Literature Review
Home Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings
03/14/24 at 03:00 AMHome Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 3/12/24 The pricing increases in home care have again outpaced other long-term care sectors, according to Genworth’s annual cost of care report.
Few hospitals follow recommended practices for evidence-based suicide care
03/14/24 at 03:00 AMFew hospitals follow recommended practices for evidence-based suicide care Pew, by Farzana Akkas; 3/12/24 In 2022, suicide claimed the lives of an estimated 49,449 people in the United States. ... Research has shown that almost half of those who die by suicide interact with the health care system within four weeks of their deaths. And those who are hospitalized for suicide risk face an elevated risk of dying by suicide post-discharge, making this a critical time for these patients to have access to resources, support, and care that can keep them safe in the event of a suicidal crisis. But new research shows that only 8% of hospitals in the U.S. have instituted all the key components of evidence-based, best-practice interventions to help at-risk patients who are discharged after receiving care. In fact, more than 1 in 4 are not conducting any of these interventions.
[ALS] Controlling what can be controlled: Palliative Care
03/14/24 at 03:00 AM[ALS] Controlling what can be controlled: Palliative Care ALS Association [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease]; 3/13/24 “Palliative care specialists can help people determine and define what are the ‘everyday things’ that matter to them. Some people may already know what these are but may not have had an opportunity to share this information with their health care team,” Dr. Mehta says. “Others may not know they can share this with their health care team. They may not know where to find help with these ‘everyday things.’ [Dr. Ambereen K. Mehta, MD, MPH, FAAHPM, associate professor of palliative care in the Departments of Medicine and Neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine]Editor's Note: Are your palliative care services connected with your local ALS Association? This page on the ALS website describes beautifully the benefits of palliative care as soon as the diagnosis occurs.
Today's Encouragement: Change the way ...
03/14/24 at 03:00 AMChange the way you look at things and the things you look at change. ― Wayne W. Dyer
'It's been really inspiring': Grace House continues end-of-life care despite challenges
03/14/24 at 03:00 AM'It's been really inspiring': Grace House continues end-of-life care despite challenges Akron Beacon Journal, by Kelsie Horner; 3/13/24Through a flood and financial challenges, an Akron nonprofit has continued to provide end-of-life care and companionship for people who might otherwise die alone. Since opening its doors 1½ years ago, Grace House has cared for 66 residents during their final days. ... Grace House is one of only three organizations in the nation to provide free, “non-barrier” end-of-life care for people who are unhoused or alone.
[Updated] Inefficient, unfair audits continue to burden hospices, new survey report finds
03/14/24 at 02:15 AM[Updated] Inefficient, unfair audits continue to burden hospices, new survey report findsMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/12/24Clunky audit processes have long strained hospice providers’ time and money, and though regulators have made some improvements, many agencies still report glaring issues with investigations, according to a new report released Tuesday by four major hospice organizations. ... Many audits have failed to meet their expressed purpose: Reining in noncompliance. ...
Nearly 53% of hospices undergo multiple audits simultaneously
03/14/24 at 02:05 AMNearly 53% of hospices undergo multiple audits simultaneouslyHospice News, by Jim Parker; 3/12/24Program integrity and an onslaught of audits are top of mind for many hospice providers in 2024. The nation’s four largest hospice industry organizations — LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) — in late 2023 conducted a 133-respondent provider survey focused on regulation. ... About 52.9% reported having multiple audits, each of a different type, within six months of one another, and 31% said they were required to submit the same charts for each of these audits.
CMS Statement on continued action to respond to the cyberattack on change healthcare
03/14/24 at 02:00 AMCMS Statement on continued action to respond to the cyberattack on change healthcareCMS.gov Press Release; 3/9/24 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing to monitor and assess the impact that the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Change Healthcare has had on all provider and supplier types. Today, CMS is announcing that, in addition to considering applications for accelerated payments for Medicare Part A providers, we will also be considering applications for advance payments for Part B suppliers.
CMS hears you, hospice providers
03/14/24 at 02:00 AMCMS hears you, hospice providersMcKnights Home Care, by Liza Berger; 3/8/24 Rarely does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services succeed in shocking us. The large bureaucracy, which is not exactly known for its nimbleness, managed to do so this week when it abruptly cancelled the hospice component of the Value-Based Insurance Design Model. ... For those who wonder whether advocacy works, I’d chalk this up to a win for providers — and a clear example of advocacy in action.
Vitas To Buy Hospice Assets of Covenant Care in Florida and Alabama
03/14/24 at 01:00 AMChemed's Vitas Healthcare plans $85M acquisition to expand Florida footprint
New book addresses prolonged grief disorder diagnosis and treatment
03/13/24 at 03:30 AMNew book addresses prolonged grief disorder diagnosis and treatmentHospice Foundation of America, press release 2/26/24Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) today announced the publication of Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder, written and edited by some of the nation’s leading grief experts and healthcare professionals. Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a new diagnosis in the most recent version of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.) Inclusion of PGD validates the occurrence of a disorder characterized by the persistence of pervasive, intense grief. With the possible exception of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this is the first time a loss-related condition has been identified as a diagnosable condition.
NH End of Life Act to allow medical aid in dying moves closer to passage
03/13/24 at 03:15 AMNH End of Life Act to allow medical aid in dying moves closer to passage Gannett / Aol., by Margie Cullen, Portsmouth Herald; 3/8/24 The End of Life Options Act, which would allow terminally ill people in New Hampshire to choose to receive medical aid in dying, gained its first victory in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Both Republicans and Democrats voted in favor of House Bill 1283, sending it to the full House of Representatives with a recommendation to pass, 13-7.
Hospice of the Valley offering services in Tucson
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMHospice of the Valley offering services in TucsonTucson.com, by Debbie Shumway, Executive Director of Hospice of the Valley; 3/4/24We are honored to share that Hospice of the Valley is now serving patients and families in Tucson. Our nonprofit agency was founded by a group of volunteers in 1977 and our mission has never wavered: Bringing comfort, dignity and compassionate care to our community.
Aid in dying or physician-assisted suicide? As Minn. lawmakers weigh bill, advocates and opponents choose different terms
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMAid in dying or physician-assisted suicide? As Minn. lawmakers weigh bill, advocates and opponents choose different terms ArcaMax / Pioneer Press, by Alex Derosier; 3/10/24... “Medical aid in dying” or “physician-assisted suicide” is an emotional issue for many, with a January [Minnesota] House hearing on the bill drawing an audience of hundreds on either side. Lawmakers heard hours of testimony from cancer patients with only months to live, and families of people who suffered painful deaths from disease. There also were people concerned legal elective death could eventually become an option for people with disabilities and negatively affect care. But it isn’t just a debate on medical ethics. There’s also an ongoing discussion in medicine, academia, journalism and law over what society should call the practice.
Today's Encouragement: A single sunbeam ...
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMA single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. - Francis of Assisi
ACC updates HFrEF Decision Pathway, reinforcing the Four Pillars of Therapy
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMACC updates HFrEF Decision Pathway, reinforcing the Four Pillars of Therapy
Facing dementia: clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMFacing dementia: clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives EurekAlert!, by The Hastings Center; 3/11/24A new Hastings Center special report considers how America’s aging society responds to the needs and concerns of people facing dementia. ... Three essays reconsider familiar ways of thinking and talking about decision-making and care concerning people nearing the end of life to better reflect the needs and concerns of people facing dementia. For example, “Too Soon or Too Late: Rethinking the Significance of Six Months When Dementia Is a Primary Diagnosis” takes a critical look at the “six-month rule.”
Spiritual care key to addressing disparities among underserved black communities
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMSpiritual care key to addressing disparities among underserved black communities Hospice News, by Holly Vossel; 3/11/24Spiritual hospice care providers are an important link to building bridges of access and trust among underserved African American populations. ... Having a historical context of understanding around the faith-based barriers among African American populations is a significant part of improving utilization, according to Wayman Scott, associate director of diversity, equity, inclusion and community relations at Maryland-based Gilchrist. Scott also has a background in hospice chaplaincy and serves as chair of the diversity committee at the Hospice & Palliative Network of Maryland.
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center recognizes Certified Nurses Day
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMCooperman Barnabas Medical Center recognizes Certified Nurses DayRWJ Barnabas Health Blog; 3/11/24In honor of Certified Nurses Day, March 19, 2024, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC) acknowledges the 500 members of our Magnet-recognized nursing staff who have achieved and maintained national board certification during 2023 in their nursing specialty. Editor's Note: Congratulations to these certified nurses and to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for honoring them in such visible, meaningful way! For your organization, though time is short, what can you doto honor your certified nurses?
Whistleblower cases on the rise nationwide; Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank laws open door for more to speak out
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMWhistleblower cases on the rise nationwide; Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank laws open door for more to speak out PressReader, Herald-Tribune; by Esteban Parra and Xerxes Wilson; 3/10/24A former medical director specializing in neurosurgery at southern Delaware's largest health care provider claims in a lawsuit that Bayhealth Medical Center misclassified "brain-dead" patients in order to overbill for services.
Certified Nurses Day is March 19, 2024
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMCertified Nurses Day is March 19, 2024
NHPCO and We Honor Veterans welcome CMS clarification regarding Medicare Hospice Benefit for dually eligible veterans
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMNHPCO and We Honor Veterans welcome CMS clarification regarding Medicare Hospice Benefit for dually eligible veterans NHPCO Press Release; 3/11/24 The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its We Honor Veterans (WHV) program responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) clarification on concurrent care eligibility for Veteran beneficiaries. Under Change Request 13523 issued by CMS on February 22, 2024, the Medicare Benefit Manual is updated to clarify that a Veteran beneficiary who elects hospice services under the Medicare benefit may still receive services that are not included on the hospice plan of care and are furnished and paid under the beneficiary’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, in addition to hospice services.
Healthcare technology regulatory update - March 2024
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMHealthcare technology regulatory update - March 2024 JD Supra, by Justin Chavez and Vimala Devassy; 3/8/24Federal and state agencies are actively proposing and enacting health technology-related legislation and regulations.
What deathbed visions teach us about living
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMWhat deathbed visions teach us about livingDNYUZ; 3/12/24Chris Kerr was 12 when he first observed a deathbed vision. His memory of that summer in 1974 is blurred, but not the sense of mystery he felt at the bedside of his dying father. ... It would be more than 40 years before Kerr felt compelled to speak about that evening in the hospital room. He had followed his father, and three generations before him, into medicine and was working at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, where he was the chief medical officer and conducted research on end-of-life visions.
Oncology hospitalists improve hospice transitions for patients with advanced cancers
03/13/24 at 03:00 AMOncology hospitalists improve hospice transitions for patients with advanced cancers Yale School of Medicine, by Osman Moneer; 3/11/24Unplanned hospitalizations for patients with advanced cancer often trigger discussions about care goals and transitions to hospice. Late referrals to hospice, particularly near the end of life, have been associated with reduced quality of life and increased healthcare costs. A new research study published in Cancer investigates the impact of oncology hospitalists on the timing of hospice transitions for patients with advanced cancers.