Why HOPE’s Symptom Impact Outcomes Matter in 2026 & Beyond

Six months into the HOPE assessment era, many hospices remain focused on the technicalities of data submission. However, the HOPE framework was designed in part to measure the effectiveness of hospices’ symptom management efforts and to ultimately improve outcomes for beneficiaries. It also signals a broader shift toward public symptom impact reporting and, over time, the potential for outcome-based reimbursement. To thrive in this new landscape, hospice leaders must move beyond baseline compliance and begin leveraging HOPE data to drive clinical workflows and market differentiation.

In this recorded webinar, our panel of industry experts breaks down how hospice agencies can move beyond baseline compliance and leverage symptom impact metrics to drive operational excellence, improve patient outcomes, and prepare for future outcome-based CMS audits.

Panelists: Lindsay Doak | Judi Lund Person, MPH, CHC | Cara MacKenzie, RN, BSN

Lindsay Doak leads data-driven initiatives at Netsmart, where she translates complex clinical data into strategic insights for the hospice and home health industries. Previously a Director at BerryDunn, Lindsay spearheaded the National Healthcare at Home Best Practices and Future Insights Study, the largest research project of its kind. She is a recognized expert in leveraging EMR data to drive operational excellence and is currently focused on helping providers navigate the transition to the HOPE assessment framework.

Judi Lund Person, MPH, CHC is a nationally recognized hospice expert with over 40 years of experience in healthcare regulation and advocacy, including 21 years at NHPCO. Known for translating complex CMS mandates into “plain English,” she played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Medicare Hospice Benefit and continues to guide providers through the transition to outcome-based reporting. Her expertise helps agencies understand not just what the HOPE assessment requires, but how CMS will use that data to define future success.

Cara MacKenzie, RN, BSN serves as the Director of Quality and Compliance at Agrace, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit community-based post-acute health care agencies. With deep expertise in hospice regulatory standards and quality improvement, Cara is responsible for ensuring clinical excellence and survey readiness across large-scale operations. She is currently leading her organization through the practical implementation of the HOPE assessment, focusing on utilizing quality metrics to improve patient outcomes and differentiate Agrace in a competitive market.