Nashville’s Alive Hospice To Remain Nonprofit

Photo Credit: John Partipilo

By Kathy Carlson [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –

Alive Hospice will remain a nonprofit, the Nashville hospice organization announced through its board of directors yesterday evening. Following is the announcement, sent in an email from its director of communications and marketing, Liz Haas: 

“The Alive Board of Directors has determined that Alive will remain a not-for-profit, independent organization providing hospice, palliative care and mission-based support services to people across Middle Tennessee.

“This decision follows several months of working with third-party advisors to explore the industry and local dynamics that will impact Alive’s operations in the years ahead, from reimbursement changes to labor shortages and rising costs to privatization and consolidation across healthcare. 

 “Securing the future of Alive for the long term will require a significant investment of time, expertise and resources of our community, and we are planning to solicit feedback from the community to engage Middle Tennesseans in this effort. 

 “The last several weeks have demonstrated how much Middle Tennesseans truly care about Alive and are committed to supporting its mission. The Board recognizes the recent outpouring of care Alive has received. However, we also have been dismayed by the circulation of false reports and incomplete information that have only hurt Alive, its staff and the people they serve. The Alive Board is made up of volunteers who dedicate their time and passion to Alive. They would never do anything to hurt or jeopardize Alive’s future and ability to serve the community. 

 “We look forward to moving past this difficult chapter and engaging with members of the community to better understand what they value in Alive and seek their ongoing support for its growth. We are hopeful that we can harness the community’s energy and passion in tangible and constructive ways to ensure Alive continues to be the community asset it has been since 1975.”

Alive has been at the center of controversy in Nashville since news of the board’s plan to sell the nonprofit hospice center to a for-profit health company became public in April. Community members supporting Alive filed a complaint with Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and area celebrities, including singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, urged Alive’s board not to sell.

Alive Hospice is the third oldest hospice in the country and is the sole remaining non-profit hospice in Middle Tennessee, according to its website.