• Tel (781) 344-2886
  • Email info@brc-law.com

Law Offices of Barry R. Crimmins

Barry Crimmins

  • Practice Areas
  • Firm Overview
    • News
  • Current Projects
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Stoughton, MA
    • Hyannis, MA
    • Falmouth, MA
Slide background
Legal Expertise, Personally.
Attorney Barry R. Crimmins is someone that you can depend on personally.
We take a small town approach to our client relationships and carry that personal
commitment into all of our cases.
Slide background
Life Happens. We Help You Plan For It.
The many stages of life present a variety of legal implications. Guidance on
Estate Planning and Administration, Medicaid and Elder Law issues are our focus.
Slide background
Real Estate Transactions, Permitting and
Development.
Whether commercial or residential, we have extensive experience in all aspects
of real estate law.

Medicare Launches Hospice Compare Website

November 28, 2017 By Barry Crimmins

Caregiver and SeniorPatients looking for hospice care can now get help from Medicare’s website. The agency’s new Hospice Compare site allows patients to evaluate hospice providers according to several criteria. The site is a good start, but there is room for improvement, experts say.

Medicare's comprehensive hospice benefit covers any care that is reasonable and necessary for easing the course of a terminal illness. Medicare launched the hospice compare website to improve transparency and help families find the right hospice provider.

The website provides information on how hospices deal with treatment preferences, address a patient's beliefs and values, screen and assess for pain and shortness of breath, treat shortness of breath, and give a bowel regimen for patients treated with opioids. Patients can compare up to three hospices at a time.

Next year, the site plans to add more information, including allowing families to rate hospices as well as adding data on the number of staff visits a patient received in the final week before death.

Kaiser Health News reports that while the website is helpful to families looking for information about hospice care, experts believe it is of limited use right now. According to Dr. Joanne Lynn of the Altarum Institute, a nonprofit health systems research and consulting organization, patients looking for hospice care need different information, including the hospice staff's average caseload, the percentage of patients discharged alive, and the share of the hospice's resources devoted to at-home care versus nursing home care.

In addition to the uncertainty of the ratings, the website also has been experiencing a problem with its search function. When patients search for a provider by location, they may get agencies that do not serve their zip code. While the problem is being fixed, patients should call to confirm that hospice providers service their area.   

A robust hospice rating system is badly needed, according to a Kaiser Health News investigation. A review of 20,000 government inspection records found that hospice providers often missed visits and neglected patients who were dying at home. Families or caregivers have filed more than 3,200 complaints with state officials in the past five years.

To begin comparing hospice providers, click here. 

Filed Under: blogs

Contact Us Today

  • We are happy to discuss any legal concerns with you.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Communication of information through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Recent Posts

Elder Law News, October 2023

Getting older comes with opportunities and challenges, but fear not, we have your back! Are you concerned about Alzheimer’s? While there’s no known cure, proactive steps can help with prevention. Meanwhile, guess what? Signing up for Medicare Savings Programs just got simpler! The Feds have streamlined the process, making it easier to tap into helpful benefits.

Elder Law News, July 2023

Looping our readers in on the issues that impact the senior community is always a priority. And this month, there’s much to share.

June newsletter

Elder Law News, June 2023

As a trusted counsel for all things relating to eldercare in Massachusetts, I wanted to share pressing topics impacting our beloved seniors.

march newsletter

Elder Law News, March 2023

As the generation of Baby Boomers ages, many are finding their adult children aren’t in the financial position to provide support if long-term care is needed.

BRC Newsletter March

Elder Law News, September 2022

As the generation of Baby Boomers ages, many are finding their adult children aren’t in the financial position to provide support if long-term care is needed.

Our expertise includes Real Estate Law and Land Use Permitting, Estate Planning and Estate Administration, with an emphasis on Elder Law and Medicaid Planning.
Practice Areas
We've developed a reputation for excellent service in these areas of the law through more than 35 years of experience.
Our Attorneys
The legal services from the Law Offices of Barry R. Crimmins, P.C. in Stoughton, Falmouth and Hyannis Massachusetts
Our Locations

Recent News

Law Offices of Barry R. Crimmins, PC

Elder Law News, October 2023

Getting older comes with opportunities and challenges, but fear not, we have your back! Are you concerned about Alzheimer’s? While there’s no known cure, proactive steps can help with prevention. Meanwhile, guess what? Signing up for Medicare Savings Programs just got simpler! The Feds have streamlined the process, making it easier to tap into helpful benefits.

Elder Law News, July 2023

Looping our readers in on the issues that impact the senior community is always a priority. And this month, there’s much to share.

June newsletter

Elder Law News, June 2023

As a trusted counsel for all things relating to eldercare in Massachusetts, I wanted to share pressing topics impacting our beloved seniors.

march newsletter

Elder Law News, March 2023

As the generation of Baby Boomers ages, many are finding their adult children aren’t in the financial position to provide support if long-term care is needed.

BRC Newsletter March

Elder Law News, September 2022

As the generation of Baby Boomers ages, many are finding their adult children aren’t in the financial position to provide support if long-term care is needed.

Links

  • Home
  • News
  • Site map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Contact Us

  • 909 Washington Street, Stoughton, MA 02072
  • 1436 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, MA 02601
  • 20 Academy Lane, Falmouth, MA 02540
  • Phone: (781) 344-2886
  • Email: info@brc-law.com

Follow Us:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin

Estate Planning

  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Administration
  • Elder Law
  • Medicaid Planning

Real Estate

  • Land Use Permitting
  • Landlord – Tenant
  • Purchase & Sale Agreements
© Copyright [year] Law Offices of Barry R. Crimmins, P.C. All rights reserved.
Site Maintained by Interactive Palette