NHPCO NewsLine May 2014 - (Page 3)

A Unique Opportunity for Providers W hile Part D issues continue to loom large and were a significant focus of our Management and Leadership Conference (MLC) in March, this spring has also brought some positive news. Just days before MLC, then-Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services announced that CMS's Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is moving forward with a demonstration project formerly unveiled as the Medicare Care Choices Model. This project will employ 30 Medicare-certified hospices to test the value of providing counseling and support to patients with a terminal illness before they make a decision to elect hospice care. While this is not the 'concurrent care demonstration project' that the board and leadership of NHPCO have been advocating for, it will clearly provide valuable information about the benefits that the hospice interdisciplinary team provide to patients and families - and the importance of providing these services earlier in the course of a serious illness. At the MLC plenary on Friday, Sean Cavanaugh, who was just named principal deputy director of CMS, discussed this project and urged hospice providers to consider applying as a demonstration site. I encourage you to do the same - and soon. The application deadline of June 19 is approaching fast! During MLC, I also had the privilege to share other good news that bodes well for the future of hospice care as well as NHPCO. After conducting a national search, John Mastrojohn III, RN, MSN, MBA, was named NHPCO's executive vice president and chief operating officer. John, who most recently served as NHPCO's senior vice president of access, education and philanthropy, has extensive experience on the provider side. Prior to joining NHPCO in 2006, he was founding director of palliative care and hospice services at Summa Health System in Northeast Ohio. Between 2004 and 2005, he was also a U.S. Fulbright Fellow in Hungary, focusing on end-of-life care development. As a valued and respected colleague of Galen Miller's, I am personally so pleased to work with him in this new capacity. J. Donald Schumacher, PsyD President/CEO NHPCO NewsLine 3 http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Medicare-Care-Choices/index.html http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Medicare-Care-Choices/index.html

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NHPCO NewsLine May 2014

When the Patient's Pain Is More Than Physical
A Message From Don
Advocacy Intensive June 16-17 (Display Ad)
Quality Reporting in 2014
High-Performance Hospice Care (Display Ad)
10 Drugs to Reconsider When a Patient Enrolls in Hospice
Award Winners Recognized at MLC
Reducing Antibiotic Overuse: A New Resource
Thank You to NHF Gala Supporters (Display Ad)
Member News and Notes
Thank You to NHPCO MLC Supporters (Display Ad)
Compliance Tip
Virtual Conference: Hot Topics in PC (Display Ad)
Links to Resources on the NHPCO Website
A Feel-Good Moment
News From Global Partners in Care

NHPCO NewsLine May 2014