Hospice Symposium
Hospice Symposium
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 (9:45 AM - 3:30 PM) (EST)
Description
Hospice Symposium
DATE: This event is being broadcast Live by the Illinois Home Care & Hospice Council
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
8:45 AM – 3:30 PM CDT
FEE:
MEMBER - $129 / NON-MEMBER - $179
Registration Deadline: Nov 10, 2025
AGENDA
8:45 AM: Welcome
9:00 AM: Are You Ready for Your Next Medicare Recertification Survey?
10:00 AM: Break
10:15 AM: The Federal Hospice and Palliative Care Landscape
11:15 AM: Break
12:15 PM: Volunteer and Bereavement Coordination
1:15 PM: Hospice Management & Operations: The Savvy Businessperson’s Guide
2:15 PM: Break
2:30 PM: The HOPE Tool: Submission, Compliance, Impact and Public Reporting
3:30 PM: Closing
Session One
Are You Ready for Your Next Medicare Recertification Survey?
Lisa Meadows MSW, ACHC
Description:
This session will cover how various program requirements apply to the survey process and effective strategies for maintaining compliance. Attendees will also learn the impact the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Medicare Conditions of Participation have on the survey process.
Objectives:
- Identify key compliance requirements
- Strengthen survey preparedness practices
- Enhance confidence in the survey process
Faculty:
Lisa Meadows, MSW has over 25 years of experience in the health care industry; from acute care hospitalization, home health, to hospice and palliative care. Lisa is currently the Senior Manager, Survey Operations for Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) - a nationally recognized non-profit accreditation organization that has CMS Deeming Authority for Home Health, Hospice, Home Infusion Therapy, and DMEPOS. Lisa is responsible for providing comprehensive clinical, accreditation and industry education to ACHC customers and stakeholders as well as assisting providers with interpreting the ACHC Standards and Medicare Conditions of Participation.
Session Two
The Federal Hospice and Palliative Care Landscape
Hillary Loeffler, National Alliance for Care at Home
Description:
Learn more about recently introduced bills covering palliative care and hospice blood transfusions and take a high level look at HOPE requirements. We'll also discuss current project integrity and rate setting activities for hospice along with covering potential regulatory changes in wage index reform and special focus program.
Objectives:
- Discuss recent legislative proposals that would impact Hospice benefits
- Understand how reporting requirements and noncompliance impact the HOPE tool
- Identify two potential regulatory changes for the Medicare hospice benefit
Faculty:
Hillary Loeffler is a nationally recognized leader in health policy, regulation, and innovation bringing deep expertise and frontline experience to today’s most pressing issues facing home-based care. As Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the National Alliance for Care at Home, she serves as a leading voice for the care at home community, driving forward-thinking policy and regulatory solutions. With an extensive public service career, Hillary has held senior roles across the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including Director of the Home Health & Hospice Division and Senior Advisor.
Session Three
Volunteer and Bereavement Coordination
Victoria Barron MBA, BSN, RN, COS-C
Description:
Bereavement coordinators and volunteers are core pieces to patient care plans. This session will cover bereavement risk assessments and follow-ups, coordinator education requirements, compliance documentation and more. Dive into volunteer management, including tips for recruitment and retention, how to set and protect professional boundaries and ensure your programs are in compliance.
Objectives:
- Discuss regulatory guidelines and requirements for hospice bereavement programs
- Learn how to develop and manage a hospice volunteer program
- Discuss compliance on 5% volunteer requirement, cost savings reporting and more
Faculty:
Victoria Barron is a Registered Nurse who joined Healthcare Provider Solutions in December 2021 as a Clinical Consultant. As part of the HPS clinical consulting team, Victoria provides support and solutions to home health and hospice agencies nationally to achieve regulatory compliance. With more than 40 years of nursing and healthcare experience, the majority of Victoria’s career has been in the home services arena including home health, hospice, home care, and home infusion where she has as agency administrator, clinical director, CHAP surveyor, mock surveyor, QAPI team.
Session Four
Hospice Management & Operations: The Savvy Businessperson’s Guide
Jen Kiehl-Miller MBA, BSN, RN
Description:
Join us for this insightful session as we unpack what truly makes a hospice program successful, from operational structure and financial management to strategic investment and clinical alignment. We’ll go beyond surface metrics to explore key performance indicators and business principles that are frequently overlooked by hospice leaders, managers, and investors. Whether you’re assessing an acquisition, starting a de novo program, or leading an established hospice, you’ll walk away with actionable insights grounded in real-world experience and current market trends.
Objectives:
- Determine where to strategically invest resources...
- Identify the most relevant and impactful KPIs...
- Gain insight into key differentiators between thriving hospices...
- Recognize high-value focus areas...
- Learn how to avoid common pitfalls...
- Understand how to build a resilient, growth-ready hospice program...
Faculty:
Jen Kiehl-Miller, BSN, RN, MBA, is a hospice leader and consultant with over 20 years of experience in clinical and operational leadership. She began her hospice journey in 2004 as a Clinical Director in rural Pennsylvania and has since held executive roles at local, regional, and national levels across both for-profit and non-profit organizations. In 2016, Jen founded Hospice Support Specialists, LLC, where she and her team of experts help hospice programs grow through strong, compliant member and consultant. In private duty she has served as agency administrator, and in home infusion as marketing director and infusion Registered Nurse. Victoria is a licensed Multistate Registered Nurse and is a CHAP and ACHC Certified Home Health and Hospice Consultant.
Session Five
The HOPE Tool: Submission, Compliance, Impact and Public Reporting
Victoria Barron MBA, BSN, RN, COS-C
Description:
This session will dive into all things HOPE Tool including; definitions, acronyms, timelines for assessments, submission requirements, and more. We'll also cover the impact of HQRP on hospice payments, determining the APU, compliance requirements and HOPE based quality measures. Learn more about submission error correction and the importance of establishing a process for Final Validation Report reviews.
Objectives:
- Discuss the October 1 HOPE Tool Implementation and Timeline for Submissions
- Discuss HOPE Tool’s impact on HQRP and Hospice Annual Payment Updates
- Learn how to manage processes to meet HOPE submission requirements
This event is being broadcast Live by the Illinois Home Care & Hospice Council
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