At the end of life, mission matters more than margin
When families turn to hospice care, they aren’t thinking about market share, reimbursement formulas or ownership models. They are asking a far more basic question: Will someone be there for us when it matters most?
Recent headlines about the misuse of the Medicare Hospice Benefit in parts of the country have understandably raised public concern. Any abuse involving care for people at the end of life is unacceptable and demands firm oversight. But as policymakers and the public respond, it is critical not to paint all hospice providers with the same brush. The reality is clear: not all hospices are the same—and how they are structured matters.
Across the nation and here in North Carolina, community‑based nonprofit hospices consistently deliver higher‑quality end‑of‑life care and earn greater trust from families they serve. These organizations were not created to maximize profits or exploit reimbursement systems. They were built by and for communities, with a mission focused on dignity, comfort and compassion at life’s most vulnerable moments.
Research supports what families experience firsthand. National caregiver surveys published in JAMA Internal Medicine show that patients who receive care from nonprofit hospices report better communication, more effective symptom management and stronger emotional and spiritual support than those served by for‑profit providers. These are not abstract measures. They represent whether pain is relieved, whether fears are addressed and whether families feel supported rather than overwhelmed.
For families served by AMOREM, this difference shows up in practical ways. Patients receive more intensive clinical support during the most complex and difficult phases of illness. Nurses, physicians, social workers, certified nursing assistants, chaplains and volunteers collaborate to meet needs that extend far beyond medical symptoms. Medicare data reflects this experience, with more families saying they would recommend AMOREM than state and national averages. That willingness to recommend speaks volumes about trust—trust that care decisions are guided by clinical judgment and compassion, not financial targets.
Quality healthcare, however, also must be responsible healthcare. Here, AMOREM shines. When delivered appropriately, hospice care can reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and help avoid aggressive treatments that patients often do not want at the end of life. Independent research has shown that hospice saves Medicare billions of dollars each year and improves patient and family experiences. Compassion and fiscal responsibility are not competing goals—in hospice, they go hand in hand.
“As a nonprofit, community‑owned organization, AMOREM reinvests every available dollar back into care,” said Kerri L. McFalls, senior director of marketing and development. “That means patient care units in Burke, Caldwell and soon in Watauga counties, interdisciplinary clinical teams, grief support services, volunteer programs and education for families and caregivers. These investments are not designed to boost margins but instead to keep a promise to our community.”
AMOREM is ultimately about that promise—that no one will be abandoned at the end of life, that pain will be addressed and that families will not face loss alone. Every day, across homes, assisted living communities and skilled nursing centers, AMOREM fulfills that promise quietly and faithfully.
At a time when trust in healthcare feels fragile, the way forward should be guided by evidence and values, not headlines alone. At the end of life, mission matters more than margin. At AMOREM, our policies, partnerships and public engagement reflect that truth.
AMOREM, formerly Burke Hospice and Palliative Care and Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, is proud to be your local, nonprofit and palliative medicine provider with more than 44 years of experience providing the highest quality care possible. To learn more about AMOREM services or to make a referral, visit www.amoremsupport.org or call 828.754.0101 to speak with a local team member.