Meijer donates $10,000 in memory of longtime employee 
WoodTV.com, Algoma Township, MI; by Kyle Mitchell; 11/1/24 
A longtime employee at the Rockford Meijer store who died earlier this year was honored Friday with a $10,000 donation made in her name. The store director presented a check to representatives of Faith Hospice in honor of Pat Julien. Julien, the mother of WOOD TV8 engineer Michael Julien, died in July following a battle with breast cancer. She worked at the Rockford Meijer for 15 years. The impact she made inspired the employees to select a charity for the store to support in her memory. ... The store selects a charity to donate to every year through the Meijer Team Gives program. This year, the employees wanted to do something in Pat Julien’s memory. The store originally planned to donate $5,000, but decided to donate the full $10,000 amount on behalf of the company, assistant store director Kurt Guarisco said. “We voted on that as a team within the store and what happened is we chose Faith Hospice,” Guarisco said. 
Editor's note: Click here for Faith Hospice, in Byron Center, Michigan.

St. John makes donation to hospice 
The Fayette County Record, LaGrange, TX; by News Staff; 11/4/24 
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Fayetteville, dedicated a percentage of this year’s annual feast proceeds to Hospice Brazos Valley. A check in the amount of $9,000 was presented by Father Steve Sauser at the Sunday morning Mass. Receiving the check for Hospice Brazos Valley were nurses, Liz Jones and Kelly Muzny. [Full article may require a subscription.] 

Longer hospice stays among dementia patients save Medicare dollars 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 11/4/24 
Hospice utilization has tripled among patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) during the past two decades. The trend has ignited concerns about these patients’ lengths of stay, as well as praise for hospices’ cost-savings potential. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers analyzed Medicare fee-for-service claims spanning between 1999 and 2019, including data on hospice billing, patient enrollment, hospitalizations, health costs and chronic condition indicators. Roughly 14.7% of ADRD patients utilized hospices services in 2019, nearly triple the 4.4% of patients who received this care in 1999, according to the research, which was published in the National Bureau of Economic Research. The research compared billing claims among nonprofit and for-profit providers to explore spending associated with longer hospice stays among dementia patients. ...

8 phrases leaders should reframe to demonstrate credibility in 2025 
Forbes; by Dr. Cheryl Robinson; 11/4/24 
... The nuances of leadership communication play a pivotal role in shaping team dynamics and organizational culture. Employees are acutely attuned to the subtleties in their supervisor’s communication, using these cues to gauge trustworthiness and interpret intentions. In this context, the power of language can either reinforce a leader’s message and authority or inadvertently undermine their position. ...  As we approach 2025, aspiring and established leaders must refine their communication strategies. Elevating their linguistic toolkit can help leaders more effectively embody their potential and inspire their teams. ...

• "I'm not sure." ...  [Instead] say, “Let me look into that and get back to you,” or “That’s an interesting question. I want to gather more information before responding.” ...
• "I don't have a choice. ... Instead, “Let’s explore our options and find the best solution.”
• "That's not my job." ... Instead, “I’d be happy to help find the right person or department for this task.”
• "Failure isn't an option." ... Instead, “Let’s focus on achieving our goals while learning from setbacks.”
• "I did that." ... Instead, “Our team accomplished this together. I’m proud of our collective effort.”
• [Click on the title's link for more examples.]

Three local eateries join Dining Out program for Hospice Awareness Month 
Olean Times Herald, Allegany, NY; by Olean Times Herald Staff; 11/4/24 
HomeCare & Hospice announces its Dining Out for Hospice program this month includes three local restaurants joining the effort to support compassionate end-of-life care in the region. Throughout Hospice Awareness Month, patrons at Hometown Bar & Grill, Chipotle and Charlie’s can enjoy a great meal and make a meaningful difference by contributing to HomeCare & Hospice. “We’re excited to team up with these wonderful restaurants to bring our community together for a week of giving,” said Melissa Sullivan, HomeCare & Hospice CEO. “Dine out, enjoy great food and have an opportunity to support families in need — one meal at a time.” 

Why home health deserts are spreading across rural states 
Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 11/1/24 
Home health deserts are increasing at an alarming rate across some rural states as home health companies close or reduce services due to financial challenges. Home health companies in Maine, Nebraska and Minnesota say a proposed Medicare rate cut, low Medicare Advantage reimbursements and workforce shortages are forcing them to make difficult business decisions — leaving many communities with limited access or no access to post-acute care in the home. ...  Approximately 800 home health providers have closed over the past five years, according to the National Alliance for Care at Home, a trade group that represents the industry. Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers mostly blames a Medicare home health payment model that went into effect in 2020 for reducing Medicare reimbursements and causing financial stress for providers. “While closures are significant, we are also getting reports that providers are restricting the territory they serve as a first step to addressing their financial stresses,” Landers said in an email. “This appears to be especially concerning in rural areas where no other provider is available to step in.”

Hopeful for the hospice house 
Gillette News Record; by Jonathan Gallardo; 11/2/24 
Last week, Campbell County Health and the Northeast Wyoming Community Health Foundation announced that they were working together to look at bringing back inpatient services to the Close to Home Hospice House. For many, I’m sure the announcement came as a surprise. The split between the two sides was so public and was drawn out over a couple of years. Bridges had seemingly been burned, never to be crossed again. But wouldn’t you know it, those bridges appear to be on the mend. In their announcements, CCH and the foundation both said they’ve been in talks about what it would take to reopen Close to Home. “Our primary focus is the well-being of our community, and we are committed to transparency as we engage in these preliminary discussions,” CCH said in a press release. 

VITAS touts significant Q3 success, projects future growth 
McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/31/24 
VITAS, the home care and hospice subsidiary of Chemed, achieved robust financial results in the third quarter of 2024 and is poised for continued growth, company leadership said Wednesday during an earnings-related conference call. “We are excited about the continued strong results of VITAS,” Kevin McNamara, president and chief executive officer of Chemed, said, according to a transcript. “We are very bullish on the prospects for VITAS for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.” In the quarter ended Sept. 31, VITAS generated $53.4 million in profits, a 20.6% increase compared with the prior year quarter. Revenues rose 17.2% to $391.4 million. Chemed as a whole produced $75.7 million in net profit, a 1% increase year-over-year, behind revenues that increased nearly 7.4% to $606.1 million, according to an earnings report.

Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule Fact Sheet (CMS-1803-F) 
CMS Newsroom; Final Rule Fact Sheet (CMS-1803-F); 11/1/24
On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) final rule, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for Home Health Agencies (HHAs). This rule also updates the intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) items and services’ payment rate for CY 2025 for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers. As described further below, CMS estimates that Medicare payments to HHAs in CY 2025 would increase in the aggregate by 0.5%, or $85 million, compared to CY 2024. [Click on the title's link for more information.]

Pennsylvania LPNs will now be able to make death pronouncements 
Tri-State Alert; 11/4/24 
A bill sponsored by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) was signed into law this week to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements. “I am grateful for the governor’s support of this important legislation,” Culver said. “LPNs are with patients and their families until the moment of death, providing essential care during emotional times. Allowing LPNs to make death pronouncements, which was previously only a function of doctors, RNs, physician assistants, and coroners, can alleviate wait times that grieving families often experience.” The bill was amended in the House of Representatives to also provide needed clarification on the waiver of birth and death certificate fees for members of the armed services, veterans, and their families. The law now outlines specifically whose documents qualify for the waiver, as well as applicants and scenarios for which the fee may be waived. 

How four partnerships are advancing cutting-edge cancer care 
Modern Healthcare; by Caroline Hudson; 11/4/24 
Top cancer treatment organizations are leaning into partnerships to take care delivery to the next level. The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 2 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2024. Healthcare leaders say collaboration among technology companies, research institutes, academic medical centers and universities allows them to combine resources and develop cutting-edge treatments more quickly — potentially at a fraction of the cost of standalone projects. ... Here’s what executives say about how four partnerships are advancing cancer care and why collaboration made the most sense for their systems.

• Rush University System and MD Anderson ...
• Moffitt Cancer Center and Reimagine Care ...
• Rice Univeristy and MD Anderson ...
• City of Hope and AccessHope's partner network ...

Elevance is latest to invest in home health with Carebridge acquisition 
HealthLeaders; by Jay Asser; 11/4/24 
The home-based care business is seeing increased interest and could be ripe for more activity going forward. Key Takeaways: 

• During its third quarter earnings call, Elevance Health revealed that its subsidiary Carelon intends to purchase home health company CareBridge.
• The acquisition will drive Carelon’s home health business, CEO Gail Boudreaux said, as Elevance follows insurers like Humana and UnitedHealth Group into the space.
• Carelon will add to its portfolio after reporting total operating revenue of $13.8 billion in the third quarter, representing 15% growth year over year.

Chicago Pacific Founders sells 20 communities valued at $725 million to Ventas 
McKnights Senior Living; by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 11/1/24 
Chicago Pacific Founders sold 20 senior living communities to real estate investment trust Ventas this week, the healthcare investment firm announced Thursday [10/31]. The properties are valued at $725 million, “representing one of the most significant senior housing portfolio sales in the United States for 2024,” according to CPF. “Senior living is a core investment strategy and one we continue to grow by purchasing and establishing new institutional-quality communities, and this sale demonstrates the strength and attractiveness of this asset class,” CPF founder and Managing Partner Mary Tolan said. The 20-property portfolio includes independent living, assisted living and memory care communities located in what CPF called “strategic markets known for strong and growing demand for senior living.”

How Zoom is expanding its role in healthcare 
Modern Healthcare; by Hayley Desilva; 11/1/24 
Zoom, a company that rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, is looking to expand its presence in healthcare through artificial intelligence.  The company recently announced plans to incorporate ambient AI documentation technology from digital health company Suki in its clinical platform. Zoom plans to use the ambient AI technology, which turns a recording of a doctor-patient conversation into usable clinical notes in the electronic health record, for virtual and in-person visits.  ... Here's a closer look at Zoom's history in healthcare and where it plans to go next.

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