Hospice Medical Director

Viking Hospice Care is a Medicare-certified, independently owned hospice agency providing end-of-life care throughout Greater Houston, including Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties. We are committed to individualized, relationship-centered care delivered by a team that upholds the highest standards of quality, compliance, and compassion.As a locally owned independent agency, we offer patients, families, and referral partners the responsiveness and personal accountability that distinguish independent providers from large corporate hospice organizations. We are in an active growth phase and building our clinical infrastructure to match that commitment.---POSITION SUMMARYThe Hospice Medical Director is a contracted physician leadership role responsible for providing medical oversight of all patient care services in accordance with CMS Conditions of Participation for hospice. This is a part-time contract engagement compensated through a monthly stipend.The Medical Director serves as the primary clinical authority on hospice eligibility, prognosis, and palliative care management, working closely with the Director of Nursing, attending physicians, and the interdisciplinary care team.---ROLE OVERVIEW- Engagement Type: Independent contractor- Compensation: Monthly stipend ($1,500/month; subject to renegotiation as census grows)- Time Commitment: Approximately 4 to 10 hours per month at current census- IDT Participation: Required attendance at Interdisciplinary Team meetings (minimum every 15 days per patient)- Face-to-Face Visits: Required prior to each recertification; separately compensated per contract- Service Area: Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties- Work Location: Remote and field-based; IDT meetings may be conducted via telehealth---KEY RESPONSIBILITIESClinical Oversight and Eligibility- Certify and recertify terminal prognosis for hospice patients, including completion of Certifications of Terminal Illness (CTI) within required timeframes- Conduct or coordinate required face-to-face encounters prior to the third benefit period and each subsequent recertification- Consult with attending physicians on eligibility determinations, prognosis documentation, and continued appropriateness of hospice care- Review and provide clinical guidance on patient Plans of Care in collaboration with the Director of Nursing- Serve as a clinical resource for complex symptom management, medication protocols, and end-of-life decision-makingInterdisciplinary Team Participation- Participate in IDT meetings at intervals no less than every 15 calendar days per patient- Review and approve updates to patient Plans of Care as presented by the IDT- Document medical director participation in IDT meetings per CMS documentation standardsRegulatory and Compliance- Maintain familiarity with CMS hospice Conditions of Participation, Medicare eligibility criteria, and applicable Texas state regulations- Support the agency's QAPI program by contributing to quality review and clinical improvement initiatives- Assist in maintaining continuous survey readiness- Ensure all activities comply with Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law requirements---COMPENSATION- Monthly Stipend: $1,500/month (fixed; subject to renegotiation as census and time commitment grow)- Face-to-Face Visits: Separately compensated per contract agreement- Mileage: Reimbursed at the current IRS standard mileage rate for required field visits- Contract Structure: Independent contractor; physician responsible for own malpractice coverageAll compensation is established at fair market value and is not contingent upon the volume or value of referrals to Viking Hospice Care, in compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.---REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Active, unrestricted MD or DO license issued by the Texas Medical Board, in good standing- Current DEA registration- Minimum 2 years of clinical experience in hospice, palliative care, or end-of-life medicine- Working knowledge of CMS hospice Conditions of Participation and Medicare eligibility criteria- Ability to participate in IDT meetings via telehealth or in person- Willingness to conduct face-to-face visits within the Greater Houston service areaPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- Prior experience as a Hospice Medical Director at a Medicare-certified agency- Board certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM)- Experience with independently owned or startup hospice agencies- Familiarity with Hospice Tools EMR or comparable platforms- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish---Viking Hospice Care is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.