129: Hospice Under the Microscope: Are You Ready for the Audit?

Hospice providers are facing more scrutiny than ever—and audit readiness can no longer be treated as an occasional compliance project. In this episode, Hannah is joined by Annette Lee of Provider Insights to unpack what today’s hospice leaders need to know about audits, denials, documentation, and compliance. They explore common operational breakdowns, the growing importance of a culture of compliance, and why audit readiness should extend across the entire organization—from sales and intake to clinical teams, IDG, billing, and leadership. Annette also shares the metrics and risk indicators hospices should be watching, how stronger processes can help agencies move from reactive to proactive, and why good patient care and strong compliance ultimately go hand in hand. Amid increased oversight and changing regulations, the conversation comes back to what matters most: delivering the best possible care to patients and families while building an organization that is ready for whatever comes next. Chapters (00:00:02) - Home Health Revealed: Palliative Care and Regulatory Issues(00:00:39) - Palliative Care: The Middle Child Syndrome(00:01:15) - Hospice Audit Threats(00:05:25) - Hospice Adherence to the Code(00:10:06) - Hospice Board of Directors: Top 3 Denials(00:17:46) - Questions about medications in hospice care(00:21:11) - Palliative Care in Home Health, Compliance(00:24:58) - Hospice leadership on palliative care(00:33:28) - Home Health and Hospice: A Positive Message(00:35:04) - Hospice Leaders on Business(00:37:12) - Hospice Compliance: Annette Lee