The 2026 Legislative Session (January 13-March 13) has kicked off and is wasting no time getting to work. FHPCA is working diligently to mitigate a portion of House Bill 693 which eliminates Certificate of Need in Hospice and skilled nursing…
2026 Legislative Session
The refreshed for 2026, January edition of The Hospice Professional is out now! Reacquaint yourself with FHPCA’s staff, meet our new Corporate Patron, and get Forum Updates. Also see what our members are up to! Supporting education for new CNA’s,…
Every year FHPCA asks the Governor’s office to declare November Hospice and Palliative Care Month which he has done for 2025. Thank you Gov. DeSantis for your support of hospice!
FHPCA President & CEO, Paul Ledford was a guest on The Usual Suspects, a CBS syndicated political talk show, recently. Ledford was interviewed by Steve Vancore, one of the show’s hosts, and President of Vancore Jones Communications. FHPCA is a…
Florida is a National Leader Among the States Looked to for Best Practices in Compassionate Care: Florida’s aging population is driving sustained demand for cost-effective, patient-centered care across the continuum. Continue reading
Please join us May 29-30 for the 40th Annual Forum – Hospice Works: Sunshine State of Mind at the beautiful Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Hotel for networking and education. Get ready for innovative content and incredible speakers. Visit…
Stay up-to-date on everything Forum related on Forum Friday! Speakers, important dates, awards, and more! https://mailchi.mp/floridahospices/thehospiceprofessionalforumfriday2-28-25-9296681
It’s back! Check out the revamped Hospice Professional Newsletter today. Subscribe to see it a day earlier. Click here to read the January Edition of The Hospice Professional.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., November 3, 2020 – Governor Ron DeSantis has declared November as Hospice and Palliative Care Month in Florida. 139,865 patients received hospice care throughout Florida in 2019, and a continual increase is expected in the years ahead. Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) FHPCA is proud to announce Executive Officers and Committee Chairs for 2019. The Committee Chairs execute key strategic plan initiatives of FHPCA’s mission to ensure excellence and access to hospice care….
Orlando, Fla.—Today, during the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association’s (FHPCA) quarterly Board Meeting in Orlando, the Board presented Liz Dudek with the Outstanding Public Service Award in recognition of decades of dedicated public service and her commitment to assuring…
Today, FHPCA’s House Bill 539- “An Act Relating to Hospices” passed the Florida House Health Innovation Subcommittee. This bill addresses quality measures, prescription drug disposal after a patient’s death, and palliative care services to non-hospice, seriously ill patients. Here’s the…
News
The 2026 Legislative Session (January 13-March 13) has kicked off and is wasting no time getting to work. FHPCA is working diligently to mitigate a portion of House Bill 693 which eliminates Certificate of Need in Hospice and skilled nursing…
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12:00 AM - Hospice Eligibility & Skillful Documentation
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Hospice 101 will guide participants through the process of identifying appropriate hospice admissions, with a focus on Medicare eligibility requirements. The session will cover hospice admission documentation, including both technical and clinical requirements, as well as the LCD guidelines and critical agency documentation needed to support terminality. Ensuring appropriate hospice admissions helps agencies avoid Medicare recoupments, revocations, and other compliance challenges.
The best way to attract and keep volunteers is to make your program look better than all the others right from the start! A great way to do this is by having many ways volunteers can participate and by utilizing attractive job titles. The goal is to have volunteers everywhere we look. In this webinar we will focus exclusively on the many different ways we can utilize volunteers in all areas of care and service. We will look closely at the 7-step process you will want to utilize to develop new programs and then explore the long list of programming options from which to choose.
The hospice aggregate cap continues to be one of the most challenging compliance and financial issues providers face today. Mismanagement of cap obligations can lead to significant financial liability, strained resources, and increased regulatory scrutiny. This timely webinar is designed to help hospice leaders and administrators understand the complexities of the cap and implement proactive strategies to stay compliant while safeguarding financial stability.
Our experts will break down how the cap is calculated, common risk areas that lead to overages, and proven approaches to monitoring, forecasting, and managing cap exposure. Participants will also learn practical steps to strengthen compliance processes and align operations with regulatory requirements — all while ensuring patients continue to receive the highest quality care.
Hospices must follow strict policies and procedures when a patient requests Medical Aid in Dying or Death with Dignity. These policies define the legal and clinical steps required for access to life-ending medication, which is permitted only in certain jurisdictions and under specific conditions. They require a terminal diagnosis, informed consent, and an assessment of the patient’s mental capacity, along with multiple physician consultations, written requests, and waiting periods to confirm that the decision is voluntary and well-considered. This webinar will explain the policy framework, outline the required procedures, and identify key considerations for hospice agencies.
Hospice agencies across the nation continue to face increased scrutiny from medical review contractors, making strong, accurate documentation supporting hospice eligibility requirements more critical than ever. This comprehensive webinar is designed to help hospice agencies strengthen their understanding of eligibility criteria, improve documentation practices and reduce any financial risk during audits. Participants will gain a clear understanding of LCDs and how to align documentation to support guidelines that medical review contractors often use.
The hospice medical director, physician IDG members, hospice physicians, physician designees, and NPs/PAs are all critical members of the team responsible for certifying and managing hospice patients. This session will review regulations, clinical and technical requirements, and proper documentation to ensure Medicare hospice eligibility. Attendees will receive practical examples of certifications, re-certifications, physician narratives, and face-to-face encounters, providing actionable guidance to maintain compliance and support high-quality patient care.
In a world where everyone wants to be heard, few truly know how to listen — and that is what sets great leaders apart. Through relatable stories and proven techniques, participants will discover how to move beyond simply hearing words to understanding meaning, emotion, and intent — transforming every interaction into an opportunity for deeper connection and influence. Join us to explore the essential elements of active listening, identify what gets in the way of genuine communication, and learn how intentional listening transforms leadership.
In this session, the first of a four-part series, attendees will be introduced to the core principles of QAPI and the QAPI 360 philosophy — an approach designed specifically for hospice and home health. Beyond the basics of continuous quality management, we’ll explore how to transform QAPI from a regulatory checklist into a powerful, organization-wide dashboard with integrated meetings that inform decisions, improve care, and drive meaningful, measurable results.
Since October 1, 2025, hospice providers have been required to perform and submit HOPE assessments via iQIES. This session will delve into the importance of accurate HOPE data collection and timely submission as well as obstacles encountered by providers. We’ll discuss the role of the HOPE Tool and its impact on HQRP, and provide tips and processes to ensure HOPE assessments are completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner to protect your agency from the 4% payment penalty that takes effect in FY 2027.
Nearly one in four organizations now use artificial intelligence to support HR functions. But if not properly controlled, tools like ChatGPT can quickly create compliance risks. AI-driven hiring and evaluation systems may unintentionally discriminate on the basis of race, disability, age, or gender — prompting increased EEOC and DOJ enforcement of civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. New automated employment decision tools (AEDT) laws being implemented in certain jurisdictions further protect job applicants and employees from AI-related bias. This in-depth presentation will examine the AI risks, rules, and recordkeeping requirements facing hospice and home care HR teams.
