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SECTION 1: Synopsis of Operations

“Americans need to know that all Medicare-certified providers are commi ted to the highest standards of quality and compliance. Newly signed legislation strengthens oversight and transparency throughout the entire hospice community,” — Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO.

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Bold New Law Welcomed by Industry leaders President Obama signed into law the “Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014” (IMPACT Act) that includes provisions creating greater oversight and increased transparency within the hospice community. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization heralds the passage of this legislation and the additional oversight it will bring to end-of-life care providers. “This new law strengthens oversight and transparency throughout the entire hospice community,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “NHPCO applauds President Obama for signing the IMPACT Act into law.” Resource:nhpco.org

Fewer Deaths Trending in Hospitals More people are dying in hospice care rather than in the hospital, though the shift hasn’t led to less aggressive treatment or lower costs as patients spend additional time in intensive care units in the last month of life. Hospice care among the elderly doubled to about 40 percent in the past decade, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. For many, the transition to hospice came only in the final few days of life, often after time in the intensive care unit and multiple hospitalizations. Source: (Bloomberg) -- Feb. 2015

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Longer Healthier Lives has a Surprise Ending MacArthur Research Network on an Aging Society finds that by 2050 Americans may live 3.1 to 7.9 years longer than official government projections, resulting in sharply higher costs for government programs that serve older citizens. The findings are based on the premise that the risk of death in the coming decades will be reduced by accelerated advances in biomedical technology that delay the onset and progression of major fatal diseases or that slow the aging process.” Resouce:http://www.macfound.org/press/publications/aging-america-twenty-first- century-demographic-forecasts-macarthur-foundation-research-network-aging- society/#sthash.oJvogmMX.dpuf

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