Press Conference will be held on July 31, 2015 at 10:30 am with Congresswoman Esty
(Danbury, Conn.) — Regional Hospice and Home Care has been selected to participate in the Medicare Care Choices Model, announced recently by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. The model provides Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for coverage under the Medicare Hospice Benefit and dually eligible beneficiaries who qualify for the Medicaid Hospice Benefit the option to elect to receive supportive care services typically provided by hospice and continue to receive curative services at the same time. Today’s announcement is part of a larger effort to transform our health care system to deliver better care, spend our dollars in a smarter way, and put patients in the center of their care.
Many seniors, disabled Americans, and family members of individuals who suffer from life limiting illnesses must choose between the support services provided through hospice care or curative treatment. Under current Medicare payment rules, individuals are not able to receive both palliative and curative treatment concurrently.
All eligible hospices across the country were invited to apply to participate in the model. Due to robust interest, CMS expanded the model from an originally anticipated 30 Medicare-certified hospices to over 140 Medicare-certified hospices and extended the duration of the model from 3 to 5 years. This is expected to enable as many as 150,000 eligible Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who receive services from participating hospices to experience this new option and flexibility.
Regional Hospice and Home Care was chosen as Connecticut’s only Medicare Choices Model award winner. Not only is Regional Hospice the only participant chosen in the state, but it is also one of 50% nationally that has been invited to participate for the full five years of the study.
The Medicare Care Choice Model provides Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for coverage under the Medicare hospice benefit and dually eligible beneficiaries who qualify for the Medicaid hospice benefit the option to elect to receive supportive care services typically provided by hospice while continuing to receive curative services.
“We are honored to be selected to participate in the Medicare Choices Model and deeply grateful to be able to serve families during these difficult times,” said President & CEO Cynthia Emiry Roy.
For five years starting January 1, 2016, Regional Hospice and Home Care in Danbury will offer families hospice services, under the Medicare/Medicaid hospice benefit, with the flexibility to continue treatment.
A press conference announcing the new Medicare Choices Model will be held on July 31, 2015 at 10:30 am with Congresswoman Esty at the Regional Hospice and Home Care Center for Comfort Care and Healing, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT.
Regional Hospice and Home Care’s team of experienced clinicians have been providing physical, emotional, spiritual and bereavement support to children, adults and their families through our palliative and hospice care program for the past 30 years. Regional Hospice and Home Care is a nonprofit, state-licensed and Medicare-certified home health care and hospice agency. Now, with the opening of our new private-room, specialty hospital for palliative and end-of-life care — the Center for Comfort Care & Healing — Regional Hospice and Home Care can bring that same hope and compassionate care close to home and under one roof. For more information, visit www.RegionalHospiceCT.org. Follow us on twitter: @RegionalHospice. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RegionalHospiceandHomeCare.
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