LeadingAge NY Meets with New Center for Hospice and Palliative Care
(Jan. 14, 2025) LeadingAge NY recently met with the Department of Health's (DOH) new Center for Hospice and Palliative Care and other provider associations in the first of regular monthly standing meetings. The meeting yielded the following information:
The DOH Office of Aging and Long-Term Care (OALTC) will hold a webinar on Jan. 23rd introducing the new Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, led by Director Kara Travis.
Webinar details:
Title: Center for Hospice & Palliative Care Overview
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 1-2 p.m.
Audience: Hospice, Certified Home Care Agencies, Licensed Home Care Services Agencies and ALPS
Presenters: Kara Travis, Director, Center for Hospice & Palliative Care
Meet the Director of the newly formed Center for Hospice & Palliative Care at the Office for Aging & Long-Term Care at NYS Department of Health. Kara Travis will share the Center's mission and vision, as well as some of the projects they are undertaking to spread awareness about end-of-life care, as well as their partnership with the other Directors at OALTC. There will also be an opportunity to share feedback and ask questions.
Please pre-register at:
https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r8fadc30e35a4bcb072a35e4b785d37f0
Please send all questions you wish to have addressed and answered in advance of the webinar to homecare@health.ny.gov
To obtain a solid understanding of the sector, the Center will also start visiting regions of the state to meet with hospice providers. Their first stop is Jan. 30th in the Metropolitan Area Regional Office (MARO) region. The Center will be visiting some hospice residences in the field first and will then hold an in-person meeting at the MARO offices on 90 Church Street. MARO region hospice providers should reach out to DOH to attend.
Early in January, DOH will visit Capital Region providers and then in February will visit Long Island providers. They plan to visit with all hospices. Their visits will also include stops at Veterans Homes and possibly nursing homes and hospital-utilizing hospice providers. Providers are encouraged to contact the Department if interested in scheduling a visit at homecare@health.ny.gov.
Lunch and Learn: The Center plans to provide education to hospice providers in Lunch and Learns every month. February's topic for education is "Complicated Patient Families" and will address issues such as patient situations requiring the involvement of adult protective services and mental health and medication diversion. Parameters for addressing situations and best practices will be presented. Registration links will be forthcoming. The Lunch and Learns will also provide for office hour time to address provider issues.
Comfort Homes: There was discussion regarding "comfort homes" or family-style homes" throughout the state and their advertising of hospice services. Attendees shared their knowledge of these unregulated providers. DOH stated that it will look to monitor and communicate with programs to share information on what constitutes licensed hospice services and how to work with licensed agencies. The Center will look into utilizing a tool to understand "comfort" services being provided. Attendees suggested education regarding licensed and unlicensed services.
MOLST Update: The Center also reported that the new Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) and eMOLST forms are still in the approval process. Excellus is retiring compassionandsupport.org and molst.org as of Jan. 17, 2025. Excellus has shared all materials, documents, training, and education regarding the MOLST and eMOLST with DOH. All materials, documents, training, and education will be available on the Center's new website, which is also being built out.
Hospice Special Focus Program: Attendees shared their concerns regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative and the need for reasonable reform and a more surgical approach. LeadingAge has been a vocal opponent of the program and its algorithm, which disproportionately targets hospices which participate fully in the federal quality reporting requirements.
Members should feel free to reach out to Meg Everett with issues or concerns to bring to the standing meeting.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871