To: NHPCO Membership
From: J. Donald Schumacher
Date: August 17, 2011
Message from Don Schumacher
Members may have seen the recent articles about hospice appearing in USA Today by journalist Kelly Kennedy, “Medicare costs for hospice up 70%” (08/08/11) and “Hospice lobbyists battle over Medicare payment system” (08/16/11). First, I wanted to let you know that all of us at NHPCO have seen these articles and I have responded – both in a letter to the editor and op-ed submission.
A Message from NHPCO President and CEO J. Donald Schumacher
July 22, 2011
Recent attention in the media has turned a bright spotlight on purported problems in hospice. Only yesterday, NHPCO issued a Regulatory Alert summarizing information put out by the OIG, focused on hospice care in the nursing home, as several previous OIG reports have done. Then, this morning, an article by a Bloomberg News reporter brought much of the same OIG information out again in a more sensationalized, investigative fashion.
Position Statement on Ethical Marketing Practices Released by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
(Alexandria, Va) – A position statement and commentary, Hospice and Palliative Care: Ethical Marketing Practices, has been released by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Approved by the NHPCO board of directors, this document reinforces the need for hospice and palliative care providers to utilize ethical marketing practices, which in turn, will ensure trust and support among those being served.
The NHPCO Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of two new board members. John Thoma, of Hospice of Wake County in Raleigh, NC, and Michael Nisco, Medical Director of Hospice and Palliative Care Services for St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, CA. Both were appointed to serve the remainder of vacant terms.
