware Hospice, Inc.; Hospice of the Bluegrass; Hospice of Chattanooga, Inc.; and LINK of Hampton Roads, Inc.
Grant reviewers from the field evaluated forty proposals submitted to NHPCO.
“All of us at NHPCO and the VA appreciate the enthusiastic response to the Reaching Out program and we thank our current and previous grantees for their continuing dedication to serving Veterans", added Schumacher.
As part of the initiative to reach more Veterans in need of hospice and palliative care, NHPCO in collaboration with the VA created the We Honor Veterans website (www.WeHonorVeterans.org) offering information and resources for organizations interested in better serving Veterans at the end of life.
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Media Contact:
Jon Radulovic, 703-837-3139 or jradulovic@nhpco.org.
Emil Zuberbueler, 703-647-6687 or ezuberbueler@nhpco.org.
NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. NHPCO’s mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life, www.nhpco.org.
We Honor Veterans, a program of NHPCO in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides educational tools and resources that promote Veteran-centric educational activities, increases organizational capacity to serve Veterans, supports development of strategic partnerships, and increases access and improve quality, www.WeHonorVeterans.org
Showing posts with label NHPCO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NHPCO. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, July 26, 2010
FY2011 Wage Index and Tools for NHPCO Members Now Available
CMS has posted the FY2011 hospice rates and aggregate cap. NHPCO offers members two important tools.
1) FY2011 Excel spreadsheet with the FY2011 wage index and the FY2011 rates for each county in each state.
2) FY2011 rate calculator that projects the wage index values and rates through FY2019. The calculator also allows you to project a percentage growth in your hospice's census for each year.
Links to these tools are available on the Wage Index page of NHPCO's website. Here's a link to the Regulatory Alert that went out to members on July 26, 2010.
Additionally, the PDF of CR7077 is available on the CMS website.
1) FY2011 Excel spreadsheet with the FY2011 wage index and the FY2011 rates for each county in each state.
2) FY2011 rate calculator that projects the wage index values and rates through FY2019. The calculator also allows you to project a percentage growth in your hospice's census for each year.
Links to these tools are available on the Wage Index page of NHPCO's website. Here's a link to the Regulatory Alert that went out to members on July 26, 2010.
Additionally, the PDF of CR7077 is available on the CMS website.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wishing You a Peaceful Holiday Season
As the year comes to a close, I would like to thank each one of you, our members, who have offered so much support to NHPCO throughout this very busy year. There have been issues, large and small, that we have had to confront together and I think we’ve risen to the challenge time and time again.
I am so proud of the spirit of collaboration that is so palpable within our community. For this willingness to work together and support one another, I am indeed grateful.
During this holiday season, I encourage you to cherish time spent with your families and loved ones. On a personal note, this holiday season will be particularly poignant for me as I prepare to welcome my first grandchild.
We care for people on a daily basis, most often during one of life’s most challenging journeys. I hope that every one of you find the same peace and kindness that you so generously provide to the people you serve. Enjoy the special gifts found in quiet moments of reflection and in unexpected acts of kindness.
On behalf of the NHPCO board of directors, our staff and our affiliate organizations, I wish you a peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year!
Don
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Join NHPCO for Capitol Hill Day
Capitol Hill Day Registration Deadline is April 1st
Remember your first day of school? No matter at what level – elementary school or college – most people would say that they felt a combination of excitement and anxiety. There’s the fear of saying the wrong thing, or going to the wrong place. For many, the idea of visiting Capitol Hill for meetings with Members of Congress and their staff can take you back to those first days of school – regardless if it is your first time, or if you are a seasoned veteran.
That’s why NHPCO has a new and improved Capitol Hill Day program planned for this year. We want our members armed and ready to go when they head to the Hill on April 22nd.
The enhanced Capitol Hill Day is designed for everyone, at every level of the hospice community. It is a busy time on Capitol Hill. Congressional offices see hundreds of constituents each week, advocating on behalf of diverse and pressing national issues. That is why it is crucial for us to make sure that we are maximizing our opportunities to emphasize the value of hospice during Hill Day, and throughout the year. The enhanced strategy sessions for messaging and meeting preparation have been designed to give us the unique and unified presence on Capitol Hill that we need to protect compassionate and quality end-of-life care for future generations. Capitol Hill Day promises to be an interactive, educational and fun experience for attendees!
Don’t miss out on Capitol Hill Day - registration ends at midnight on April 1st. There are just two more days left to sign up for this exciting opportunity. For more information on Hill Day, go to http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=5809.
If you have questions or need to change your MLC registration to attend Hill Day, please contact advocacy@nhpco.org.
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For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org
Monday, March 30, 2009
NHPCO President/CEO and Board Chair Visit to UK
NHPCO President/CEO and Board Chair Visit to UK Includes a Meeting with HRM Queen Elizabeth II at Help the Hospices Silver Jubilee
Alexandria, Va) – J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and Gretchen Brown, chair of the NHPCO board of directors traveled to London on March 15 for a series of meetings with international hospice and palliative care organizations and providers. A highlight of the trip was the opportunity to meet Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at a reception marking the 25th anniversary of Help the Hospices, the leading British charity supporting hospice care throughout the United Kingdom.
The celebration at St. James’s Palace in London on March 16 brought together 600 guests that included hospice founders, staff, and volunteers from hospice programs throughout the UK as well as hospice professionals from across the globe.
“We had the honor of being introduced to Queen Elizabeth and we spoke about the vital role that Dame Cicely Saunders played with her pioneering work at St. Christopher’s Hospice in London. The Queen asked about the breadth of hospice in the US and remarked on the challenges that national organizations, such as NHPCO, must face,” said Dr. Schumacher. “She was gracious, kind and obviously well informed about today’s hospice environment.”
In a press statement, David Praill, chief executive of Help the Hospices, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating this anniversary and the huge strides hospice care has made, while recognizing many challenges still lie ahead. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to those who have helped and supported both our charity since our founding and also the development of hospice care in the UK and across the world.”
While abroad, Schumacher and Brown met with David Praill of Help the Hospices and discussed differences in structure between end-of-life care delivery in the US and the UK. A meeting with the leadership of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance on global palliative care issues also provided an opportunity to discuss the work being done by hospice and palliative care providers in the US.
In his role as president and CEO of the National Hospice Foundation, Schumacher was pleased to present the final report on the work and accomplishments of NHF's Diana Legacy Fund to staff at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. In 2005, a generous grant for $3.35 million was awarded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund in cooperation with the Franklin Mint and supported work of NHF, NHPCO, and the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This visit was a strong reminder of how important the voice of US hospice and palliative care is on the international stage. More importantly, it reminds us that we are partners in the global community with much to learn, much to share, and much to celebrate,” Schumacher noted.
All the events surrounding Help the Hospice’s silver jubilee provided a valuable opportunity to focus on both achievements and opportunities for hospice and palliative care. At the dinner following the reception at St. James’s Palace, Dr. Schumacher was seated with Anne, Duchess of Norfolk, Help the Hospices founder and president. Other notable guests included: Professor Mike Richards, national clinical director for cancer, Department of Health; Baroness Illora Findlay, professor of palliative medicine, member of the House of Lords and president of the Royal Society of Medicine; Graham Perrolls, executive director of Hospices of Hope and internationally recognized advocate for hospice in Romania; and Elizabeth Gwyther of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa. All the events surrounding Help the Hospice’s silver jubilee provided a valuable opportunity to focus on both achievements and opportunities for hospice and palliative care.
For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org
Alexandria, Va) – J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and Gretchen Brown, chair of the NHPCO board of directors traveled to London on March 15 for a series of meetings with international hospice and palliative care organizations and providers. A highlight of the trip was the opportunity to meet Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at a reception marking the 25th anniversary of Help the Hospices, the leading British charity supporting hospice care throughout the United Kingdom.
The celebration at St. James’s Palace in London on March 16 brought together 600 guests that included hospice founders, staff, and volunteers from hospice programs throughout the UK as well as hospice professionals from across the globe.
“We had the honor of being introduced to Queen Elizabeth and we spoke about the vital role that Dame Cicely Saunders played with her pioneering work at St. Christopher’s Hospice in London. The Queen asked about the breadth of hospice in the US and remarked on the challenges that national organizations, such as NHPCO, must face,” said Dr. Schumacher. “She was gracious, kind and obviously well informed about today’s hospice environment.”
In a press statement, David Praill, chief executive of Help the Hospices, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating this anniversary and the huge strides hospice care has made, while recognizing many challenges still lie ahead. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to those who have helped and supported both our charity since our founding and also the development of hospice care in the UK and across the world.”
While abroad, Schumacher and Brown met with David Praill of Help the Hospices and discussed differences in structure between end-of-life care delivery in the US and the UK. A meeting with the leadership of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance on global palliative care issues also provided an opportunity to discuss the work being done by hospice and palliative care providers in the US.
In his role as president and CEO of the National Hospice Foundation, Schumacher was pleased to present the final report on the work and accomplishments of NHF's Diana Legacy Fund to staff at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. In 2005, a generous grant for $3.35 million was awarded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund in cooperation with the Franklin Mint and supported work of NHF, NHPCO, and the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This visit was a strong reminder of how important the voice of US hospice and palliative care is on the international stage. More importantly, it reminds us that we are partners in the global community with much to learn, much to share, and much to celebrate,” Schumacher noted.
All the events surrounding Help the Hospice’s silver jubilee provided a valuable opportunity to focus on both achievements and opportunities for hospice and palliative care. At the dinner following the reception at St. James’s Palace, Dr. Schumacher was seated with Anne, Duchess of Norfolk, Help the Hospices founder and president. Other notable guests included: Professor Mike Richards, national clinical director for cancer, Department of Health; Baroness Illora Findlay, professor of palliative medicine, member of the House of Lords and president of the Royal Society of Medicine; Graham Perrolls, executive director of Hospices of Hope and internationally recognized advocate for hospice in Romania; and Elizabeth Gwyther of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa. All the events surrounding Help the Hospice’s silver jubilee provided a valuable opportunity to focus on both achievements and opportunities for hospice and palliative care.
For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
NHPCO Statement on MedPAC Recommentdations to Congress
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization released the following statement upon the release of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) March report to Congress. The report includes recommendations to revise the Medicare hospice benefit.
Each year, more than 1.4 million patients and family caregivers seek hospice care. The Medicare hospice benefit is responsible for millions of people living as fully as possible until the end of life. The hospice community is dedicated to not only preserving the benefit, but enhancing it so that hospice is able to continue to appropriately serve the unique and changing needs of dying Americans. Hospice and palliative care providers, through the support that comes from Medicare, are recognized as the leading providers of the interdisciplinary, holistic care considered to be the “gold standard” of end-of-life care.
Hospice care is also cost-effective. As was reported in a 2007 Duke University study, hospice reduced Medicare costs by an average of $2,300 per patient, amounting to a $2 billion savings in a single year.
Statement on MedPAC’s Recommendations for Hospice Reform:
Over the past several years, MedPAC has undertaken a review of the Medicare hospice benefit. While specific reforms and enhanced accountability measures are laudable and should be encouraged, those changes should be framed in the context of a comprehensive review of the various and complex components of end-of-life care, and how the continuum of care can be expanded to increase access for patients and families. Included in this comprehensive review of hospice should be payment methodologies, fiscal constraints review, alternative eligibility criteria, testing of new models of care, as well as any number of other issues. The hospice community is committed to work toward these goals.
The hospice community applauds the open and informed process that MedPAC undertook to produce the recommendations, and looks forward to working with the Commission, appropriate oversight agencies, and Congress to ensure that the Medicare hospice benefit continues to serve patients at the end of life in the compassionate and high-quality manner that they deserve and expect.”
Manager, Public Policy Communications
Ph: 703-837-3135
sperkins@nhpco.org
For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org
Each year, more than 1.4 million patients and family caregivers seek hospice care. The Medicare hospice benefit is responsible for millions of people living as fully as possible until the end of life. The hospice community is dedicated to not only preserving the benefit, but enhancing it so that hospice is able to continue to appropriately serve the unique and changing needs of dying Americans. Hospice and palliative care providers, through the support that comes from Medicare, are recognized as the leading providers of the interdisciplinary, holistic care considered to be the “gold standard” of end-of-life care.
Hospice care is also cost-effective. As was reported in a 2007 Duke University study, hospice reduced Medicare costs by an average of $2,300 per patient, amounting to a $2 billion savings in a single year.
Statement on MedPAC’s Recommendations for Hospice Reform:
Over the past several years, MedPAC has undertaken a review of the Medicare hospice benefit. While specific reforms and enhanced accountability measures are laudable and should be encouraged, those changes should be framed in the context of a comprehensive review of the various and complex components of end-of-life care, and how the continuum of care can be expanded to increase access for patients and families. Included in this comprehensive review of hospice should be payment methodologies, fiscal constraints review, alternative eligibility criteria, testing of new models of care, as well as any number of other issues. The hospice community is committed to work toward these goals.
Guiding this review ought to be several clear principles. Among them are:
- Advancing hospice and palliative care programs as the recognized providers of end-of-life care;
- Preserving and enhancing the Medicare hospice benefit;
- Recognizing “high quality” as the standard to which all providers must subscribe;
- Ensuring accountability through transparency and fair regulatory scrutiny; and
- Promoting increased access through expansion and collaboration.
Payment policy is one of the areas of the Medicare hospice benefit that needs to stay current, so that payment appropriately recognizes changes on patient demographics and treatment protocols. Updates should be carefully considered and evidence-based to ensure that behavioral consequences are understood prior to implementation. The present payment methodology has served the hospice community and the public well since its inception, virtually without change. Analysis of both current and historical patient level data is necessary to fully understand and predict future behavior and needs, and make changes that continue to provide benefits to patients and to the Medicare system.
The hospice community applauds the open and informed process that MedPAC undertook to produce the recommendations, and looks forward to working with the Commission, appropriate oversight agencies, and Congress to ensure that the Medicare hospice benefit continues to serve patients at the end of life in the compassionate and high-quality manner that they deserve and expect.”
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Contact:Sara PerkinsManager, Public Policy Communications
Ph: 703-837-3135
sperkins@nhpco.org
For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org
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