Literature Review

Why one health system thinks its new PBM can disrupt the marketModern Healthcare; by Lauren Berryman; 8/23/24The University of North Carolina-affiliated health system announced a plan this month to launch UNC Health Pharmacy Solutions, a "transparent" PBM for employers seeking an alternative to CVS Health subsidiary CVS Caremark, Cigna division Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group unit OptumRx, which dominate the market... “Our costs were skyrocketing,” DeFalco said. UNC Health has since in-sourced key PBM functions and customized its formulary to focus on lower net cost drugs. UNC Health Pharmacy Solutions is similar to others that market themselves as transparent. UNC Health will charge clients administrative fees and pass through all rebates to plan sponsors. The health system has saved 32% on employee pharmacy costs and expects to deliver similar results to employers in North Carolina and South Carolina, DeFalco said. The health system may consider partnering with businesses in bordering states down the line, she said... The landscape comprises around 70 players, but CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx have a combined market share of about 80%, and the top six PBMs control 90%. Larger PBMs generally can use scale to extract better rebates from drugmakers, which at face value could look attractive to benefits brokers even though it may not mean lower overall savings.

The art Of asking: How effective questioning transforms leadershipForbes; by Keli Frazier-Cox; 8/29/24As a leader, it can be tempting to fall into the trap of thinking you have all the answers. After all, successful problem-solving and making quick decisions were a big part of getting to where you are in the first place—right? But that’s not the whole story. Seeking input from people around you is important no matter what your position. This is especially true as we rise in seniority and the problems we face become more complex. Asking questions is a crucial but often overlooked leadership skill that moves us into a space of co-creation—finding the best solution, not just your solution. Engaging your teams, peers and other colleagues builds trust, loyalty and enthusiasm, helping guide everyone toward mutual success.

Hospice workers help patients with last wishes St. Joseph News-Press, MO; by Charles Christian; 9/1/24 While expressing last wishes is not always the first priority for hospice patients, caregivers say it can be a helpful and meaningful step in the grief process. Registered nurse Kathy Lewis, a hospice care manager at Freudenthal Home-Based Healthcare, said that although asking about last wishes is part of the intake process for many hospice organizations, it is not always something that patients and families share right away. "I typically don't ask about last wishes during an admission," Lewis said. "But once I get to know them, and they feel comfortable with me ... that's when they tend to disclose things like that, because it is a very personal thing." Once disclosed, social workers, nurses, chaplains and other members of a treatment team do what they can to fulfill these wishes. Licensed social worker Jenny Dryburgh said that for bigger wishes, creativity becomes a key factor. ...

In hospice, Lehigh Valley man doesn’t let terminal cancer stop him from becoming ordained[PA] The Morning Call; by Anthony Salamone; 9/1/24Diocese of Allentown Bishop Alfred A. Schlert places his hands on Von George's hands during an ordination service Aug. 10 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown for George to become a lay permanent deacon. George, of South Whitehall Township, became a deacon despite learning about one year ago that he has pancreatic cancer.Publisher's note: Accessing full article may require subscription.

Indoor hospice concert attracts nearly 2,000 people at fieldhouse The Republic, Columbus, IN; by Brian Blair; 9/1/24 The Indianapolis-based Woomblies Rock Orchestra led off with The Who’s classic “Love Reign O’er Me” before an audience estimated at nearly 2,000 people at Circle K Fieldhouse at NexusPark at 2224 25th St. in Columbus. ... Stephanie Cain, Our Hospice of South Central Indiana president, looked at the latest crowd halfway through the night of three pop-rock acts and smiled. “I feel like my heart is totally overflowing,” she said. Others felt the same vibe. Attendee Sheila Coy knows hospice’s work, currently with nearly 300 patients with life-limiting illnesses, firsthand.

Patients are everyday heroes The Andalusia Star News, Andalusia, AL; by Vickie C. Waster; 9/2/24 One of my favorite songs is by Mariah Carey. The communication of the chorus speaks to what we in hospice and other areas of healthcare experience every day. This song always invokes empathy in my heart, and I believe many of you can truly resonate with the lyrics, as we share a common experience in our roles in healthcare. ... The heroes we encounter are our patients, families, and their caregivers. They show heroism in their resilience, their ability to find hope in difficult circumstances, and their unwavering support for each other. As hospice professionals, we acknowledge that we are entrusted to provide medical, spiritual, and emotional support to those in our care. We do this with a deep sense of humility and humbleness, always mindful of the respect our heroes deserve.  “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure despite overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve

BrightSpring Health Services announces definitive agreement to acquire Haven Hospice, expanding hospice services into Florida Business Insider, Louisville, KY; by Globe Newswire Press Release; 9/3/24BrightSpring Health Service ... announced that it completed the acquisition of the assets of North Central Florida Hospice, Inc. and Haven Medical Group, LLC (collectively “Haven Hospice”), a Florida-based company holding a Certificate of Need (CON) for comprehensive hospice care services in 18 counties in north central Florida, effective September 1, 2024. “We are excited to welcome Haven Hospice into BrightSpring, expanding our existing hospice services into the CON state of Florida,” said BrightSpring’s President and CEO Jon Rousseau.  

Healthcare faces deficit of 100,000 workers by 2028Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 8/29/24A nationwide shortage of 100,000 healthcare workers is anticipated by 2028, with some states facing projected surpluses or severe deficits between future supply and demand. The finding comes from Mercer, which examined projected changes to the U.S. healthcare labor market by 2028 for states and metro and micro statistical areas. If current U.S. workforce trends continue, the healthcare workforce is projected to reach 18.6 million by 2028, an increase of over 1.5 million from 2023. However, with demand expected to rise to 18.7 million, this still leaves a shortfall of more than 100,000 workers within five years. While this gap may not seem critical in absolute terms, it adds significant strain to a healthcare system already burdened by geographic and demographic disparities in access to care.Publisher's note: This finding is particularly important for hospices already facing workforce shortages and challenges finding staff committed to the hospice philosophy of care.

'It's heartbreaking': Hospices planning cuts to jobs and beds[UK] BBC News; by Hugh Pym, Vicki Loader; 8/30/24Five hospices caring for terminally ill people have planned job cuts in the past two months due to financial pressures, BBC News has learned. St Giles Hospice, which runs community services and in-patient sites in the West Midlands, has started consulting staff this week on a reduction of 40 posts, including clinical roles, which could involve redundancies. The organisation representing the sector, Hospice UK, has warned of a funding crisis and further cuts in services.

I discovered my calling in a cemetery. We talk about death but aren't preparedNewsweek; by Allyse Worland; 8/29/24My journey as a funeral director started early. My Catholic grade school shared a street with a cemetery in my small rural Indiana hometown. At recess, I'd often see funeral processions drive by, only at the time I thought it was a parade. It wasn't until my teachers explained it to me that I realized it was, in fact, a funeral procession. At that moment I knew I wanted to lead that parade... Death and grief are no different. A recent first-of-its-kind survey from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) sought to uncover generational differences relating to end-of-life matters, especially as Gen Z comes of age and enters early adulthood. The survey found that while cremation is still a top preference for Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, Gen Z stands alone with traditional burial as their top preference, bucking decades of preferences trending toward cremation... As a millennial who is fifteen years into my career as a funeral director, I am inspired by this next generation, not only by their willingness to approach death differently, but also as they redefine work and success. I think both these generational characteristics make many Gen Zs ideal candidates for a job path they may have never even considered: funeral director.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. ~Winston Churchill

State seeks input on Columbia Gorge hospital, Gentiva hospice care The Lund Report, Oregon and SW Washington; by Nick Budnick; 8/29/24 State officials are checking in on two health care acquisitions that have occurred since August of 2022, the absorption of Mid-Columbia Medical Center into California-based Adventist Health as well as a private equity firm's acquisition of Kindred Hospice. Now the state wants to hear how the renamed entities are doing: Adventist Health Columbia Gorge and Kindred Hospice Care. “OHA wants to understand how ownership changes may have affected health care services at AHCG and Gentiva hospice agencies,” according to a state announcement. “We’d like to hear from patients, health care providers, employees, and community members who have interacted with AHCG or Gentiva in the past year.”