Chapters Health System has received a regulatory green light to launch a new hospice program in Florida
The nonprofit health system has received a Certificate of Need (CON) state approval to establish new hospice services in Sarasota County, Florida. The move expands Chapters’ existing geographic footprint in the state
Demand for serious illness care is rising, and strong retention is a key to growth, said Chapters Health System’s President and CEO Andrew Molosky. Providers need strong retention to support patients across the care continuum, he indicated in a recent press release
“As an organization built on a central mission of taking care of patients and taking care of those who do, each opportunity we have to extend our services into new communities is another critical step forward as we help shape the future of chronic illness care for not only Florida, but for the entire country,” Molosky said. “Our continued growth is the result of our dedicated team and outstanding leadership to build a strong continuum of care for those in need.”
Established in 1983, Chapters Health System is among the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare providers. Through a network of 30 medical organizations and programs, the health system provides hospice, palliative care, pharmacy services, durable medical equipment and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
The health system provides hospice to upwards of 21,000 patients annually in Florida. Chapters Health System also provides services in Georgia, New York and New Jersey, with an overall annual census of more than 40,000 patients. Chapters Health Foundation provides more than $10 million in annual charitable funds to support the health system
Expanding with a new hospice program in Florida represents an opportunity for improved access president of hospice and PACE at Chapters Health System
Seniors 65 and older represent nearly one-quarter, or 22.8% of the overall population in Florida, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This swelling age cohort will represent 30% of the state’s population by 2030, according to a report from Elder Affairs Florida
Roughly 62% of Medicare decedents in Florida utilized the hospice benefit in 2024, according to a report published by the Research Institute for Home Care (RIHC) in partnership with the National Alliance for Care at Home. The national hospice utilization rate hovered around 53% that year, the report found, which was compiled by KNG Health Consulting
As demand swells among aging populations, organizational culture and quality play a significant role in providers’ sustainable expansion, White stated in the press release
“The opportunity to expand care in Sarasota County is the realization of Chapters Health System’s commitment to ensuring the highest quality hospice for every individual throughout the state of Florida,” White said. “Being awarded the chance to open a program that will support Sarasota County is a testament to our demonstrated quality, service to the community and expert team that has created a people-driven culture where employees thrive.”
