Two area hospices to merge

April 10-- Apr. 10--HIGH POINT -- A pair of area hospices will merge later this year, though each will continue to operate in their communities and bring end-of-life care to terminally ill patients.

On Wednesday, High Point-based Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph County out of Asheboro announced their intent to merge the two not-for-profit groups.

The boards of directors of both organizations have signed a letter of intent to merge.

The completion of the merger is slated for Sept. 30. The completion depends on final approval of the merger plan by both boards and any health care regulatory approvals.

Both hospices will continue to do business under their current names. Through the merger, Hospice of Randolph County will become a subsidiary of Hospice of the Piedmont.

No staff layoffs will occur because of the merger, representatives of both hospices say.

The merger announcement culminates months of discussions between the two groups.

"Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph County are very similar in mission, vision and care delivery," said Rhonda Moffitt, CEO of Hospice of Randolph County. "Our ultimate goal is to continue to walk the path of serious illness with those we serve and to expand our services in order to provide care to more individuals and families every year."

The merger is designed to ensure that end-of-life care will be available and accessible for more individuals and families over the long term.

"Last year, there was significant investment in the for-profit hospice provider space in North Carolina. Consistent with national trends, for-profits account for more than two-thirds of all hospice providers nationally and more than one-half of all hospice providers across our service area," said Trent Cockerham, president and CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont. "These developments, along with a host of other considerations, help create opportunities in an increasingly crowded hospice marketplace."

Hospice is a benefit that's covered primarily by Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance. Donations from the community, though, allow a nonprofit hospice to provide care to patients without regard to ability to pay and cover costs for which there isn't reimbursement. The biggest annual fundraiser for Hospice of the Piedmont is the annual Taste of the Town held each summer.

The current leadership of the two hospices will remain, though with new titles.

Cockerham will lead the combined organization as CEO, and Moffitt, current CEO of Hospice of Randolph County, will serve as president and chief operating officer.

Doug Page, chief financial officer of Hospice of the Piedmont, will serve as chief financial officer of the merged groups. Tracy Wagner, chief financial officer of Hospice of Randolph County, will become vice president of finance and administration.

Together, the two hospices served more than 2,000 patients last year across their combined eight-county service area. Each group provides in-home hospice care, bereavement services and palliative care programming.

Hospice of the Piedmont operates the 18-bed Hospice Home at High Point, while Hospice of Randolph County has the 16-bed Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

"As we work together toward becoming one, our highest priority will be maintaining excellent patient and family support," Cockerham said.

pjohnson@hpenews.com -- 336-888-3528 -- @HPEpaul

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