Close-up of Business handshake deal success concept.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization said Wednesday they have formed a joint exploratory committee to determine how the two organizations can better collaborate and partner on issues.

While NAHC and NHPCO did not broach the possibility of a merger, the two organizations told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse in a joint email that “all types of collaboration are on the table for exploration and consideration.” However, the two associations also said while discussions are taking place, both organizations have suspended executive recruitment and succession planning. NAHC and NHPCO  said they are evaluating key positions within both organizations as well. 

The organizations have retained association consulting firm McKinley Advisors to help provide an analysis of potential ways the two associations can strengthen ties. McKinley will be conducting interviews with industry stakeholders over the next several weeks and report its findings with recommendations to the boards of both NAHC and NHPCO. The groups hope to have that report in hand with next steps sometime in May.

The associations have worked together on policy and advocacy in Washington. They told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse they have been” more intentional and consistent about that collaboration” in recent months.  

Both organizations are active lobbyists for the home care and hospice industry on Capitol Hill. In recent months the two groups have been advocating for better reimbursement rates for home health and hospice agencies. They have also urged Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to enact legislative and regulatory changes to strengthen the integrity of the hospice program under Medicare.