TCN Talks

What happens when you blend nearly 25 years of legal expertise with the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare? Join us as we welcome Meg Pekarske, head of the Hospice and Palliative Care Practice Group at Hush Blackwell, who shares her remarkable journey and insights into hospice law. From her early mentorship under Mary Michael to leading a dynamic team of 15 professionals, Meg's story is...

In this episode of TCNtalks, Chris Comeaux, Mark Cohen, and Cordt Kassner discuss the top news stories in hospice and palliative care for December 2024. This episode marks the end of Mark’s two-year run of partnering with Chris to review the month’s top stories, with Cordt taking on that role going forward, along with his colleague at Hospice & Palliative Care Today, Joy Berger. Mark’s takes a...

In this crossover podcast episode, host Chris Comeaux does a recap of the top podcasts of 2024.  First for TCNtalks with amazing guests like New York Times best-selling author John Burke , Peter Benjamin , Dr. Ira Byock , and Judi Lund Person . Chris then does a recap from our first year of our new podcast, the Anatomy of Leadership , with great guests such as Quint Studer , Meridith Elliott Powel...

Unlock the transformative potential of palliative care as we sit down with Torrie Fields, the innovative founder and CEO of TFA Analytics. Torrie's unique blend of expertise as a health economist and actuary is driving new approaches to palliative care, particularly through the use of data analytics. Join us as Tori shares her journey from a C-TAC conference meeting to reshaping Medicare guid...

What if the future of Hospice and Palliative Care depends on understanding the intricacies of integration and regulation in the hospice sector?  Join us for an insightful journey through November's most compelling stories that have captured the attention of Hospice and Palliative Care Today's readership.    Our conversation reveals the significant impact of national events, from election...

Maria Warren, Vice President of McBee, part of NetSmart, joins us to unravel the intricacies of hospice care audits. We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of how these audits, intended to curb fraud and waste, often end up as resource-draining obstacles that detract from essential patient care. Maria shares her personal journey from starting as an entry-level consultant to leading tea...

What prompts someone to pivot their career path entirely?  For Dr. Kyle Lavin, it was the compassionate care he witnessed during his mother's illness that led him to psychiatry and palliative care, despite initially resisting following in his father's footsteps.  This episode spotlights Kyle's emotional journey, sparked by personal family challenges, including his mother's batt...

How do leaders rise to the occasion when crises strike? We are joined by Jeannee Parker Martin, the remarkable President and CEO of LeadingAge California, who has blazed a trail in international healthcare and pioneered the first AIDS home care and hospice program in the U.S. Jeannee shares her insights on the power of networking and connectedness in leadership, and her story underscores the vital...

What if the future of hospice care hinges on resilience and adaptation in the face of natural disasters? Join us as we explore how hospices from Western North Carolina to Virginia are navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Helene with remarkable tenacity. Hear firsthand accounts of the challenges faced by organizations like Four Seasons, Amorium, and CCWNC Compassionate Care, and discover the criti...

While taking a much-needed break from the demanding world of Hospice Care, I stumbled upon the inspiring works of John Burke, bestselling author of "Imagine Heaven" and "Imagine the God of Heaven." This serendipitous discovery provided a fresh perspective and renewed hope during a time of deep reflection. In this heartfelt episode, we express gratitude for the overwhelming comm...

Is the future of nonprofit healthcare on the brink of transformation? Join us as we hear from Rich Church, Parkview Health's Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, who shares his fascinating journey from the halls of a prestigious legal firm to a leading role in healthcare. Rich opens up about the challenges nonprofit healthcare systems face, such as escalating costs and shrinking reimbursements,...

Private Equity’s Impact on Hospice Care, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Private Equity Private equity firms are quietly reshaping the healthcare landscape, but at what cost? Today, we sit down with Laura Katz Olson, a distinguished professor of political science at Lehigh University and author of "Ethically Challenged," to uncover the unsettling truths behind private equity's in...

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...