Chapters Health System Affiliates with Cornerstone Hospice

Chapters Health System (Chapters) and Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care (Cornerstone) have reached an affiliation agreement that promises to make the combined organization the nation’s largest nonprofit hospice provider and the sixth largest overall.

During 2020, Chapters unveiled two affiliation strategy programs designed to bolster its affiliates’ ability to remain competitive in the face of widespread industry consolidation.

The Chapter Health Managed Service Organization (MSO) program is oriented around hospices. A second model, Chapters CareNu, is geared toward companies with a goal of engaging patients further upstream in the course of their illnesses. These programs are oriented towards supporting legacy non-profits that may be struggling to compete against larger organizations.

Chapters is dedicated to delivering innovative home health, palliative and hospice care along with durable medical equipment and pharmacy services. All offerings are provided in order to improve the patient/family experience well in advance of end-of-life needs.

• Comprehensive medical services to help patients heal and thrive at home
• Supportive care, disease education and pain management
• Grief Services counseling and guidance
• Hospice care services focus on providing patients with the best possible remaining quality of life. With in-depth care, education and training, Chapters offers pain reduction, maximum comfort, and emotional and spiritual support for patients and families.

Approximately 4,840 hospices provided care to Medicare beneficiaries in 2019, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC). Of these, about 71% were for-profit companies.

Cornerstone will not rebrand following the affiliation. This is Chapters’ third affiliation as well as its fifth overall expansion in the hospice space, in addition to similar growth in the company’s other business lines.

Bringing Cornerstone into its fold also expands Chapters’ reach into some new markets, including four additional Florida counties and a presence in the Atlanta region of Georgia. 

Chapters recently announced not-for-profit hospice services are back to the Florida Keys and surrounding areas and the launch of its expansion of services into Martin and St. Lucie counties. When all phases are completed, Chapters Health will offer a full continuum of care including hospice, palliative care, home health and other community-based care models to area residents.

Takeaway: Hospice and palliative care brands affiliated with Chapters include Chapters Health Palliative Care, Good Shepherd Hospice, Hospice of Okeechobee, HPH Hospice and LifePath Hospice