Literature Review

High-risk opioid prescribing and nurse practitioner independenceJAMA Health Forum; Lucas D. Cusimano, BS; Nicole Maestas, MPP, PhD; 12/24In 2021, more than 1 in 5 opioid overdose deaths were attributed to prescription opioids in the US, and the rate of such deaths has increased 5-fold since 1999. Concerns around excessive opioid prescribing have been used to argue against the expansion of the scope of practice of nurse practitioners (NPs) ... In this difference-in-differences analysis of opioid prescribing in 16 states, there was no change in the rates of high-risk opioid prescribing in the 6 states that adopted nurse practitioner independence compared with 10 nonadopting neighboring states during the 24 months following adoption. The study found no association between legislation that granted independence to nurse practitioners and rates of risky opioid prescribing. 

Cannabidiol for scan-related anxiety in women with advanced breast cancer-A randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open; Manan M. Nayak, PhD, MA; Peter Chai, MD; Paul J. Catalano, ScD; William F. Pirl, MD, MPH; James A. Tulsky, MD; Stephanie C. Tung, MD; Nancy U. Lin, MD; Nicole Andrade, BA; Sabrina Johns, MPH; Clint Vaz, MD; Melissa Hughes, MSc; Ilana M. Braun, MD; 12/24The findings of this randomized clinical trial show that CBD [cannabidiol] can be used safely in women with advanced breast cancer and clinical anxiety. Although the study did not meet its primary end point comparing preingestion vs postingestion anxiety change scores between study arms, anxiety levels in the CBD arm were significantly lower 2 to 4 hours after ingestion, suggesting a possible anxiolytic effect and warranting further investigation. 

PBMs secretly profited from opioid crisis: New York Times Becker's Hospital Review; by Alexandra Murphy; 12/17/24 Pharmacy benefit managers were paid by drugmakers, including Purdue Pharma, to keep opioid prescriptions flowing even as overdose deaths soared across the U.S., according to an investigation by The New York Times. The Dec. 17 report highlighted how Express Scripts, CVS Caremark and Optum Rx, which control access to medications for millions of Americans, negotiated deals with opioid manufacturers to prevent restrictions on painkiller prescriptions in exchange for lucrative rebates. Between 2003 and 2012, Purdue Pharma paid PBMs roughly $400 million annually to avoid limits on opioid prescriptions, which included measures that could have curtailed overprescribing, such as requiring additional physician justifications or limiting the number of pills dispensed. Internal documents reviewed by the Times show how the PBMs repeatedly collaborated with opioid manufacturers to influence insurers' decisions and block restrictions.

Increasing awareness of hospice services among Latinos on the border YouTube - Borderzine Reporting across fronteras; features Hospice El Paso; 12/25/24 El Paso's Latino Community is seeing a rise in the use of hospice care ... Hospice in Mexico is a place and so a lot of Hispanics--true Mexicans--feel that you're going to take a loved one out of their home when it comes to hospice care. ... Latino families make up a growing portion of hospice users, reflecting national efforts in bilingual outreach and cultural sensitivity programs I had heard. The term "hospice"--I didn't know I didn't know what it meant. I didn't know what it involved but after my dad was enrolled in hospice ... I realized [that it] provided emotional and medical support ... [and] comfort that respects their cultural values. We were very fortunate that the individuals that came in that met with us beforehand and after were bilingual. I noticed that they spoke in English and in Spanish so that they would look between myself, my mom my sister to make sure we were nodding, agreeing, listening, hearing. I think that made a difference. It was very comforting. My dad at one point even said, "They gave me a bath but they didn't get the bed wet." That was our big joke and the fact that he was very comfortable. As more Hispanic families turn to hospice they're finding it offers not just medical care, but a way to honor their loved ones with dignity respect and familiar comforts in their final days.Editor's note: For data on the Hispanic population in the areas you serve, click here for the 

Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness. ~ Anne Frank We honor Hanukkuh with this powerful quote from  Anne Frank when she was a young teenager. She died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration in February/March 1945. If she were still alive, she would be 95.

CMS scraps value-based Medicare Advantage model [VBID]Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 12/20/24Citing overspending, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is calling an early end to an initiative that aimed to provide better, more efficient care to Medicare Advantage enrollees. The Value-Based Insurance Design model, or VBID, will sunset at the end of 2025, CMS announced, just 20 months after the agency extended it until 2030. The latest data show “substantial and unmitigable costs” totaling $4.5 billion in 2021 and 2022, an amount "unprecedented in CMS innovation center models," CMS said in a news release Monday.

In Oregon and around the world, volunteer crafters are ready to finish your loved one’s projects The Oregonian - Homes & Garden; by Janet Eastman; 12/20/24, updated 12/24/24 Sue Heagy touches the colorful yarn circles her late daughter, Angie Kimmel, crocheted to relieve her pain and fear of dying. Kimmel was 39 and working in Corvallis eight years ago when she made her last stitch. ... Over the years, Heagy would take the pieces out to appreciate her daughter’s fine handwork. Late last year, Heagy decided it was time for the “complicated and unusual work” to be completed. She contacted the nonprofit Loose Ends Project and was matched to Bobbie Wallace, a volunteer “finisher” who lives in Arizona near Heagy. ... Heagy, who received the completed throw blanket this summer, said, “It’s so touching, so intimate” how finishers like Wallace work. “To have the sensitivity to delve into the creativity” of someone they never met. The place where Kimmel’s final stitch continued under Wallace’s hands is marked with a tiny heart-shape red button. “When I saw that, I burst out crying,” said Heagy, who has draped the throw blanket across her favorite reading chair. “Angie’s blanket hugs me,” said Heagy, “and it was a real comfort to talk to Bobbie, who has such an open heart, about my daughter.”

Executive Personnel Changes - 12/27/24

The power of top 100 relationships in leadership success Forbes; by David Nour; 12/18/24 In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, leadership success often hinges on one defining factor: the depth, health, and relevance of your most valuable relationships. Yet, many leaders mistakenly equate having an extensive network with having a meaningful or impactful one. ... However, authentic leadership thrives not in the breadth of relationships but in their depth, quality, and relevance. As leaders, we must embrace a critical shift: moving away from collecting contacts and toward cultivating authentic, intentional, and strategic relationships. These top-tier relationships—our Top 100—are not merely assets but the foundation of professional and personal success. This fundamental mindset shift must also cascade throughout our organizations ...

Inside the CMS plan to streamline quality measurement Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 12/23/24 Quality measurement is burdensome and complicated. The government and the private sector are struggling to figure out a good fix. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses quality data to inform its reimbursement rates, so it's a high-stakes matter for providers and health insurance companies. CMS has proposed an overarching framework meant to streamline the process: the Universal Foundation. ... The Universal Foundation consists of two dozen quality measures across several categories that track wellness and prevention, chronic conditions, behavioral health, and "person-centered" care. Those include measures of breast and colorectal cancer screenings, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, vaccinations, and hospital readmissions. ... CMS has incorporated this framework into recent regulations such as the Medicare Advantage final rule for 2024 and the Physician Fee Schedule final rule for 2025. 

ProCare Hospice of Nevada names nationally recognized hospice expert Keith Everett as new CEOProCare Hospice press release; 12/9/24In a move that underscores its vision to transform the cultural perceptions of advanced illness care, ProCare Hospice of Nevada (PCH) proudly announces Keith Everett as its new Chief Executive Officer. Everett, a proven leader in hospice care, most recently served as the President and CEO of Hospice of Acadiana in Lafayette, Louisiana.

CMS names first Hospice Special Focus Program Cohort, delays list of future candidates Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/23/24 Finalized in the 2024 home health payment rule, the program is designed to identify poor performing hospices, mandate quality improvement and in some cases impose additional penalties. However, stakeholders in the hospice space have contended that the agency’s methodology for selecting hospices for the program is deeply flawed. For this reason, they have argued that the list of operators should not be made public. Though CMS published the list, it delayed the release of a second that would point to future candidates for the program. “CMS has also generated a list of future SFP candidates. We are not publishing the candidate list at this time, but we are sharing the underlying data used to create both lists to allow for external review, thereby ensuring transparency in the process by which low-performing hospices are identified,” the agency indicated on its website. “We will continue to work with providers, patients and their families, and industry, to improve hospice care across the nation.” Stakeholders applauded the delay, including the National Alliance for Care at Home. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Beyond the logo: The healthcare executive’s guide to creating genuine healthcare technology partnerships Healthcare IT News; by Notable; 12/23/24 Understanding both the perspective of the healthcare technology buyer and that of builders and sellers can give healthcare executives greater insight into vendor-customer dynamics and what goes into successful partnerships. Healthcare vendor-customer relationships can vary greatly: some are built on trust and some lack it; some succeed and some don’t; some meet expectations and some fall short. Following these best practices can help both parties to achieve their strategic goals, maximize success, minimize frustration and find true joy in their work.