Literature Review
January 2024 MedPAC and MACPAC release their updated data book on beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMJanuary 2024 MedPAC and MACPAC Data Book: Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare and MedicaidMedPAC; 1/22/24View and download the Data Book
Healthcare orgs taking steps to remove racial bias from algorithm and AI tools, new report shows
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMHealthcare orgs taking steps to remove racial bias from algorithm and AI tools, new report showsMcKnight's Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 1/22/24... A team of doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics is going through hundreds of algorithms and other materials to find, and remove, anything that could exacerbate racial disparities, a “herculean task,” as the JAMA report describes it. The potential for AI-enabled bias could be a major problem for diagnosing life-threatening conditions in seniors.
Hospice investors to watch in 2024
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMHospice investors to watch in 2024Hospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/19/24Though the number of hospice M&A deals plummeted in 2023 compared to prior years, deals are still being made, and the industry may see a rebound in 2024.
The Long Decline: Health care access grows difficult in shrinking rural communities
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMThe Long Decline: Health care access grows difficult in shrinking rural communitiesAlabama Reflector, by Alanda Rocha; 1/18/24The lack of health care providers in rural Alabama is stark. Most of Alabama’s rural counties have significantly more people per primary care physician than urban counties. Butler County ... has just one primary care physician per 4,900 residents ... As rural Alabama continues a decades-long population collapse, residents who remain — many of them older people — face increasing barriers to health care, a trend seen around the nation.
Race, ethnicity, and cancer type influence which patients access hospice care
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMRace, ethnicity, and cancer type influence which patients access hospice careOncology Nurse Advisor, by Jennifer Larson; 1/19/24... [A] researcher from a comprehensive cancer center in North Carolina conducted a clinical literature review to investigate research outcomes of hospice use in the United States. ... A total of 17 quantitative studies, published between 2017 and 2023, was included in this review. Notable differences by cancer type were found. ... The analysis also showed disparities in hospice use by race and ethnicity.
To tackle financial distress, hospitals, health systems are turning to mergers
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMTo tackle financial distress, hospitals, health systems are turning to mergersKFF Health News; 1/19/24Modern Healthcare looks into the phenomenon of rising health care mergers and acquisitions being driven by financial pressures on health providers in the aftermath of the pandemic. Separately, Stateline explains how private equity-backed hospitals can see cutbacks and closures.
Inside a $300M push to save failing hospitals
01/23/24 at 04:00 AMInside a $300M push to save failing hospitalsModern Healthcare, by Kara Hartnett; 1/19/24When Madera Community Hospital declared bankruptcy and suddenly closed its doors a year ago, an agricultural community of 68,000 Californians lost its sole source of emergency and specialty care.
Acceptance of digital health technologies in palliative care patients
01/23/24 at 03:55 AMAcceptance of digital health technologies in palliative care patientsPalliat Med Rep; by Stefan Wicki, Ian C Clark, Manuel Amann, Sebastian M Christ, Markus Schettle, Caroline Hertler, Gudrun Theile, David Blum; 1/13/24Results: A majority of patients indicated an interest in (69.0%) and positive attitude toward (75.9%) digital health technologies. Nearly all (93.1%) patients believe that digital health technologies will become more important in medicine in the future. Most patients would consider using their smartphone (79.3%) or wearable (69.0%) more often for their health.
The psychological experience of grandparents: proposal of a qualitative clinical assessment tool in pediatric palliative care
01/23/24 at 03:00 AMThe psychological experience of grandparents: proposal of a qualitative clinical assessment tool in pediatric palliative careClin Pract, by Alexandra Jóni Nogueira and Maria Teresa Ribeiro; 1/4/24Compared to parental caregivers and healthy siblings, grandparents are underexplored in the literature and clinical practice. The aim of the present study is to propose a psychological experience assessment tool of grandparents in this context.
StateServ announces acquisition of Delta Care Rx
01/23/24 at 03:00 AMStateServ announces acquisition of Delta Care RxPR Newswire; 1/22/2024StateServ, a leading provider of durable medical equipment ("DME") benefit management solutions to the post-acute care market in the United States, has completed its acquisition of Delta Care Rx ("Delta Care"), a national pharmaceutical care provider. Delta Care offers integrated pharmacy benefit management, mail order prescription, sterile/non-sterile compounding, and clinical pharmacist consulting to the hospice and palliative care markets. ... The unique combination forms a leading care-at-home data, technology, and service platform and the industry's first scaled DME and pharmacy solution.
Visiting Nurses Foundation awards $130,000 to Assured Hospice for comfort therapies
01/22/24 at 04:04 AMVisiting Nurses Foundation awards $130,000 to Assured Hospice for comfort therapiesThe Chronicle; 1/19/24The Visiting Nurses Foundation has awarded Assured Hospice $130,000 as part of a continued partnership to provide therapies for end-of-life patients. The money supports comfort therapies, which include acupuncture and acupressure, animal-assisted therapy, guided imagery, healing touch, therapeutic touch, reiki, music and sound therapy and massages, which are integrated to enhance existing treatment plans.
New dementia-focused payment model emphasizes caregiver support
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMNew dementia-focused payment model emphasizes caregiver supportHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 1/18/23Without family caregivers, most hospice and palliative care patients would be unable to receive care in the home. Now, some emerging payment models are including caregiver support as a key component.
Nursing home operators feel there’s a lot to learn from hospice surveys despite regulatory differences
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMNursing home operators feel there’s a lot to learn from hospice surveys despite regulatory differencesSkilled Nursing News, by Amy Stulick; 1/18/24Many nursing home operators that also have hospice operations can’t help but notice that the survey process on the hospice end is generally a more positive experience than in the nursing home world. And some say the collaborative nature – between facilities and the federal government – of hospice surveys can and should be replicated for nursing homes.
Pals for Life helps animals lend a paw while treating community members with pet therapy
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMPals for Life helps animals lend a paw while treating community members with pet therapyABC News, by Nick Iadonisi; 1/19/24Kristen Abbott as Program Director of Pals for Life is bringing pet therapy across the Delaware Valley. She guides animals as they lend a paw, and lift the spirits of our community members. The pets will visit people in various locations, such as "elder care homes...mental health hospitals...hospice centers," said Abbott.
Talking about death and dying
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMTalking about death and dyingThe Saturday Evening Post; by N. West Moss; 1/19/24Last summer, my 88-year-old mother was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer and opted for in-home hospice. She died three months later. Talking about death can be difficult. It can bring up feelings of fear, anxiety, and sorrow. It can also feel awkward as it requires acknowledging one’s own (or a loved one’s) mortality.
$15 billion win for physicians on prior authorization
01/22/24 at 04:00 AM$15 billion win for physicians on prior authorizationAMA, by Kevin B. O'Reilly; 1/18/24Under the leadership of Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a final rule making important reforms to prior authorization to cut patient care delays and electronically streamline the process for physicians. Together, the changes will save physician practices an estimated $15 billion over 10 years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Today's Encouragement: The most exciting breakthroughs ...
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMThe most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human. - John Naisbitt
How Medicare Advantage, labor, AI will shape home-based care in 2024
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMHow Medicare Advantage, labor, AI will shape home-based care in 2024Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 1/18/24Home Health Care News recently spoke with 15 home-based care leaders for our annual “Executive Forecast” articles, which we published at the end of last year. Those executives’ responses covered a wide range of topics, and were surprisingly and refreshingly diverse. But, in the end, a few themes emerged.
'Snow was up to my knees': Iowa hospice nurse walks through blizzard to reach patient
01/22/24 at 04:00 AM'Snow was up to my knees': Iowa hospice nurse walks through blizzard to reach patientKETV (NE), by Maddie Augustine; 1/20/24Iowa — Communities across Nebraska and Iowa have felt the impact of recent snowfall and below-zero temperatures, but that weather didn't stop one Iowa hospice nurse. Tiffany McArdle, hospice nurse for St. Croix Hospice, told KETV that in her seven years of working as a hospice nurse, she never imagined she would be walking through a blizzard to reach a patient, but she said she never doubted she would find a way to make it to the family in need on Sunday.
Teleios announces addition of Emmanuel Hospice to network
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMTeleios announces addition of Emmanuel Hospice to networkPress release; 1/19/24Hendersonville, NC January 11, 2024: Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN) announced the addition of Emmanuel Hospice to its clinically integrated network, expanding the nonprofit’s resources, tools and expertise in order to grow its presence and services in West Michigan.
Hospital death less likely, hospice more likely for white women with ovarian cancer
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMHospital death less likely, hospice more likely for white women with ovarian cancerHealio, by Erin T. Welsh; 1/19/24Women with ovarian cancer from underrepresented groups have a higher likelihood of in-hospital mortality vs. hospice mortality compared with their white counterparts. ... Key takeaways:
Cambia Health Foundation announces 10th cohort of the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMCambia Health Foundation announces 10th cohort of the Sojourns Scholar Leadership ProgramCambia health foundation; 1/18/24Each Sojourns Scholar receives $180,000 in funding ($90,000 per year over a two-year grant) to carry out an innovative and impactful project in the field of palliative care and execute a leadership development plan designed to support the individual's growth as a national leader in the field. ... Each grantee is a member of an interdisciplinary palliative care team or is otherwise working to advance the field.Click on the link above for descriptions, and then on "Meet Our Cohorts"
New bill would give California parents more control over whether state can store their kid's DNA
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMNew bill would give California parents more control over whether state can store their kid's DNACBS News / TV, by Julie Watts; 1/17/24Should you have the right to know that the state is storing your child's DNA and that researchers or law enforcement may use it without your consent? ... A 2018 statewide CBS News poll found that the majority of new parents did know about the lifesaving test. Three quarters (of new parents) had no idea the state was storing their baby's leftover bloodspots after the required test genetic test was complete.
Healthcare ranks second among industries with workers frustrated by low pay: survey
01/22/24 at 04:00 AMHealthcare ranks second among industries with workers frustrated by low pay: survey McKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 1/19/24Healthcare workers rank second among those frustrated about their industry’s pay, according to a recent analysis from USA Today Blueprint. ... The research included 3 million Glassdoor reviews of 500 large employers in 25 industries. ... Only workers in the education field are less satisfied with their pay than are workers in healthcare, according to the findings.