2026 Hospice Clinical Manager Best Practice Series

This informative session will thoroughly review hospice admissions and Medicare hospice eligibility, highlighting the required documentation. Special focus will be given to critical survey and medical documentation review areas, including guidance for documenting terminality versus chronic disease. A simplified breakdown of LCDs and tools to support terminality will be presented. We’ll cover the Plan of Care — frequently cited during survey — along with assessments, re-assessments, certifications, re-certifications, and what "not" to document. Management of hospice aide and homemaker services according to regulations will also be discussed.

In this session of the best practice series, we’ll focus on hospice team management. Explore the roles and responsibilities of all required team members, including the hospice aide, and learn how to conduct effective IDTs to review and update the Plan of Care while avoiding common survey deficiencies. Topics will include competencies, oversight, productivity, reporting and agency reports, and managing difficult conversations. Gain practical strategies for day-to-day hospice operations that help clinical managers implement best practices and achieve optimal agency outcomes.

The series will conclude with an in-depth update on the FY2027 Final Rule and a look ahead at what leadership must be aware of moving forward in the hospice industry. This session will cover additional management responsibilities related to infection control, emergency management, and HQRP compliance. Learn how to effectively monitor quality reporting, understand the factors that impact hospice ratings, and guide your team to improve agency scores. Strong leadership impacts employee engagement, turnover rates, patient satisfaction, and overall agency quality. This essential session equips clinical managers with the knowledge and strategies needed to lead with confidence and achieve optimal outcomes.