Literature Review
Kōkua Mau, Hawaii, Medicaid Palliative Care Services Benefit
01/15/25 at 03:00 AMKōkua Mau, Hawaii, Medicaid Palliative Care Services BenefitHawaiʻi is the first state to comprehensively cover palliative care services for its Medicaid beneficiaries, by adding community palliative care as a preventive service in its Medicaid state plan. Since the memo has been published we are now moving into the implementation phase. This novel SPA (State Plan Amendment) is the result of multi-stakeholder collaboration over many years. It serves as a road map for other states exploring new ways to pay for interdisciplinary, community-based palliative care.
United States dementia cases estimated to double by 2060: Anticipated jump especially large for women, Black people & those over age 75
01/15/25 at 03:00 AMUnited States dementia cases estimated to double by 2060: Anticipated jump especially large for women, Black people & those over age 75NYULangone Health; by David March; 1/13/25A new study shows that the risk of developing dementia at any time after age 55 among Americans is 42 percent, more than double the risk reported by older studies. That dementia risk translates into an estimated half-million cases this year, rising to a million new cases a year by 2060, according to the new work. Dementia involves progressive declines in memory, concentration, and judgment. The increasing number of cases is directly tied to the aging of the U.S. population. Beyond aging, a high risk of dementia is linked to genetic factors, as well as high rates of hypertension and diabetes, obesity, unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, and poor mental health.
Special Bulletin – CA Wildfires Public Health Emergency
01/15/25 at 03:00 AMSpecial Bulletin – CA Wildfires Public Health EmergencyCommunity Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP); Special Bulletin; 1/14/2025 HHS Declares Public Health Emergency for California to Aid Health Care Response to Wildfires. The declaration follows President Biden’s major disaster declaration and gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting the emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS has waived sanctions and penalties for violations of certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule against hospitals in the emergency area. [Click on the title's link to continue reading]
Concurrent/simultaneous services from Hospice and a Home and Community Based Services waiver- UPDATED Information about claims submission
01/15/25 at 03:00 AMConcurrent/simultaneous services from Hospice and a Home and Community Based Services waiver- UPDATED Information about claims submissionAlabama Media Portal - media.alabama.gov; by the State of Alabama Press Release - Medicaid; 1/14/25The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) updated the policy to allow concurrent services from hospice and a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver. However, it is vital that the hospice and HCBS waiver case manager coordinate to avoid duplication of services.The HCBS waiver person-centered care plan (PCCP) and hospice plan of care (POC) of the recipient should be coordinated between the hospice, HCBS waiver case manager, and the recipient and his/her caregiver. A conference that includes these parties must be held before concurrent services can start. The PCCP/POC conference shall be documented in both the recipient’s hospice and waiver record. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
Three state snapshots of pediatric palliative care: California, Massachusetts, and Vermont
01/15/25 at 03:00 AMThree state snapshots of pediatric palliative care: California, Massachusetts, and VermontNational Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP); by Neva Kaye and Heather Smith; 1/13/25 Pediatric palliative care is an important component of the system of care for children with serious illness and their families. Palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical needs during difficult times. However, many children and families who could benefit from palliative care are unable to access it. State Medicaid and Title V Maternal and Child Health Service Block Grant programs are working to address this issue. ...
Friday is final deadline for McKnight’s Women of Distinction award nominations
01/14/25 at 03:30 AMFriday is final deadline for McKnight’s Women of Distinction award nominations McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 1/13/25 The final nomination deadline for the 2025 McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program is Friday [1/17]. The annual program is presented by McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care ... Eligible for recognition in 2025 are women working as direct care providers, managers, executives, corporate executives and owners in independent living, assisted living, memory care and life plan communities, as well as those working in those capacities in skilled nursing facilities and in home care, home health, hospice and palliative care. ... Nominators for the Rising Star, Veteran VIP and Hall of Honor categories should be prepared to share detailed qualitative and quantitative information about nominees’ work histories, exceptional achievements and contributions or service, and anything else the judging panel should consider. [Click on the title's link for more information.]
Building a smarter long-term care system in New York
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMBuilding a smarter long-term care system in New York The National Law Review; by Adam Herbst of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP - Healthcare Law Blog; 1/10/25 New York State has a long-standing commitment to supporting its most vulnerable populations through Medicaid-funded services for older adults and those requiring long-term care. However, rising costs and an increasingly complex healthcare landscape have created challenges that demand innovative solutions. ... The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) offers a clear path forward. This model has consistently demonstrated its ability to reduce healthcare costs while enhancing patient outcomes by integrating medical, social, and behavioral health services under one umbrella. ... Despite these clear benefits, New York has not approved a new PACE program since 2011, leaving this proven model underutilized in the state.
ECHO report exposes deadly toll of homelessness in Austin
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMECHO report exposes deadly toll of homelessness in Austin CBS Austin, TX; by Abigail Velez; 1/10/25 A report released this week by Austin's Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (Austin ECHO) revealed the human cost of the city's growing homelessness crisis. The report, analyzing six years of data, found that a staggering 1,010 unhoused individuals died in Austin between 2018 and 2023. Their average age of death: is just 50 years old, a full 20 years younger than their housed counterparts. ... The report offered a number of concrete recommendations, including: ... Develop a medical triage team to connect vulnerable individuals with appropriate care, including respite care, long-term care, substance use treatment, and hospice.
Uruguay’s iconic ex-President Jose Mujica says his cancer has spread and that he’s dying
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMUruguay’s iconic ex-President Jose Mujica says his cancer has spread and that he’s dying Associated Press - World News, Santiago, Chile; by Nayara Batschke; 1/9/25 ... “Honestly, I am dying,” said the former leader, who governed the small South American nation of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. The article noted that he had tears in his eyes. “What I ask is that they leave me alone. Don’t ask me for more interviews or anything else,” he said. “My cycle is over.” ... In the interview with Busqueda, Mujica said his autoimmune disease, severe kidney disease and other underlying medical problems led to his decision not to pursue treatment after medical tests showed his cancer had returned and metastasized. “I’m an old man, and because I have two chronic illnesses my body cannot handle it,” he said. ... Mujica told Busqueda that he would devote his “final stage” of life to his farm on the outskirts of Montevideo, the capital, where he has grown chrysanthemums with his wife for decades.Editor's note: Whatever one's political stances, may we see and hear the unifying, universal inevitabilities of facing dying and death.
2 hospital closures in 2025
01/14/25 at 03:00 AM2 hospital closures in 2025 Becker's CFO Report; by Madeline Ashley; 1/9/25 The healthcare landscape continues to change as hospitals and emergency departments face mounting challenges in 2025. Following a trend of 25 hospital closures reported on by Becker's in 2024, many facilities are being forced to close their doors due to changing community needs, rising operational costs and evolving care models. Becker's has reported on two hospital and emergency department closures in 2025: ...
Climb aboard that jungle gym: Career path need not be linear to be successful
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMClimb aboard that jungle gym: Career path need not be linear to be successful The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN; by Theresa Laxton; 1/10/25 In today’s ever-evolving professional landscape, more women are realizing that their careers don’t have to follow a linear path. Instead, they’re embracing the concept of a career jungle gym, a metaphor introduced by Sheryl Sandberg in her book “Lean In.” Unlike a ladder with one direct route, a jungle gym allows for lateral moves, creative pivots and even deliberate pauses, all of which can lead to success. For women, and nurses in particular, this mindset is transformative. ...
Bestselling author: I asked 26,000 people around the world their biggest regrets—these were the top 4
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMBestselling author: I asked 26,000 people around the world their biggest regrets—these were the top 4 NBC News NECN Channel 4, Boston, MA; by Aston Jackson, CNBC; 1/11/25 Living life without regrets is impossible, says bestselling author Daniel Pink. "Everybody has regrets. It's one of the most common emotions that human beings have," said Pink, in a podcast episode that published last month. "And yet, we've been sold such a bill of goods about positivity and being positive all the time that when we feel regret, we think we're the only one." Pink combed through decades of research and surveyed more than 26,000 people from 130 countries about their biggest regrets for his 2022 book, "The Power of Regret," according to his website. Most of those people struggled with four core regrets:
Home … where we all want to be
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMHome … where we all want to be The Journal; Dr. Sarah Phillips, Medical Director Hospice of the Panhandle; 1/12/25 Two days before Christmas, I arrived at the home of a patient who had been recently admitted to Hospice services. ... [Story of the patient being on a ventilator in a hospital.] This courageous and self-determined woman expressed the desire to be free from pain, suffering, and the complications and progression of her disease. Knowing that the ventilator was life-sustaining and essentially breathing for her, she made the decision to stop it. To ensure her comfort during discontinuation of the ventilator, the hospice team was present before, during, and after the procedure. Medications were used to ease shortness of breath, pain, and anxiety. ... “It’s a Wonderful Life” was playing on the TV, the Christmas tree was lit. I looked over and see the daughter wiping away her mother’s tears. Each reassured the other that everything will be OK and that they are at peace with this decision. As the medications took effect, the patient drifted off to sleep. The ventilator was stopped. Next, something happens that I will never forget. The daughter leans in and whispers to the patient, “Mom, the ventilator is off now, you are back in total control. This was profound to me on many levels. It certainly spoke to the power and importance of autonomy, the ability to make independent decisions that are aligned with one’s values and goals. ... Despite working in end-of-life care for over a decade, I still have these moments of being overwhelmed by the human spirit.
Caregiver confessions: ‘How much more can we take?’
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMCaregiver confessions: ‘How much more can we take?’ New York Magazine - The Cut - Family; as told to Paula Aceves and David mack; 1/13/25 Eleven people who care for aging and sick relatives share their fears, resentments, and guilt. “Where did those ten years ago?”: the daughter struggling to make ends meet while caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s. I never left home, like a good Cuban. My dad died when I was 9, and my mom never remarried, so I always felt a responsibility for her as her only child, especially since I’m not married and don’t have children of my own. [Click on the title's link to read this and other caregiver stories.]
CMS Gives Notice of 4.3% Pay Hike for Medicare Advantage Plans
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMCMS Gives Notice of 4.3% Pay Hike for Medicare Advantage Plans Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/13/25 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to increase payments to Medicare Advantage plans for 4.3% in 2026, but implementation will depend on what happens with the new presidential administration. CMS has issued an advance notice of policy changes for Medicare Advantage and Part D that would install technical updates, including to the ways the agency calculates payments to health plans. ... Though Medicare Advantage does not cover hospice care, many providers depend on MA payments for other programs like palliative care, among others. The changes are intended to continue CMS’s three-year phase-in of updates to the MA risk adjustment model and growth-rate calculation related to medical education costs. However, it will be up to the incoming Trump administration to bring these changes to fruition — if they so choose.
Today's Encouragement: Our emotions can teach us valuable lessons ...
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMOur emotions can teach us valuable lessons. Let them shine a light on what you want to change, how you want to act in the future or what is valuable to you. ~ Susan David, Harvard Business Review Guide to Emotional Intelligence
My husband almost died. When I asked his doctor for help, I was appalled by the insensitive response.
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMMy husband almost died. When I asked his doctor for help, I was appalled by the insensitive response. HuffPost; by Carrie Severson; 1/13/25 ... The physician’s assistant came in and looked at Gavin [the author's husband]. As soon as she took her seat, I told her I wanted to schedule him for a feeding tube, expecting her complete understanding and compassion. Instead, she laughed. “I recommended a consult for a feeding tube last week, and you declined it,” she said sharply. “Now I have to start over from scratch and reach back out to the GI team to see how we can get him in.” My mouth dropped open. I stared at her, bewildered. “I wasn’t ready last week. I’m ready now,” Gavin mumbled, barely audible. “What did he say?” the physician’s assistant snarled. I very calmly repeated what Gavin said, my heart breaking for him and rage racing through my body. “Well, you certainly have made my job harder. And now I’ll have to see what I can do for you. You’ll hear from me about your next steps, and you better follow them. It might be too late because of your attitude,” she barked. I leaned in, looked at her straight on, meeting her nasty tone, and said, “No. Your attitude has made this harder. And it’s very much not appreciated right now. He’s in pain, and your job is to help us. In fact, you took an oath to do no harm, and what you’re doing in this room is harmful.” ...
St. Croix Hospice to acquire Mayo Clinic Health System hospice operations in Southwest Minnesota
01/14/25 at 03:00 AMSt. Croix Hospice to acquire Mayo Clinic Health System hospice operations in Southwest Minnesota PR Newswire, Oakdale, MN; by St. Croix Hospice and Mayo Clinic Health System; 1/13/25 St. Croix Hospice and Mayo Clinic Health System have entered into a definitive agreement for St. Croix Hospice to acquire Mayo Clinic Health System's hospice operations in Southwest Minnesota. The agreement remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. ... "With more than 75 locations across the Midwest staffed by local care teams, St. Croix Hospice has been proudly providing hospice care for Mayo Clinic Health System patients throughout the Midwest for many years," says St. Croix Hospice Chief Clinical Officer Mandy Cogswell. ... "This marks the second recent transaction where St. Croix Hospice has acquired a health-system based hospice program, including a fourth quarter 2024 purchase in Iowa and Nebraska," said St. Croix Hospice CEO Heath Bartness.
Prospect Home Health and Hospice, LLC bankruptcy filing
01/14/25 at 02:45 AMProspect Home Health and Hospice, LLC bankruptcy filing BankruptcyObserver.com; Case Number 25-80011; 1/13/25 The bankruptcy petition for Prospect Home Health and Hospice, LLC [Northern District of Texas bankruptcy cour] showed assets in the range of more than $1B with liabilities in the range of more than $1B. Prospect Home Health and Hospice, LLC reports that the number of creditors is in the range of more than 100,000.
3 nurse specialties with highest, lowest pay
01/14/25 at 02:00 AM3 nurse specialties with highest, lowest pay Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 1/13/25 From January through July 2024, staff registered nurses involved in direct patient care saw their median base pay increase by 2%, compared to 1.4% for those in indirect patient care. However, RNs involved in direct and indirect patient care were poised for annual increases of 3% to 4% to close out 2024. ... The survey includes six-month percentage change data from January through July 2024. It is based on data from more than 700 participating organizations, representing approximately 358,000 individuals across over 115 nursing roles, including RNs, nursing managers and licensed practical nurses. [Click on the title's link for this important data.]
[UK] Volunteers collecting Christmas trees for charity
01/13/25 at 03:30 AM[UK] Volunteers collecting Christmas trees for charityBBC News, West of England; by Harcombe; 1/10/25Volunteers are collecting thousands of Christmas trees to raise money for a hospice. The team from Dorothy House Hospice offers the collection service across Somerset and Wiltshire and will be collecting trees from doorsteps until Sunday. Since the service was launched eight years ago, they have raised £370,000 for the hospice, raising more than £118,000 so far this year. Dan Varley, from the hospice's fundraising team, said: "We do it as a way to support the community, but also to raise funds for the hospice which is so, so vital for us."
PruittHealth acquires family-owned skilled nursing centers in middle Georgia
01/13/25 at 03:15 AMPruittHealth acquires family-owned skilled nursing centers in middle Georgia GlobeNewswire, PruittHealth, Warner Robbins, GA; 1/9/25 PruittHealth, a family-owned and Georgia-based provider of post-acute care, today announced the purchase of two new health care centers from industry leader Debbie Meade and her Georgia-based organization Health Management. PruittHealth took over the operations of Eastview Nursing Center in Macon and Southern Pines Nursing Center in Warner Robins on December 31. The locations were rebranded as PruittHealth – Lakeside and PruittHealth – Warner Robins.
Healthcare private equity outlook & trends - January 2025
01/13/25 at 03:00 AMHealthcare Private Equity Outlook & Trends - January 2025JD Supra; by Emily Burrows, David Cox, Michael Dashefsky, Lara Flatau, Tabitha Green, Anna Grizzle, Angela Humphreys, Stewart Kameen, Travis Lloyd, Jennifer Michael, Lucas Ross Smith, Jonathan Stanley, Ryan Thomas, Nesrin Garan Tift, Shannon Wiley, Roy Wyman, Patrick Zinck; 1/10/25 As some packed the skis and headed to their favorite slopes this winter season, it is hard not to see the analogies to the healthcare private equity (PE) transaction market as we ring in the New Year. Much like the Northern Rockies, there should be plenty of dry powder to support a robust dealmaking environment in 2025. ... [From its attached PDF]
Health systems: It's time to break up with short-termism
01/13/25 at 03:00 AMHealth systems: It's time to break up with short-termism Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 1/10/25Health systems begin 2025 emerging from a half-decade of crisis management. Now is the time for executive teams to lift their heads from quarterly survival and make bets on their long-term future. ... In recent years, a number of leaders, including those within health systems, openly declared their departure from 10-year strategic plans. Even five-year outlooks are considered ambitious, some argued. Agility and short-term performance is sometimes hailed as the hallmark of savvy leaders, while long-term vision risks being dismissed as impractical or naive. This mindset may have served its purpose during the stop-and-go nature of the pandemic, but risks leaving organizations flat-footed and without a defined strategy for what could come next. Teams may feel the shift. The return of competitive, distinct and long-term plans will require systems' executive teams and boards to revive organizational muscles that may have lain dormant through years of crisis response.
16 top data governance tools to know about in 2025
01/13/25 at 03:00 AM16 top data governance tools to know about in 2025 informa - TechTarget; by Craig Stedman and David Weldon; 1/9/25 ... Data governance is the process of creating internal data standards, along with policies that control who can access data and how data is used in business operations and analytics applications. It often incorporates data quality improvement initiatives, as well as master data management (MDM) ones. ... Here's a look at 16 prominent data governance tools, listed in alphabetical order, with summaries of their key features and capabilities. The list was compiled by Informa TechTarget editors based on research of the data governance software market that included the use of market reports and vendor rankings from Forrester Research and Gartner.