LAC 2020 Call for Proposals is Open

You are invited to lead the conversation around innovation and change by submitting a session proposal. 

The Conference Planning Committee for NHPCO’s 2020 LAC seeks proposals that are highly interactive and provide participants with relevant content and practical tools that they can apply in their own work. Sessions should be designed to engage CEOs, administrators, directors and other leaders working to promote advancement of hospice and palliative care and plan its future development. 

Help shape the future of hospice and palliative care innovation next March by proposing an idea for a session. Share your work in one or more areas of emphasis:

·         Advocacy

·         Clinical and Operations Management;

·         Emerging Markets and Partnership Opportunities;

·         Engagement and Marketing

·         Finance

·         Fund Development

·         Leadership

·         Palliative Care

·         Quality

·         Regulatory

·         Staff Development/Excellence

Review the Call for Proposals tips and suggestions before you submit online. 

Find out more and submit your proposal today.

Questions? education@nhpco.org
Submission deadline: August 7, 2019.

NHPCO Responds to New OIG Reports

On July 9, 2019, the Office of the Inspector General released two new reports following its investigation into hospice care in the U.S.  To briefly summarize, the OIG found that 20 percent of hospices have deficiencies that put patients at risk and the OIG is suggesting that among its recommendations that deficiency data be shared more broadly to help improve quality of care. 

News stories prompted by the OIG reports have been carried by The Washington Post, NBC News, and NPR. The journalists writing some of these news stories have shared selected patient stories based on their own investigation. These patient stories are difficult to read and reflect badly on hospice.  It is likely that other media outlets will carry these articles or generate additional news coverage on this topic.

Many of the issues brought up in the new reports have been discussed in previous OIG documents going back to 2005. 

NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach released some key messages, most notably:

NHPCO welcomes the opportunity to shed a light on high quality providers as well as those that fall short in providing appropriate care. NHPCO will continue to partner with government agencies to strengthen and make more transparent the tools and data needed to empower consumers when they are choosing a quality hospice program. NHPCO will also continue to provide tools and resources to help our members to meet and exceed quality benchmarks.

Read the complete NHPCO response online.

Free APM Webinar offered by National Coalition

The National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care will be presenting a free webinar, New Medicare Alternative Payment Models: Options and Opportunities for Hospices and Palliative Care Programs. There are limited spaces available for the webinar offered on Thursday, July 25, 2019 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET, so those interested should register as soon as possible. (Please note, this is a new date for this program.)

The program is designed to help prepare the U.S. hospice provider community for the new payment models that were announced in April and are coming. This webinar will be helpful to hospice and palliative program managers and leaders in all disciplines and others interested in the new Medicare payment options.

This webinar will help you:

• Describe how participation and payment would work in these voluntary models, available in 26 geographic regions across the country;
• Consider the pros and cons of these new payment models; and,
• Determine whether to apply to participate on your own and/or whether to work with potential collaborators in your local area, by evaluating the program requirements.

Register while space is available for New Medicare Alternative Payment Models: Options and Opportunities for Hospices and Palliative Care Programs.