Every finding on record at Aarondale Hospice LLC

It is required that the hospice medical director or physician-designee provides written and signed recertification of the terminal illness to meet the hospice care benefit requirement. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review and interview. In 3 of 3 (100%) clinical records reviewed for patients that had more than one benefit period, it was revealed that the agency did not ensure the physician provided a written and signed recertification of the terminal illness. CLINICAL RECORD 1: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 12/31/2024. For the recertification periods dated 04/01/2025-06/30/2025 and 07/01/2025-09/05/2025 the record lacked documented evidence the physician had provided a written recertification of terminal illness. CLINICAL RECORD 2: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 08/23/2024. For the recertification periods dated 11/22/2024-02/20/2025, 02/21/2025-04/22/2025, 04/23/2025-06/22/2025, and 06/23/2025-08/17/2025 the record lacked documented evidence the physician had provided a written recertification of terminal illness. CLINICAL RECORD 3: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 04/25/2025. For the recertification period dated 07/24/2025-10/22/2025 the record lacked documented evidence the physician had provided a written recertification of terminal illness. During an interview on 08/20/2025 the Administrator/Clinical Director confirmed the records were missing the written recertification forms and reported the electronic medical record vendor advised the agency, it was not required due to their non-billing status.