Literature Review

A journalist assisted a woman’s quest for suicide. Did he get too involved?The Washington Post, by Jeremy Barr; 2/3/24The Boston Globe acknowledged that writer Kevin Cullen crossed an ethical line by signing a legal form for Lynda Bluestein. But the woman’s husband is grateful for what he did. Kevin Cullen, a veteran columnist for the Boston Globe, spent months shadowing a terminally ill Connecticut woman as she campaigned for permission to have an assisted suicide and ultimately died that way several weeks ago. ... But Cullen did more than just chronicle [her] journey. He also got involved in her story by signing a legal form attesting that she was sound of mind when she requested to die in Vermont, which granted her the right to do so.

Cano Health files for bankruptcy, receives $150-mln financing commitmentReuters; 2/5/24Cano Health opens new tab filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware late on Sunday and said it entered into a restructuring support agreement to reduce debt and solicit potential offers, including the sale of the firm. Shares of the Miami-based company fell more than 50% before the bell. The primary care provider said it has received a commitment for $150 million in new debtor-in-possession financing from some of its existing lenders, which is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to support its ongoing operations.

Palmetto Hospice updates and review webinar: February 13, 2024Press release; 2/5/24Webinar 2/13/24 @ 1:00 PM ET. Please click here to register for this webinar session. This session is designed to provide insight for your Hospice agency staff. During this session, a representative will provide Hospice Billing Updates, Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model information, 2024 Final Rule Summary and other helpful information and tips.

Debate over psychedelic therapy returns to Missouri General AssemblyMissouri Independent, by Rebecca Rivas; 1/30/24Republican lawmakers are once again pushing legislation that would require Missouri to conduct a clinical study on using psilocybin, more commonly referred to  as “magic mushrooms,” to treat depression, substance use or as part end-of-life care. 

What happens to the pets of local hospice patients?InterReviewed, by Mercedez Hernandez; 2/1/24Nonprofit organizations dedicated to finding homes for animals say there is a great need for these services when a pet owner is experiencing their final moments in hospice care. Kerrvile Pets Alive recently rescued Gracie, a 9-year-old tabby cat whose owner was about to die in hospice. Karen Guerriero, president of the nonprofit’s board of directors, said the agency works directly with Peterson Health Hospice in Kerrville to accommodate pets when requested, as in Gracie’s case.

Lee County belt tightening means a reduction in hospice careWIUM Trstates Public Radio, by Will Buss; 2/1/24Lee County Supervisors are looking for ways to reduce spending. As a result, the health department is scaling back the level of hospice care it provides terminally ill residents. Administrator Michele Ross said the department has pushed to retain hospice service but will refer more residents to private providers.

Medical records specialists reach higher ground in healthcareAAPC News, by Michelle Dick; 2/1/24AAPC's 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report reveals that, as unemployement rates slide down, salaries climb to new heights. ... AAPC’s 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report shows the largest year-to-year salary increases across the board in the history of the Salary Survey. 

Electronic visit verification will become industry standard in the near future, expert predictsMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 2/2/24As state Medicaid programs’ adoption of electronic visit verification (EVV) continues to grow, the technology is poised to become the norm for all of home-based care, a marketplace executive says. “For the first time in the history of this industry, you have real-time access to the caregiver in the home,” noted Stephen Vaccaro, president of home care software firm HHAeXchange, in an interview with McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “States are now starting to look at this and say, ‘What’s next?’”

A pathophysiological approach for selecting medications to treat nociceptive and neuropathic pain in servicemembersMil Med, by Khan Thi Nguyen, Daniel W Beauchamp, Reginald B O'Hara; 1/31/24The prevalence of chronic pain of service members (SMs) in the U.S. is estimated to be higher (roughly 31-44%) compared to that of civilian population (26%). This higher prevalence is likely due to the high physical demands related combat and training injuries that are not immediately resolved and worsen over time. Mental Health America reports that chronic pain can lead to other mental health conditions such as severe anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cancer facts & figures 2024American Cancer Society; 2024Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 is an educational companion for Cancer Statistics 2024, a scientific paper published in the American Cancer Society journal, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. These annual reports provide:

Palliative care use trends, racial/ethnic disparities, and overall survival differences among patients with metastatic breast cancerJ Palliat Med, by Jincong Q Freeman, Olasubomi J Omoleye, Fangyuan Zhao, Dezheng Huo; 2/1/24Conclusions: Palliative care utilization among MBC [Metastatic Breast Cancer] patients significantly increased but remained suboptimal. Racial/ethnic minority patients were less likely to use palliative care, and Black patients had worse survival, than White patients, suggesting the need for improving palliative care access and ameliorating disparities in MBC patients.