Capabilities / Hospice & Palliative Care

Hospice & Palliative Care

Delivering 360-degree guidance for those supplying hospice & palliative care.

For nearly 20 years, our coast-to-coast legal team has monitored continually shifting hospice & palliative care laws. Our attorneys are nationally recognized thought leaders who anticipate industry issues in order to clear pathways for nonprofit and for-profit clients large and small. We implement optimal client positioning on proactive compliance, audits and investigations, licensing, corporate transactions, litigation and growth. Familiar with the legal, clinical and operational demands facing hospice & palliative care organizations, our legal teams efficiently address brief questions by phone as well as providing experienced negotiation during complex multimillion-dollar government audits.

Our hospice & palliative care tools and services include:

COVID-19 Podcasts

To view other COVID-19 Resources related to Hospice & Palliative Care, visit our content library.

COVID-19 Tools

April 14, 2020: [Blog] Tools for Your Hospice Toolbox: How to Evaluate, Allocate and Track the Use of CARES Act Relief Payments (An Introduction)
April 9, 2020: Tools for Your Hospice Toolbox- Breakdown of Benefits Available Under FFCRA
April 8, 2020: [Blog] Tools for Your Hospice Tool Box: Telehealth Flowchart for Billable Hospice Physician and Nurse Practitioner Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 3, 2020: [Blog] COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Application of the FFCRA “Health Care Provider” Exemption to Hospices
March 27, 2020: [Blog] COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Taking Advantage of the Temporary Quality Reporting Data Submission Relief
March 20, 2020: [Blog] Tools for Your Hospice Tool Box: If Nursing Facilities Are Improperly Restricting Access to Hospice Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, We Have a Tool That Can Help

To view other COVID-19 Resources related to Hospice & Palliative Care, visit our content library.

Government Audits & Investigations

Because of our hospice attorneys' deep experience representing clients in audits and investigations, we are able to cost-effectively review statistical extrapolations for accuracy. Our seasoned counsel works efficiently and cost-effectively to negotiate the following audits:

Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC)
Supplemental Medical Review Contractor (SMRC)
Medicaid Integrity Contractor (MIC)
Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC)

Corporate Transactions

Our experienced and multidisciplinary legal team collaborates to negotiate, draft and review sophisticated and customized agreements that allow hospice and palliative care providers to conduct day-to-day business, adapt to regulations and grow their organizations. Frequent services our hospice attorneys provide include:

Mergers & acquisitions
Joint ventures
Strategic alliances
Vendor and service agreements
Employee and physician agreements

Licensing & Regulatory

Our attorneys stay current with the shifting regulatory landscape and how hospice organizations can remain licensed, certified, enrolled and in compliance at a local, state and federal level. Our hospice attorneys work to proactively streamline operations:

Corporate governance
Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs
Medicare licensure, certification and enrollment
Reimbursements, repayments and disclosures
Risk identification and loss reduction

Litigation & Crisis Management

When unexpected claims destabilize ongoing business, our attorneys serve as fierce advocates and seasoned crisis managers. Our legal team navigates suspended payment, risk and exposure while defending clients before local, state and federal judicial, quasi-judicial, administrative and legislative bodies regarding a wide range of issues including:

Whistleblower complaints
Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS)
Stark Law
False Claims Act (FCA)
Investigations & audits

Client Success

In Brief: A Digest of Hospice & Palliative Care Projects

Client Success

Hospice Provider Prevails in False Claims Act Case

Podcast | January 13, 2021

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: The Latest on Testing and Vaccinating Employees

Podcast | January 06, 2021

Hospice Innovators: A Conversation with William Finn of Hospice of the Western Reserve

Podcast | December 16, 2020

Governance Series: A Good Hospice Board in Action - What it Looks Like

Podcast | December 02, 2020

The New Information Blocking Rule: What It Means For Hospices

Podcast | November 11, 2020

Will the U.S. Supreme Court Weigh in on Hospice Prognostication? Industry Hopes to Preserve AseraCare Court Decision.

Podcast | October 28, 2020

Perspectives on End of Life Care: An Exploration of Its Past, Present and Future - A Conversation with Dr. Janet Bull

Podcast | October 14, 2020

Enforcement Relief: What New Regulatory Reforms Could Mean for Hospices

Blog | October 06, 2020

Emergency Order #2 Targets Staffing Demands in Wisconsin Healthcare Facilities

Podcast | September 30, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: The Government Yet Again Updates Rules for FFCRA Paid Leave and Provider Relief Fund Reporting

Podcast | September 16, 2020

Working Together: Tips for Ensuring A Compliant Relationship Between You and Your Hospice Board

Podcast | September 02, 2020

Hospice Labor and Employment Trends: Labor Relations Revisited – The Union At Your Door

Podcast | August 21, 2020

No Delay for Hospices: October 1st Brings New Election and Addendum Requirements

Podcast | August 05, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Hospice Physicians are Being Tested by COVID-19, and Increased Scrutiny Lies Ahead—What to Expect and What to Do

Podcast | July 22, 2020

COVID-19 Hasn't Interrupted Everything: Certain Hospice Audit Activity Continues Despite Public Health Emergency

Alerts | July 16, 2020

COVID-19: CMS Green Lights Contractors to Restart Hospice Medical Reviews

Podcast | July 08, 2020

Innovators Series: A Conversation with Carla Davis, CEO of Heart of Hospice LLC

Podcast | June 24, 2020

Is the Aseracare precedent in jeopardy? Courts Questioning Clinical Judgment Standards

Alerts | June 23, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: A Pleasant Surprise for Hospices As HHS Lifts Relief Fund July 10th Quarterly Compliance Report Deadline

Podcast | June 10, 2020

Are You Ready for October 1, 2020? Honing in on CMS's Impending Election Statement and Election Statement Addendum Requirements

Alerts | June 09, 2020

CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: Connecting HHS's Dots on Whether Your Tranche #1 Payment Is an Overpayment

Podcast | June 03, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Legal and Accounting Perspectives on Commonly Asked Provider Relief Fund Questions

Podcast | May 22, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Keeping Up with HHS's Constantly Evolving Guidance on the Provider Relief Fund

Blog | May 15, 2020

Missouri Encourages COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing but Urges Caution with Serological/Antibody Testing

Podcast | April 24, 2020

Innovators Series: A Conversation with Michael McHale, President and CEO of TRU Community Care

Blog | April 21, 2020

How Nonprofits Can Address Development During the COVID-19 Crisis

Podcast | April 14, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: $30 Billion in Relief Funds Made Available, but Strings are Attached!

Blog | April 14, 2020

Tools for Your Hospice Toolbox: How to Evaluate, Allocate and Track the Use of CARES Act Relief Payments (An Introduction)

Podcast | April 10, 2020

Labor and Employment Trends – COVID-19 Edition: FFCRA Insights for Healthcare Providers

Blog | April 10, 2020

CMS Special Open Door Forum Addresses Pressing Telehealth Questions

Blog | April 08, 2020

Tools for Your Hospice Tool Box: Telehealth Flowchart for Billable Hospice Physician and Nurse Practitioner Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Podcast | April 03, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Recent Developments Regarding Telehealth, Virtual Visits, and Medicare Audits and Appeals

Blog | March 30, 2020

The Small Business CARES Act Guide for Those Who Provide Care (Hint: There Are Good Loan Options)

Podcast | March 27, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Insights and Strategies for Virtual Visits, Telehealth and Medicare Appeals

Blog | March 27, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-To Series: Taking Advantage of the Temporary Quality Reporting Data Submission Relief

Blog | March 20, 2020

Tools for Your Hospice Tool Box: If Nursing Facilities Are Improperly Restricting Access to Hospice Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, We Have a Tool That Can Help

Podcast | March 19, 2020

COVID-19 Hospice How-to Series: Navigating and Troubleshooting Coronavirus Challenges

Blog | March 14, 2020

Guidance for Hospice Providers to Address the Visitors Ban Imposed by Nursing Facilities to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19

Podcast | March 05, 2020

The Next Wave From OIG: Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Audits

Podcast | February 20, 2020

Hospice Labor and Employment Trends: The Old and the New in 2020

Podcast | February 06, 2020

Breaking Down TPEs: Facts and Strategies

Podcast | January 23, 2020

Your Hospice Team Has a New Home

Speaking Engagements | October 1, 2020

Speaker, "Hospice Compliance and Legal Update," Hospice Fundamentals 2020 Fall Workshop

Speaking Engagements | August 26, 2020

Speaker, "What the New Wage Index Rule Means: Takeaways and Tips," Kentucky Association of Hospice & Palliative Care webinar

Speaking Engagements | June 5, 2020

Speaker, "CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: Practical Considerations for Hospices in Using Their Relief Payments," California Hospice Network webinar

Webinar | May 27, 2020

COVID-19 Town Hall for Hospices

Speaking Engagements | May 7, 2020

Co-presenter, "Up to the Minute Information on the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: What You Need to Know," National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization webinar

Media Mentions | January 12, 2021

Hospice News: Hospice of the Western Reserve Boosts COVID Resilience Via JVs, Partnerships

News Releases | November 06, 2020

Husch Blackwell Authors U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Key FCA Litigation

Media Mentions | October 27, 2020

Law360: Justices Told FCA Circuit Split Poses 'Far-Reaching' Threat

Media Mentions | October 01, 2020

Medscape: Physicians Misjudge a Terminal Patient's Life Span: Is It Fraud? (log-in required)

Media Mentions | September 04, 2020

Hospice News: Hospice Employees May Turn to Unions if Feeling Unheard

Media Mentions | June 09, 2020

Hospice News: Hospices Contend with COVID Relief Funding

Media Mentions | February 20, 2020

Madison Magazine: More Than Exceptional - Highlighting the women who go beyond exceptional

Media Mentions | January 29, 2020

Wisconsin Law Journal: Husch Blackwell expands Madison health care team (log-in required)

Media Mentions | January 27, 2020

Law360: Health Hires: Latham, Husch Blackwell, Verrill Dana

News Releases | January 13, 2020

Husch Blackwell Lands Two Healthcare Groups in Wisconsin

“That two prominent groups of lawyers from two different firms see the same potential and opportunity at Husch Blackwell speaks volumes about our firm’s commitment to Madison and the larger Wisconsin market,” said Paul Eberle, Husch Blackwell’s Chief Executive.

Media Mentions | January 13, 2020

Milwaukee Business Journal: Husch Blackwell adds 12 health care attorneys from competing firms in Madison

Media Mentions | January 13, 2020

Urban Milwaukee: Husch Blackwell Lands Two Healthcare Groups in Wisconsin

Media Mentions | January 13, 2020

Wisconsin Law Journal: Husch Blackwell adds 12 attorneys to Madison practice (log-in required)

Related areas of focus:

Healthcare Healthcare Litigation Healthcare M&A, Joint Ventures and Other Transactions Healthcare Providers Healthcare Real Estate Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance Counseling Medicaid Reimbursement Strategies