NEW MEXICO The following bills passed through the Senate and House. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has until April 7th to act on the bills. Those bills not acted upon are “pocket vetoed”. SB 29 (O’Neill) – this bill amends current law by adding a definiatoin for terminal illness, the process for requesting early release, its […]
Federal Register Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances when the Practitioner and the Patient have not had a Prior In-person Medical Evaluation Under the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 and Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) implementing regulations, after a patient and a practitioner have had an in-person medical evaluation, that practitioner may use […]
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Advance Care Planning: Bill Correctly for Services In a recent report, the Office of the Inspector General found that Medicare providers who billed for advance care planning (ACP) services in an office setting didn’t always comply with federal requirements. Review the revised Advance Care Planning fact sheet, and learn how to: […]
Report Highlights The Values Of Medicare Hospice Care A March 2023 research study reveals that hospice care for Medicare patients “contributed to $3.5 billion in savings for Medicare in 2019.” Additionally, patients, families,, and caregivers found multiple benefits in care by electing Medicare hospice. The research is conducted by NORC, at the University of Chicago […]
NHPCO and NAHC Exploring Collaboration NHPCO and NAHC jointly announced the board decision of each organization to explore “how a stronger, unified, and more intentional approach to collaboration could accelerate the impact of work around our respective missions and on behalf of our member.” The two organizations have jointly created an “exploratory committee” that will […]
We hope that you will find this information helpful and insightful. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Maxcine “Max” Tomlinson at: mtomlinson@txnmhospice.org. NEW MEXICO Providers can access bills at: https://www.nmlegis.gov/ Legislative Session ends: March 18, 2023 Senate January 17, 2023 SB 29 (O’Neill) – this bill amends current law […]
HOSPICE NOTES WellSky is offering a webinar titled “Understanding and improving Hospice Star Ratings.” Details of the webinar and registration are online at the link below. The event occurs on March 15. (Wellsky) Husch Blackwell offers a podcast, “The Rules They Are A-Changin’: CMS Proposes a Significant Change to the 60 Day Repayment Rule.” The […]
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Advance Care Planning: Bill Correctly for Services In a recent report, the Office of the Inspector General found that Medicare providers who billed for advance care planning (ACP) services in an office setting didn’t always comply with federal requirements. Review the revised Advance Care Planning fact sheet, and learn how to: […]
New Mexico Senate January 17, 2023 SB 29 (O’Neill) – this bill amends current law by adding a definiatoin for terminal illness, the process for requesting early release, its review and appeal process. January 23, 2023 SB 168 (Stefanics and Chandler) – this bill allows a hospice nurseto pronounce death in a nursing facility. February […]
Hugo received this very special award and honored on Feb. 26, 2023 at our annual awards ceremony in front of 400+ hospice professionals. Hugo was nominated by Olivia Rogers, Administrator at VNA of Texas, she wrote this touching professional bio about him: “Hugo Rodriguez has been a Certified Nursing Assistant with the Visiting Nurses Association […]
Sam Faraone received this very special award and honored on Feb. 26, 2023 at our annual awards ceremony in front of 400+ hospice professionals. Michele Aboud, Administrator at Three Oaks Hospice in El Paso, wrote this touching nomination for Sam: “Sam has faithfully served the El Paso community for the past 30 years; 20 of […]
Marion Vise received this very special award and honored on Feb. 26, 2023 at our annual awards ceremony in front of 400+ hospice professionals. Nancy McCranie, Hospice Austin; Director of Volunteer and Bereavement Services, wrote Marion’s touching nomination, you can read it here: “Marion began volunteering for Hospice Austin in 1983, almost forty years ago. […]
Usa Today Article Explores Finding Peace In Dying USA Today offers “Making peace with dying: How death doulas in Oregon help terminally ill die on their own terms.” The article examines Oregon’s history with legalized physician-assisted death and, more recently, “magic mushrooms,” and explores how doulas and volunteers are helping people who are near life’s […]
Federal News and Information Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CMS Model Examples of the Hospice Election Statement and Election Statement Addendum TNMHO Election Statement Reminders: The hospice provider is responsible for ensuring they use current election forms which reflect the hospice requirements. Providers can utilize the CMS Model. The Centers for Medicare & […]
When End-Of Life Patients Decide To Stop Eating And Drinking “As Alzheimer’s encroached conspicuously into her life,” David Guenewald’s mother considered hastening her death so she would not burden her children. Dr. David Gruenewald is director of the Palliative Care and Hospice Service at VA Puget Sound Care System. He was surprised when his mother […]
NEW MEXICO Senate January 17, 2023 SB 29 (O’Neill) – this bill amends current law by adding a definition for terminal illness, the process for requesting early release, its review and appeal process. January 23, 2023 SB 168 (Stefanics and Chandler) – this bill allows a hospice nurse to pronounce death in a nursing facility. […]
Texas Register Title 22. Examining Boards Part 11. Texas Board Of Nursing Chapter 221. Advanced Practice Nurses 22 Tac §221.12: The Board adopts amendments to §221.12, relating to Scope of Practice, with changes to the proposed text published in the August 19, 2022. The amendments are necessary to clarify the professional and individual scope of practice for […]
Four National Hospice Organitions Meet With Cms To Share Concerns About Hospice Integrity In January, 2023, four national hospice groups sounded their concerns about hospice integrity and released a document that included 34 recommendations. The document was shared with CMS and Congress. Recently, the leaders of the four groups met with Chiquita Brooks LaSure, administrator […]
Propublica Says Calls For Hospice Reforms Are Growing ProPublica published “Pressure Mounts for Hospice Reform.” Author Ava Kofman, author of the recent ProPublica article about hospice ‘hustle,’ is also the writer of this latest article. Kofman first shares about the recent actions of four large hospice organizations in writing CMS and calling for significant changes […]
Federal News and Information Public Health Emergency Resource Update On January 30, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has resources available to help you prepare for the […]