Our Thoughts on John Oliver’s Recent Hospice Segment

John Oliver's recent segment on "Last Week Tonight" focused on challenges within the hospice industry and highlighted the issues of incompetent and fraudulent hospice care providers.  Ed Defore, editor-in-chief of the Memorial Business Journal, reached out to Greg Grabowski and me for commentary on John Oliver's piece.  Greg acknowledged the validity of the criticisms presented but emphasized the importance of recognizing that most hospice providers are committed to delivering high-quality care.  There are over 6,000 hospices nationwide, and only a small fraction are involved in fraudulent activities.  We stress to clients that Medicare fraud is a pervasive issue throughout the healthcare system, and while hospice care is not immune, this does not reflect the hospice industry as a whole. Greg also shared in the interview that states like California have taken significant steps to combat fraud and improve care quality.

Greg and I agree that the segment was informative but missed some nuances and relevant details that couldn't be covered in a half-hour format.   It would have been nice if the show spent equal time exploring the intricacies of hospice, contrasting excellent care with inadequate care to better inform the public.  Just as I strongly advocate for families to research before choosing a funeral home, Greg urges the public to thoroughly vet hospice providers by asking questions about their experience, accreditation, and response times and using tools like CMS Hospice Compare.  There is a huge opportunity for responsible and ethical hospices to be more vocal agains fraudulent practices and low quality care. By being proactive and informed, families can make the best possible choices for their loved one's hospice care, recognizing that not all hospices are the same.

Check out the full interview on page 7 of the Memorial Business Journal (August 29, 2024).