Literature Review

Congressional advisors grapple with Medicare Advantage data that reveals plenty on excess, but not much on accessMcKnight's Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/16/24Medicare Advantage risk scores continue to rise, inflating payments to the private plans that far exceed their actual costs, staff for a Congressional advisory commission warned members Friday. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses risk scores, based on patient demographics and their needs, to establish payments to plans during each bid season. 

Penn Medicine provides parents tools to grieve and heal after lossPenn Medicine News, by Kim Maialetti; 1/11/24Perinatal loss is not uncommon in the United States. According to the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, 30 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage and 21,000 babies are stillborn each year. Additionally, more than three of every 1,000 babies born die before 28 days of life and more than five of every 1,000 die before their first birthday.

US Senate launches investigation of assisted living after lay media reports about safety, staffing, pricingMcKnight's Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 1/17/24The US Senate Special Committee on Aging is launching a review of the assisted living industry following recent articles in the Washington Post, which reported on the deaths of residents who wandered from communities, as well as the New York Times and KFF, which scrutinized an industry pricing structure that adds fees on top of basic charges to cover additional services, as well as rate increases and the for-profit status of most providers.

Lions fan in hospice care dyes hair Honolulu Blue to support the teamABC 12 News WJRT, Saginaw Townshiop, MI, by Terry Camp; 1/17/24... Larry Benjamin, 83, has entered hospice care, but this Lions season and now the playoff win has given him a lot of joy. He wants everyone to get behind the Lions, and his show of support has gone viral.

Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about providing care for people with disabilitiesJ Palliat Med, by Dorothy W Tolchin, Claire Rushin, Ben Tolchin, Chloe Slocum, Jordana L Meyerson, Susan M Havercamp, Tamra Keeney, Andrea W Schwartz, Kristen Schaefer, Melissa Ross, Michael A Stein, Christopher A Jones, William E Rosa, Forrest A Brooks/ 1/17/24Palliative care (PC) clinicians are well poised to help people with disabilities (PWD) live well in the context of serious illness. PC prioritizes person-centered care with a focus on function, autonomy, and quality of life. This approach aligns with principles of high-quality care for PWD.Requires subscription Editor's Note: See 

What's the diagnosis of the problem for our hospice and palliative care movementTeleios Podcast, by Chris Comeaux and Ira Byock, MD; 1/17/24Dr. Ira Byock discusses the current state of the hospice industry and the need for major reforms. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging leaders' responsibility for the crisis in hospice care and apologizing for failures.  Then, the conversation moves toward solutions.

Hollywood's portrayal of cancer in movies fuels misconceptions, new study findsPR Newswire; 1/17/24... Researchers reviewed more than 100 films released between 2010-2020 and found several key findings about films' lasting impact on public perception of cancer treatment, prevention and care options. Key findings from the study include:

Scrutinize private equity's involvement in health care: Higher prices, worse outcomes don't serve patients or providersThe Boston Globe, by The Editorial Board; updated 1/17/24... Private equity is not necessarily a bad form of ownership. It is often used to make companies more efficient. But it creates pressure to obtain short-term returns, and the strategies that pull profits from health care companies may not serve patients.

Recognition program honors vetsCOEUR d'ALENE / Post Fall; 1/17/24The Coeur d'Alene Elks, in conjunction with Pappy Boyington Marine Corps League 966, recently donated $5,000 to the Veteran Recognition Program, run by Hospice of North Idaho.During the recognition ceremony, the veteran is presented with a plaque, a pin and certificate of appreciation for service to our country.

Local non-profit organizations receive over $424,000 in grant funding from Dignity HealthKEYT3, by Dave Alley; 1/16/24Dignity Health Central Coast handed out $424,496 in grant funding to nine community non-profit partnerships in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. ... Grief Awareness Treatment and Education Project (GRATE): The Community Counseling Center, Hospice of SLO County, and the Alzheimer’s Association of the Central Coast are partnering to address grief related behavioral health needs in our community (GRATE: Grief Awareness Treatment Education.) 

Acute hospital care at home data release fact sheetCMS.gov, Newsroom; 1/16/24A public release of the data submitted to CMS as part of the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative will be available beginning on January 16, 2024. CMS plans to release data through the Research and Data Assistance Center (ResDAC), collected from November 27, 2020, through March 30, 2023.

Social determinants of health play 'an important role' in end-of-life pain strategiesHealio, by Jennifer Byrne and Timothy M. Pawlik; 1/16/24Patients with gastrointestinal cancers face ongoing racial/ethnicity-based disparities in end-of-life pain management, specifically in terms of access to and utilization of opioids, study results showed.

Graham Healthcare Group receives top workplaces for 2023