As regulatory changes reshape hospice care, understanding how to adapt is essential.
Laura Barnett, Vice President of External Affairs at 小猪视频, moderated a focused on the upcoming implementation of the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment tool and its implications for hospice professionals.
Amy Rose, Senior Product Director, and Karen Chamberlain, Product Manager, both at 小猪视频, discussed strategies to help organizations stay compliant, efficient and centered on compassionate care.
Understanding HOPE
Set to take effect on October 1, 2025, HOPE will introduce new regulatory expectations for hospice organizations, including symptom impact screenings and time-bound follow-up visits.
These changes are designed to enhance quality and standardization, but they also bring new clinical and administrative challenges.
鈥淭hey [organizations] will be capturing information in the assessment that looks very similar to the Hospice Item Set (HIS), with the addition of about seven to nine new questions,鈥� Rose said.
If a patient reports moderate or severe symptoms, clinicians are now required to conduct an in-person follow-up within 48 hours, even if their prior assessment may have suggested a longer wait was acceptable.
Leverage Technology to Streamline Compliance
To manage the complexity of HOPE requirements, both speakers emphasized the role of technology and centralized visibility.
鈥淥ne of the most practical ways to streamline operations is to have a centralized location where staff can see the entire census, patient assessments and their HOPE records,鈥� Chamberlain said.
Rose added that digital tools should be intuitive and built around clinicians鈥� workflows. She introduced the concept of 鈥渇orced functions,鈥� which guide staff through required steps without pulling them away from patient care.
Align Quality With Compassionate Care
HOPE isn鈥檛 just about compliance. It鈥檚 about improving patient outcomes and making care more consistent.
Rose encouraged organizations to track internal measures like the frequency of daily visits in the final days of life, even if they鈥檙e not required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
鈥淭his is just good quality care,鈥� Rose said. 鈥淭his is something that I’m hoping every hospice nurse is already doing.鈥�
Chamberlain emphasized that integrating HOPE questions into standardized processes can eliminate gaps and improve the experience for both patients and families.
鈥淲hen HOPE questions are built into standardized processes, every clinician is capturing the same critical data, and patients experience fewer gaps in care,鈥� Chamberlain explained.
Use of Nursing Staff
A key concern discussed was staffing and role optimization.
Although licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) cannot perform HOPE Update Visits (HUVs), they can play a critical role in conducting symptom follow-ups.
鈥淩eally being able to counter-leverage those LPNs in unique ways, being aware of their limitations, but also their value is essential,鈥� Rose expressed.
Prepare for HOPE
Rose and Chamberlain encouraged organizations to do the following as they prepare for HOPE:
Conduct an internal assessment of current practices.
Align workflows with the 30-day quality data reporting window.
Ensure teams are trained and equipped for early and frequent assessments.
Use automation, centralized dashboards, and electronic medical record (EMR) integration to minimize risk and ensure compliance.
HOPE gives organizations the opportunity to improve quality, increase visibility, and provide more consistent care throughout the hospice continuum.
To learn more about how your organization can prepare for HOPE, visit our HOPE resource page here.