WiHPCA News

• The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) recently sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) urging Congress to take immediate action to prevent the one percent Medicare payment cut set to go into effect on July 1, 2022. With hospices already facing potentially devastating financial pressures, the NPHI request stresses the negative consequences of the cut and strongly encourages Congress to avert the reduction before it’s too late. NPHI was joined by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC), and LeadingAge in sharing these sentiments with Congressional leaders. The full letter can be found here.

• U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) have reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), a bipartisan bill to grow, improve and sustain the palliative and hospice care workforce to keep pace with patients’ needs and to help improve the well-being of Americans with life-threatening illnesses and their families. A one pager on the bill is available here. Full text of the legislation is available here. WiHPCA members can help advance this important legislation by contacting their members of Congress and urging them to support the proposal through the NHPCO’s Hospice Action Network. The network is completely automated. You simply need to enter your name, address, and limited contact information and the Network takes care of the rest.
• Earlier this month, NPHI released their submitted comments to CMS regarding the FY23 Hospice Payment Rate Update proposed rule [fact sheet, full rule]. NPHI's full comment letter can be found here. The final rule including responses from CMS to comments and questions raised by stakeholders is expected to be released later this summer.

Earlier this year, you had an opportunity to respond to WiHPCA’s Legislative and Regulatory Priorities survey, allowing you to provide your input on what policy issues are most important to you, your organization, and the Wisconsin hospice and palliative care industry. The purpose of surveying the membership was to collect valuable data to help association leadership develop the WiHPCA policy agenda and determine what legislative and regulatory issues the organization should make a priority in 2023-2024.

Together, with your feedback as the foundation of the decision-making process, the WiHPCA Legislative Committee and Board considered the following criteria when finalizing the association’s policy agenda and issue priorities: 1.) The benefit to WiHPCA members; 3.) The extent to which it will improve hospice and palliative care in Wisconsin; and 3.) The likelihood of legislative/regulatory success.

With that in mind, WiHPCA is pleased to present members with our 2023-24 Policy Agenda, which will be used to guide the association’s advocacy efforts over the next two years.

The WiHPCA Policy Agenda provides a broad policy vision for advancing hospice and palliative care in Wisconsin and identifies the following specific legislative and regulatory goals for 2023-24:

• Educate the Wisconsin congressional delegation and state lawmakers on the potential negative impact the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation VBID “Hospice Carve-In” pilot program could have on the long-term viability of hospice care in Wisconsin.

• Educate key state policymakers – including federal and state lawmakers and the WI Department of Health Services – on the inequity of the nursing home room and board Medicaid pass-through billing requirement imposed on hospice care. The ultimate goal is to eliminate or reduce the negative impact of the current policy.

• Promote public awareness and increase policy influence of palliative care, such as the creation of state palliative care advisory council.

Thank you to all WiHPCA members who responded to the Legislative and Regulatory Priorities survey. Your feedback was invaluable to our policy agenda development process.

By Hoven Consulting  – WiHPCA’s lobbying firm

• Legislative Council Study Committee Members Announced

As mentioned in a prior WiHPCA monthly newsletter, the legislature organizes study committees in even-numbered years to hold public hearings and perform in-depth reviews of various state policy matters facing Wisconsin.  Legislators and members of the public are members of these committees.  Once these committees complete their series of public hearings in late 2022 or early 2023, they will draft legislation to address these policy areas and submit them to the legislature for possible consideration. 

Two of these committees will likely be of interest to WiHPCA members:  the Study Committee on Occupational Licenses and the Study Committee on Uniform Death Reporting Standards.  In early June, the legislature selected members of both committees.  The Occupational Licenses committee includes two members from the health care field – a senior vice president from the Wisconsin Hospital Association and the director of business development from a rural community clinic.  The Uniform Death Reporting Standards committee includes two medical examiners and a public health nurse. 

These committees will likely hold their first meeting later this summer.  The committees will hold public, in-person meetings in Madison once per month until they have completed their work.  It is likely that these committee meetings will be streamed live on Wisconsin Eye.  Of course, the WiHPCA government affairs team will monitor the work of these committees.  

• DHS Announces Grant Program Promoting Health Equity in COVID-19 Vaccinations

In May, the state Department of Health Services announced their “Moving Forward Together Grant Program”.  This program is intended to improve equity with respect to COVID-19 vaccination in Wisconsin.  Various community organizations are eligible to apply for grant awards, which are capped at $400,000 per grant, to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in Wisconsin, particularly in underserved communities.  DHS will accept grant applications on a rolling basis until funding is no longer available.  However, it is important to note that grant expense reimbursement will occur through November 30, 2022.  More information is available at:  https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/moving-forward-together-grant.htm

• DSPS Eliminates Fees to Increase Participation in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

In early June, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) announced that the agency is no longer charging fees to integrate the Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP) into electronic health record systems managed by health systems and other health care entities.  The intent is to simplify access for health care organizations, as well as increase wider participation within the health care community.  To apply for a no-monthly fee ePDMP integration or for more information, go to the ePDMP website. 

• Spotlight--2022 State Legislative Campaign – 19^th State Senate District

Starting in this month’s Madison Update, we will highlight one notable race for a particular state legislative district.  This month, we will highlight the 19^th Senate District, a Fox Valley district that includes the communities of Appleton, Menasha and Neenah. 

The 19^th Senate District is represented by Roger Roth (R-Appleton), who is currently running for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. With Senators Roth’s departure, the district could be competitive, as Senator Roth was re-elected to this position in 2018 with a margin of 6.5 percent over his Democratic opponent. However, the August 9 Republican primary will likely determine who will be the next Senator for the 19^th Senate District due to the Republican lean of this district. The following is a brief overview of the two Republican candidates seeking the nomination for the 19^th Senate District, as well as the one Democratic candidate. 

The candidates for the 19^th Senate District are Republicans Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Andrew Thomsen, as well as Democrat Kristin Alfheim. 

•    Rachael Cabral-Guevara is currently an incumbent State Representative, representing Neenah and portions of Menasha and Appleton in the 55th Assembly District.  She is a member of the Assembly Health Committee, in addition to working as a nurse practitioner.  Rep. Cabral-Guevara also operates the Nurse Practitioner Health Services, LLC clinic in Appleton.  Her healthcare platform includes medical transparency and accountability, fighting medical fraud and supporting mental health treatment/rehabilitation programs.   

•    Andrew Thomsen is a recently retired sales professional and small business owner with experience in the pulp and paper industry.  If elected, he intends to be a full-time legislator.  He is running on a platform that includes a number of issues, including health care policy.  According to his website, he notes the following related views:
• • “Healthcare must be patient centered.”
  • “Healthcare must adhere to free market principles in order to provide improved service at a reduced cost.”
  • “Increased resources and funding for mental health research and treatment.”
•    Kristin Alfheim is a member of the City of Appleton’s Common Council and has served on the city’s Taskforce on Resiliency, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation.  She is currently a Retirement Income Certified Professional and has worked in the financial services and insurance industry for over 20 years.  In addition, she served as the president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in 2019, as well as on the organization’s board of directors.  Her campaign website addresses her view on a number of policy areas, including health care.  In particular, her website states the following:  “We need to reduce the administrative burdens on doctors and nurses so they can spend more time helping their patients.  Kristin also believes alternative medicine options may provide affordable, non-addictive solutions to add to our traditional protocols.”  

Save the date for the WiHPCA 2022 Annual Conference - Facing the Future - Together on September 26-27, 2022 at The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Topics include: Comprehensive, Strategic and Sustainable Hospice Grief Support; The Macy Catheter: An In-depth Introduction to How it is Used and Why it is Becoming an Emerging Standard of Care; Unconventional Growth Strategies for Today’s Hospice Landscape; and Providing Culturally Sensitive Care at End of Life. Registration will be opening later this month!

Join Patty Burgess, CEOLS, APCE, President of Possibility, Teaching Transitions - Doing Death Differently for a discussion about the origins of the EOL doula movement, the current model of care and how some hospices are integrating EOL doulas.

While spending every day from diagnosis to death with a dear friend, Patty was introduced to the beauty and benefits of hospice. After becoming a hospice volunteer, volunteer trainer and community educator for hospices agencies in Atlanta and Philadelphia, she started an end-of-life training company.   

Her company Teaching Transitions - Doing Death Differently, trains hospice volunteers, staff, and caregivers across the county, ranging from small to large multi-site hospice organizations. Doing Death Differently, a sister site trains end-of-life doulas, or “death doulas” - a new, emerging non-medical profession supporting those facing the end of life (EOL) and their loved ones. 

Patty was one of seven (7) original founders of NEDA, the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance in 2018, a membership organization supporting end-of-life doulas.  What began as an idea, now supports over 1000 members.  She was also chosen as one of the founding members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) End-of-Life Doula Council, which was also created in 2018. Its development was in response to hospice agencies' growing curiosity, concern, and interest in this developing field.  The mission of the EOL Doula Council is to offer education and resources about end-of-life doulas to the NHPCO membership and the general public.   

Patty co-founded Your Voice Directives, a training organization using an innovative, video advance care planning tool that focuses on patient safety and honoring wishes at the end of life.   

She is a well-known national trainer, speaker and educator in end-of-life matters.  Her company has trained over 10,000 volunteers, staff, and end-of-life doulas with her Medicare-compliant online hospice volunteer training program, and her Certified End-of-Life Specialist (CEOLS) training.

Learn more here.

WiHPCA understands the need to maintain a strong working relationship with key regulatory agencies that oversee the hospice and palliative care industry in Wisconsin. As such, we meet quarterly with the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, giving WiHPCA members a tremendous opportunity to engage DQA staff, receive key regulatory updates from the agency, and ask questions about current regulations and requirements.

Learn more here.

Grassroots advocacy is the most powerful tool WiHPCA has at its disposal to shape public policy and building relationships with lawmakers is the most important aspect of advocacy. In effort to capitalize on our greatest advocacy resource – our membership – WiHPCA has unveiled our Coffee Conversations with Legislators advocacy program.

The initiative is designed  to help connect members with their local legislators. Under the program, the WiHPCA Government Affairs Team will set-up in-district meetings between WiHPCA members and state lawmakers who represent them in the Legislature. These meetings, which can be located at your facility, or a local coffee shop provide a tremendous opportunity for WiHPCA members to build or strengthen their relationships with local legislators and to educate them on hospice and palliative care and on policy issues important to hospice professionals and their patients.

Obviously, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can make it difficult for some in-person meetings, but depending on your comfort level with meeting face-to-face, WiHPCA would encourage you to participate in this critical grassroots advocacy program.

Please click here for more information on the program. Please contact the WiHPCA office at wihpca@badgerbay.co if you’re interested in participating.

WiHPCA understands the need to maintain a strong working relationship with key regulatory agencies that oversee the hospice and palliative care industry in Wisconsin. As such, we meet quarterly with the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, giving WiHPCA members a tremendous opportunity to engage DQA staff, receive key regulatory updates from the agency, and ask questions about current regulations and requirements.

WiHPCA’s next DQA quarterly meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

For members who have not had an opportunity to attend previous quarterly meetings, the purpose of the meetings are to review and discuss survey deficiencies, examine avenues for improvement, and maintain a strong, ongoing dialogue between our members and DQA. You can even submit questions in advance that will be answered by DQA staff at the meeting.

CLICK HERE to submit a question.

We hope to see you on Jun 28!

REGISTER TODAY

WiHPCA is happy to remind members about and provide links to the latest articles and information from Hospice News and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice:

·         New Legislation Provides Reimbursement Boost to Community-Based Pediatric Palliative Care

By Holly Vossel | May 23, 2022

There’s growing momentum behind the movement to finance serious illness care for children.

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed a bill that requires private insurers and Medicaid plans in the state to include a community-based pediatric palliative and hospice benefit. Creating new revenue opportunities to sustain palliative care at a state level could open doors to crafting an established national benefit. Read more…

·         Contract Nurse Utilization Normalizing, But Hospice Staffing Situation Remains Dire

By Jim Parker | May 23, 2022

With hospice providers reporting fewer staff in quarantine, many hope to reduce their utilization of temp nursing services — as well as the higher labor costs that come with them. But the reality won’t be that simple. Indicators suggest that demand for temp nurses is dipping slightly, and rates may be starting to fall. However, providers shouldn’t necessarily expect a return to pre-2020 conditions. Read more…

·         Senate Again Takes Up Hospice, Palliative Staffing Bill

By Jim Parker | May 20, 2022

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) have reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act (PCHETA), designed to bolster the field’s shrinking workforce with federal support. If enacted, PCHETA would support hospice and palliative care training programs for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and chaplains. The bill would also expand continuing education and career development programs and incentives in these fields. Read more…

·         Medication Shortages Imperil Hospice Access, Quality

By Jim Parker | May 19, 2022

Hospice providers and patients are having difficulty procuring medications due to nationwide drug shortages, threatening quality of care and patients’ access to hospice. These include essential drugs for pain and symptom management. Read more…

·         Hospice Leaders ‘Shocked’ by Lackluster Proposed Payment Rule Amid Inflation, Wage Hikes

By Jim Parker | May 18, 2022

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed a 2.7% pay increase for hospice care for Fiscal Year 2023. However, that amount may be a drop in the bucket as COVID-19 headwinds rage, inflation surges and employee wages climb. Beyond the rising costs, Medicare is phasing in the return of payment sequestration, which was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Effective April 1, CMS began a 1% withholding. Read more…

Hospice News, which is part of the Aging Media Network, is a leading source for news and information covering the hospice industry. National Association for Home Care and Hospiceis the largest professional association representing the interests of chronically ill, disabled, and dying Americans of all ages and the caregivers who provide them with in-home health and hospice services.

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), a bipartisan bill to grow, improve and sustain the palliative and hospice care workforce to keep pace with patients’ needs and to help improve the well-being of Americans with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

“Having served as my grandmother’s primary caregiver as she grew older, this issue is near and dear to me, and I want to make a difference for families like mine experiencing serious health concerns,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to work on this bipartisan bill that will grow and sustain our palliative and hospice care workforce and in turn, improve the quality of life for the growing number of patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses.”

“Access to high quality palliative and hospice care services is vital for patients and their families,” Senator Capito said. “As a caregiver for parents living with Alzheimer’s disease, I saw firsthand just how valuable these services are. In order to preserve access to this care, our bill would strengthen training and education opportunities for individuals working in these fields. I look forward to working with Senator Baldwin and my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation.”

Palliative and hospice care focus on relieving patients’ suffering from serious illnesses and working to improve their quality of life. The work is done through an interprofessional team of doctors, nurses, social workers, physician assistants, and other specialists focusing on the patients’ needs and ensuring families a voice in achieving their treatment goals. Medical research shows that palliative and hospice care have been associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, reduced hospital expenditures and lengths of stay, and longer patient survival time.

As palliative care needs increased, the number of professionals and providers needed to fulfill patient needs has not kept pace. Senators Baldwin and Capito’s PCHETA will help build a health care workforce more closely aligned with the nation’s evolving health care needs and improve care and quality of life for millions of Americans facing serious illness by focusing on three key areas:

·         Workforce Training: Ensure we have education centers, curricula, and teachers to expand interdisciplinary training in palliative and hospice care and establish programs to attract and retain providers.

·         Education and Awareness: Share resources and information to ensure that patients, families and health professionals are informed about the benefits of palliative care and the services that are available to support patients with serious or life-threatening illness.

·         Enhanced Research: Direct NIH to use existing authorities and funds to expand palliative care research to advance clinical practice and improve care delivery for patients with serious or life-threatening illness.

PCHETA is supported by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Hospice Action Network, the Association of the United States, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and many others. A letter in support of PCHETA from more than 50 organizations can be found here.

A one pager on the bill is available here. Full text of the legislation is available here.

Take action on PCHETA… CLICK HERE to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support this important legislation through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Hospice Action Network. The network is completely automated. You simply need to enter your name, address, and limited contact information and the Network takes care of the rest.