Pre-Conference Sessions
Monday, August 25 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

This year’s Hospice Pre-Conference was designed directly in response to your input. You asked for more meaningful networking, deeper conversations, and direct engagement with experts — and we listened. The afternoon will include three focused learning and networking groups. Each group will have one hour of expert presentation followed by forty-five minutes of moderated interactive discussion with the speaker(s) and your hospice colleagues. The final hour will bring all attendees together for The State of Hospice and Palliative Care in Ohio, a big-picture session offering a timely look at the Hospice Landscape in Ohio.

12:30 – 1:00 PM | Registration 

1:00 – 2:45 PM | Sessions

Session 1A The Bottom Line: Questions, Hospice Claims, and Collective Wisdom| Room: Juniper A | Representatives from several health plans This session includes a panel of health plan representatives to address hospice claims, authorizations, and reimbursement challenges followed by a moderated interactive discussion with both the representatives and your hospice colleagues to share questions and concerns.

Session 1B Leadership Through Strategy: Charting the Course for Nonprofit Hospice | Room: Juniper B| Mollie Gurian, JD, MPH, from LeadingAge; Susan Wallace, MSW, LSW | This session brings together nonprofit hospice leaders to explore the current landscape, analyze data, and develop collective strategies for strengthening hospice care in Ohio. Participants will engage with Mollie Gurian, LeadingAge, national policy expert, hear state-level insights, and work together to identify actionable goals and policy priorities.

Session 1C Compliance Counts: Building Sustainable Hospice Quality | Room: Juniper C | Jennifer Kennedy, EdD, MA, BSN, RN, CHC, from CHAP |This session will explore how hospice providers can build a culture of sustainable quality through practical QAPI and compliance strategies. With increasing regulatory oversight and evolving expectations, participants will learn from expert perspectives and collaborate with peers to strengthen survey readiness, documentation practices, and quality improvement efforts.

2:45 – 3:00 PM | Break

3:00 – 4:00 PM | State of Hospice and Palliative Care in Ohio | Room: Regent 3 | Mollie Gurian, JD, MPH; Lindsey Buzzard, MBA, LNHA, Susan Wallace, MSW, LSW | In this final joint session, all participants will come together to hear key updates on the state of hospice and palliative care in Ohio. Featuring insights from national and state-level leaders, this session will explore policy shifts, regulatory trends, workforce challenges, and the evolving expectations facing nonprofit providers. Through presentation and interactive discussion, attendees will help shape strategic priorities for the future.

Member Rate: $65

Nonmember Rate: $125 

CE Statement:

Up to 2.5 clock hours will be awarded upon successful completion. 

(Please note: there are no CEs available for session 1A)

Criteria for successful completion and receipt of clock hours:

Attendance at entire session(s) and completion and submission of the white copy of the certificate of attendance/CE record form at the end of the day to the registration desk.

Participants will receive clock hours only for the session(s) attended that have been indicated to offer continuing education credits.

LeadingAge Ohio is an approved provider by the Board of Executives of Long Term Services and Supports. Core of knowledge subject areas: Care, Services and Support; Operations; Environment and Quality; Leadership and Strategy.

As stated in the Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4723-14-05, education that has been approved by a board or an agency that regulates a health care profession in Ohio or another jurisdiction is an acceptable option to meet nursing continuing education requirements.