Literature Review

Tower Health laid off 30 people on TuesdayPhiladelphia InquirerDecember 6, 2023Tower Health laid off 30 people on Tuesday, citing efforts to streamline operations at the nonprofit health system based in Berks County. Not included in that total were an unspecified number of people in Tower’s information technology department, whose jobs were moved to an outside vendor. “Although Tower Health’s financial position has improved, we still face challenges and are working hard collectively as an organization to improve performance,” Tower said in a statement. 

CMS’ New Transparency Rule Can Help ‘Weed Out a Few Bad Actors’ but Won’t Impact Deals Much, Other Factors at PlaySkilled Nursing NewsDecember 6, 2023Nursing home ownership changes have largely been embraced by the industry and will have little impact on deal activity, with the new transparency rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services having very little impact on the sector. Instead, the new rule will force nursing homes to report ownership details during critical junctures like Medicare or Medicaid applications and recertification, according to executive managing director of VIUM Capital, Steven W. Kennedy. And if anything, the new transparency rule will eliminate any bad actors on the real estate and operating side because these might cause them “discomfort,” and that’s certainly better for the industry, he said. “Every industry no matter where you are has some bad actors,” he said. “I think in general, skilled nursing has very few bad apples, but if they’re out there, this can help weed them out.” 

Here’s why you can’t die peacefully in Oklahoma.By Abby RemmingThe OklahomanDecember 6, 2023... Having Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan would cover hospice, but many people have private insurance from work or state Medicaid plans. Private insurance and Medicaid Advantage plans at times can have a hospice benefit but limit which companies can be used. Applying for Medicare will ensure you are covered for hospice. ... I currently work as a hospital social worker and assist many people who need hospice. Many times, I have had to share with patients and their families that, while they may be ready to peacefully pass away, hospice coverage is not included in the patient’s current insurance plan. Providing end-of-life care is extremely difficult without the added burden of worrying whether insurance will cover the benefit. Those without the benefit and who need the service are then reliant upon the generosity of the companies to absorb the cost. If the Medicaid Advantage plan is picked, a person would need to decide if they wanted the benefit to either cover nursing home care or in-home hospice care. A Medicaid Advantage plan might not cover hospice even when the policyholder believes they have the benefit. 

Rosalynn Carter advocated for caregivers before the term was widely used. I’m so grateful.By Mitul DesaiUSA TodayDecember 6, 2023It started with a story. When asked about her lifelong commitment to improving mental health services and support for caregivers, former first lady Rosalynn Carter would share her experience on the campaign trail: Exhausted caregivers urgently reaching to grab her hand. Families pleading for resources. Americans bravely sharing their stories of hurdles and heartache. From these anecdotes emerge a legacy marked by courage and compassion. A woman ahead of her time, fighting for caregivers before the term was even widely used. ... I fiscovered the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers as a vibrant resource in an otherwise desolate landscape of caregiver support. I participated in a series of workshops that RCI facilitated aimed at helping streamline the diverse experiences of caregiving into nine distinct stages. Our hope is that this new approach—which moves beyond diagnosis-driven categorization to focus instead on the types of support needed at each phase of the experience—will inform policy and practice for health practitioners, employers, policymakers and organizations serving caregiver needs.

More people with dementia opting to age in place over senior livingMcKnight’s Senior LivingDecember 7, 2023People living with dementia are more likely to choose aging in place over an assisted living or a continuing care retirement community, according to a new study. A research letter in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that over the last two decades, a variety of factors have shifted where people with dementia live, including family caregiver availability, declining marriage and birth rates, alternative residential care arrangements, Medicaid expansion of home- and community-based services and the long-term care workforce crisis. Researchers said their study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic noticeably altered living arrangements for individuals living with dementia, increasing the number of those opting to age in place. ... What concerned researchers was increasing functional impairment and levels of unmet needs among those living alone or in a residential care setting, including assisted living and CCRCs, “given the limited regulatory oversight and lack of uniformity in services available in these settings.”

Palliative Care News’ Top 5 Stories of 2023Palliative Care NewsDecember 6, 2023A look back at Palliative Care News’ five most-read stories this year paints a picture of trends shaping the serious illness care space. Securing reimbursement—and the promise of value-based contracts—continues to be top of mind for many palliative care providers as they look ahead to 2024. Operators have their eyes on the ever-shifting payment landscape and the headwinds and opportunities that come with it. Meanwhile, more providers are increasingly working to address health disparities among underserved populations in various settings, including prisons and rural areas, among others. But in the midst of this, workforce shortages and clinical capacity issues remain obstacles to palliative care access. The following are the most-read Palliative Care News articles of 2023.

CVS to start rebranding its healthcare services segment this yearMcKnight’s Home Care DailyDecember 6, 2023CVS disclosed Tuesday that it will begin to roll out its newly rebranded healthcare services segment this month. The new brand, called CVS Healthspire, includes CVS’ suite of care delivery businesses: Caremark, Cordavis, Oak Street Health, MinuteClinic and the company’s home care entity Signify Health.  ... Evidence of the rebrand will soon be visible, according to the company; the five businesses within Healthspire will soon incorporate “Part of CVS Healthspire” to their assets.

Home Care Company Best of Care Acquires Barton’s AngelsHome Health Care NewsDecember 6, 2023The home care provider Best of Care is expanding its portfolio once again, this time on its 43rd anniversary. On Wednesday, the company announced that it had acquired Barton’s Angels, also a home care provider. ... “Barton’s Angels was attractive to us because of its reputation, its legacy, its leadership and the overlapping business they had in the form of shared contracts and referral sources,” Best of Care CEO Kevin Smith told Home Health Care News. ... Best of Care also works with both Medicaid and private-pay clients. Based in Quincy, Massachusetts, the company provides services via its 450 caregivers to over 1,500 clients across all of Massachusetts. ... For Best of Care, the goal is to be close to a one-stop shop for seniors navigating the aging process.

The Medicare Gold Rush Is Slowing DownWall Street JournalDecember 6, 2023The popularity of private Medicare plans has been a huge driver of profits for insurance companies in recent years. There are signs the gold rush isn’t quite what it once was. ... The most immediate red flag came from the industry leader, UnitedHealth. During an investor day last week, it predicted its Medicare Advantage enrollment would grow by 450,000 to 550,000 seniors in 2024. That translates to around 5% growth next year, a significant slowdown from the 11% it grew so far this year, according to TD Cowen analyst Gary Taylor. As UnitedHealth executives were presenting in New York, The Wall Street Journal reported that the second-largest Medicare plan provider, Humana, was in merger talks with Cigna. While Cigna’s interest in Humana surely attests to insurers’ continued desire to expand into the Medicare market, some investors took it as a sign that Humana isn’t so sure about the strength of the business going forward. 

Mary Washington Hospice’s Sixth Annual Light Up a Life Raises Over $34,000News ReleaseDecember 4, 2023Fredericksburg, VA—Mary Washington Hospice hosted its sixth annual Light Up a Life Illumination event on November 9, 2023. This special event allowed community members to purchase luminaries in their loved ones’ memory. Over 350 individuals were honored, and their names were read aloud by the hospice team during an intimate program in the Meditation Garden at Mary Washington Hospital. The proceeds from Light Up a Life benefit Mary Washington Hospice, Grief Support Services, and Mary Washington Hospital Auxiliary. 

Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Light Up a Life Ceremony Honors Lost Loved Ones During Holiday SeasonSanta Barbara (CA) NoozhawkDecember 6, 2023Montecito, CA—Hospice of Santa Barbara brought people together Wednesday evening for its 40th annual Light Up a Life ceremony in Montecito to honor loved ones who have passed away. Each year, Hospice of Santa Barbara holds this event in locations throughout the South Coast, where people can purchase paper stars to hang on the community Christmas tree and dedicate them to family or friends who have died. ... “One of the reasons we come here every season is because we want to be able to look around and know that we are not alone in our grief, in our love and care and remembrance of those we’ve lost,” the Rev. Julia Hamilton said. ... Hospice of Santa Barbara also has a Virtual Tree of Remembrancene where people can dedicate a digital star and upload photos and messages for their loved ones.

OIG Report - Louisiana Nursing Home Background ChecksPress Release 12/6/23.Louisiana should improve its oversight of nursing homes' compliance with requirements that prohibit employment of individuals with disqualifying background checks.

Circle of Life Hospice announces major donation for Hospice House ProjectKOLO-TV (Reno, NV)December 5, 2023Eno, NV—Circle of Life Hospice Foundation is excited to announce an individual has donated a house and additional land to the Hospice House Project. The plan for this project is to create a community-based social model for end-of-life care that is provided in a “home-away-from-home” environment for individuals who are unable to die in their own home. Resident care is provided by a combination of family members, volunteers and paid caregivers in collaboration with the many medical-hospice providers in the Reno area.