TCN Talks

We uncover the hidden challenges and triumphs of the Hospice community in our latest episode of TCNtalks.  Join us, alongside Mark Cohen, as we discuss the impact of John Oliver's HBO episode on Hospice fraud, abuse, and neglect.  The conversation highlights the need for reputable providers from both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors to join forces to protect the integrity of Hospice Care....

In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris interviews Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios and Judi Lund Person, Principal with Lund Person & Associates LLC.  The conversation covers the need to know around the final published 2025 Wage Index for Hospices.  Some of the key points discussed are:    The rate increase of 2.9%. The CBSA is an important factor in determining rates for Hosp...

Prepare to gain unparalleled insights into the current state of hospice care and healthcare. On this episode of TCN Talks, we promise to equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate today's healthcare complexities. From the latest updates on the NAHC-NHPCO Alliance's comments on the Hospice Care Act to the evolving trend of green burials, we've got the crucial news stories that m...

Can accountable care organizations (ACOs) truly revolutionize the healthcare landscape? Join us on TCN Talks as we welcome Larry Preston, the visionary CEO and co-founder of Silver State ACO. With an astounding 51 years of experience in healthcare, Larry takes us on a journey from the early days of ACOs in the 1970s to the present. Listen as he recounts Silver State ACO’s remarkable story of overc...

What if you could transform healthcare quality and reduce costs simultaneously? Join us in this riveting episode as we welcome Dr. Will Faber, a family practice doctor and former hospice director, to unravel the complexities and potentials of Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) in healthcare, particularly for hospice and palliative care providers. Dr. Faber shares his wealth of experience, shedd...

Join us for an enlightening exploration of the latest advancements in hospice and palliative care. Discover the heartfelt stories of D-Day veterans, the remarkable journey of a terminally ill teen who became an honorary sheriff, and the impactful efforts of U.S. Representative Elizabeth Ann Van Duyne in combating hospice fraud. We also discuss the pressing issues surrounding advanced care planning...

What if you could stay ahead of the curve in hospice care while balancing inspiration and regulatory updates?  On this special episode, guest host Mark Cohen, stepping in for Chris Comeaux, engages in a rich conversation with Cordt Kassner and Joy Berger from Hospice and Palliative Care Today.  We dive into their meticulous process for curating news, offering insights into how they select articles...

Can technology truly revolutionize home care? Join us as we chat with Betsy Hansen, a senior advisor from Lincoln Intelligence Group, who brings her extensive experience from digital strategy consulting for hospitals to the ever-evolving post-acute and home-based care sector. Betsy shares her journey and provides a unique perspective on how insights from acute care can be adapted to improve hospic...

Ever wondered how community paramedicine is revolutionizing patient care? Join us in this episode of TCN Talks as we sit down with Mike Campbell, the Training Division Chief at Stanley County EMS in North Carolina, to explore this innovative healthcare model. Mike shares his journey and reveals how highly trained paramedics are now delivering advanced medical services right in patients' homes...

Dive headfirst into the complex world of hospice pharmacy care with Drew Mihalyo, the President of Pharmacy at Delta Care Rx, guiding us through the intricate landscape of medication procurement and cost-saving strategies. Drew's dedication to transparency has transformed how hospices purchase prescriptions, allowing them to pass on substantial savings to those facing life's final chapte...

Discover the pulse of hospice and palliative care as I, alongside Mark Cohen, unravel the complexities and triumphs of the industry's latest happenings.  We've curated a compelling lineup of topics that promise to enrich your understanding of the field, from the stark disparities in cancer rates within the LGBTQ+ community to the ongoing struggles Black Americans face in serious illness...

Judi Lund Person, former vice president of regulatory and compliance at NHPCO, shares her journey into the hospice industry and her passion for ensuring patients and families receive the care they need and want. Judi emphasizes the importance of addressing bad hospice care and uncovering fraud and abuse in the industry.  She discusses the proposed changes in the 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment...

In this week’s podcast Mark Cohen joins me once more for the Top News Stories for the prior month.  This is a new format as Mark has retired from publishing the Hospice News Today as he has transitioned it to Cordt Kassner and the daily publication has been rebranded as Hospice and Palliative Care Today .  You can subscribe for free here:  https://www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com/ With this new...

When Samira K. Beckwith graces our mic, you're not just hearing from a healthcare visionary; you're learning from a powerhouse who transformed her battle with Hodgkin’s disease into a beacon of hope for hospice and palliative care. Her journey, shaped by personal trials and the work of legends like Kubler-Ross and Dame Cicely Saunders, has redefined what compassionate care looks like at...

Discover the transformative power of hospice and palliative care as Dr. Katy Lanz, a pioneer in the field, joins me, Chris Comeaux, for a riveting conversation on the industry's future. As the founder of TopSite Partners, Dr. Lanz offers her wealth of knowledge, taking us through the industry's evolution with a particular focus on how "substitution competition" is paving the wa...

Navigating the complexities of hospice and palliative care takes a special blend of compassion and knowledge.  Join us as Cordt Kassner, a true pioneer with a career spanning over a quarter of a century, shares his experiential treasure trove.  Cordt, now at the helm of Hospice and Palliative Care Today, brings his research acumen from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center to the fore...

Join us on TCNtalks as we welcome back one of the most sought after consultants in the serious illness space, Peter Benjamin, partner at the Huntington Consulting Group, for a compelling discussion on the pivotal shifts occurring in hospice care. Listen in as Peter, with his 45-year tenure mirroring the evolution of hospice in the United States, offers his seasoned perspective on how these communi...

In this week’s podcast, Mark Cohen joins Chris Comeaux again for the Top News Stories of the prior month.  This is a new format as Mark has retired from publishing the Hospice News Today as he has transitioned it to Cordt Kassner and the daily publication has been rebranded as Hospice and Palliative Care Today .  You can subscribe for free here:  www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com With this new fo...

When the ideals of hospice care—the very essence of compassion and dignity at life's end—are at stake, it's time for a hard look at the truths we're facing. That's just what we do as I sit with Dr. Ira Byock, a visionary in hospice and palliative care, to address the heartache and hope within this critical healthcare sector. Dr. Byock, with his transformative book "The Fou...

As the year winds down, Mark Cohen joins me once more, bringing the warmth of the holidays to our discussion before we peer into the shifting tides of hospice and palliative care. Our conversation begins with the merriment of jazz in Montreal and quickly pivots to the sobering realities of the healthcare sector. From the scrutiny of nursing homes to the reshaping forces of industry mergers, we unp...

Join the celebration as we mark a monumental year at TCN Talks, hitting an impressive 5,000 listeners milestone! This episode is a heartfelt thank you, packed with gratitude for your steadfast support, and a retrospective of the most powerful moments and conversations that have shaped the past year. Sheila Burke's expertise sheds light on staffing challenges within hospice care, while Peter B...

Get ready to redefine your understanding of healthcare as we engage in a stimulating discussion with Bob Tavares, the Chief Commercial Officer at HealthPivots. With over 25 years of experience and a firm focus on serious illness care, Tavares enlightens us about the transformative powers of technology, particularly within the realm of hospice care. As we dissect the crucial role of data in service...

Do you ever sense déjà vu when reading hospice news? Is the content so monotonous that it feels like you are on a never-ending treadmill? That's what Mark Cohen and I, Chris Comeaux, explore this month on TCNtalks, specifically focusing on Hospice Month and the need to transform dull writing into impactful narratives. We delve into the importance of seasoned writers and the power of mentorshi...

The healthcare landscape is evolving, and at the center of this transformation is a renewed focus on that which should be most important: the patient and family we serve.   This podcast episode's primary theme features Carole Fisher, President of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), and Bill Keane, Vice President and Director of Strategy at Emergence.  The co...

In this podcast, Chris continues the monthly program that will be airing throughout 2023.  Mark Cohen is the Editor & Publisher of Hospice News Today, an essential news and issues management briefing published 365 days a year for hospice leaders.  Cohen is also the Principal of his strategic communications firm, Cohen-Fyfe Communications.  Mark spends hours each day reviewing and abstracting a...