WiHPCA Webinar - Solid Foundations: Strengthening Hospice Eligibility

WiHPCA Webinar Series - Solid Foundations: Strengthening Hospice Eligibility

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 

11:00am - 12:00pm CT via Zoom

Session Description:

This session explores foundational principles and best practices for establishing and documenting hospice eligibility, including strategies to address evolving trends in the reasons auditors give for denying claims. Because auditors increasingly look beyond the physician narrative and face-to-face documentation in denying claims, this session is helpful to anyone who documents in the medical record or is involved in audits. Participants will gain insights into the critical role of clinical judgment, effective documentation strategies, and the importance of synthesizing medical findings to support terminal prognosis.

Meet Our Presenters:

Dr. Scott A. Paxton, DO

Medical Director

Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice

Board Certified in Family Practice and Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Minor in Anthropology from Michigan State University

Doctor of Osteopathy, University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health

Josi Wergin, JD, FASHRM

Healthcare Attorney

Husch Blackwell

As a healthcare regulatory attorney, Josi helps healthcare organizations proactively evaluate and optimize their compliance with statutes, regulations, and standards. When regulatory challenges arise, she represents clients before government agencies. Before becoming an attorney, she worked in healthcare risk management for 17 years—experience that makes her particularly adept at understanding clinical and operational issues, managing complexity, and balancing risks and opportunities. Josi is a Fellow of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management.