The Need to Know on the 2025 Hospice Wage Index

TCN Talks

In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris interviews Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios and Judi Lund Person, Principal with Lund Person & Associates LLC. The conversation covers the need to know around the final published 2025 Wage Index for Hospices. Some of the key points discussed are:

• The rate increase of 2.9%.
• The CBSA is an important factor in determining rates for Hospices, and changes can significantly impact reimbursement.
• The CAHPS Hospice Survey is undergoing changes, including the introduction of online survey options and revisions to the survey questions.
• Hospices need to stay informed about these changes and adjust their operational planning to ensure compliance and quality care. The lag in reporting data can result in a delay of several years before the public sees the results of the Hospice Quality Reporting Program.
• Understanding and addressing patient care preferences is crucial for providing individualized and high-quality Hospice Care.
• Increased participation in the CAHPS Hospice Survey is necessary to gather valuable feedback from families and improve the quality of care.
• The implementation of the HOPE tool brings significant changes to the hospice industry, including additional questions and visits to assess symptom impact and social determinants of health.
• Regulatory changes regarding certification of terminal illness and the election statement provide clarity and align different sections of the Hospice Conditions of Participation.
• The future of Hospice Care involves a shift towards value-based arrangements and the collection of more detailed data to measure outcomes and improve quality of care.

The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of hospice care and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Annette and Judi are a wealth of experience and knowledge. So join us, this is a great listen for staff, leaders, and Boards of hospice and palliative care organizations to become more educated about the changes that are coming and the tracks being laid with the 2025 Wage Index. This is timely and relevant.

Guest:
Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios Collaborative Network
Judi Lund Person, Principal, Lund Person & Associates LLC
Host:
Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TCN / TCG
https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/the-need-to-know-on-the-2025-hospice-wage-index

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

Chapters

1. The Need to Know on the 2025 Hospice Wage Index (00:00:00)

2. Hospice and Palliative Care Updates (00:00:02)

3. Hospital Cost Reports and Rate Determination (00:14:00)

4. Hospice CAPS Survey Updates (00:18:13)

5. HOPE Tool and Hospice Care (00:32:06)

6. The Value of Trust in Healthcare (00:44:13)