Literature Review

Mount Sinai establishes Steven S. Elbaum Family Center for Caregiving Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Press Release; 5/20/25 Mount Sinai announced that it will establish the Steven S. Elbaum Family Center for Caregiving, a groundbreaking initiative designed to improve how America's health care system recognizes and supports caregivers. Allison J. Applebaum, PhD, an expert in the psychological needs of caregivers and a Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, will lead the new Center. Dr. Applebaum joined Mount Sinai in early September from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she was the founding director of the Caregivers Clinic, an innovative program providing targeted psychosocial care to family caregivers of patients with cancer, from diagnosis through bereavement.  

Memorial Day Remembrance event Sand Mountain Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 5/23/25 The skies parted just enough to give Shepherd's Cove Hospice in Albertville perfect weather for their annual Memorial Day Remembrance event held on the front grounds. This yearly event is a time of solemn reflection and gratitude as they honor the lives of the veterans they had the privilege to serve over the pastt year. Stacy Johnson, Bereavement Director with Shepherd's Cove Hospice welcomed those in attendance to the event. ... The free event honored 73 veterans who were served in Hospice care at the facility. Along with the roll call of veterans, there was also a presentation of colors. Across the front lawn is also 73 white crosses bearing the names of each veteran. 

Veterans honored ahead of Memorial Day with picnic hosted by Hospice of Texarkana KSLA-TV 12, Shreveport, LA; by Fred Gamble; 5/17/25 Hospice of Texarkana held its third annual Veterans Appreciation Picnic Friday (May 16) honoring the service and sacrifice of area military veterans and their families. Organizers said with Memorial Day just around the corner, the event gave attendees a time to relax and connect with each other. 

Hospice volunteer donates 10,000 gift cards to cancer patients AZ Family - CBS-5, Phoenix, AZ; by Tianna Morimoto; 5/20/25 One Valley man has made a difference in times of need for those who may be losing hope by donating thousands of gift cards, and that’s Something Good. Jeff Lewis volunteers with Hospice of the Valley and was recently recognized for donating 10,000 grocery gift cards to help cancer patients in need. Jeff is a cancer survivor and has made it his mission to help those going through treatments with no family or support. He created a nonprofit called the Froth and Bubble Foundation. Every month, the foundation provides gift cards to more than 100 people in the Valley who are struggling financially. Often, these patients have to decide between paying for food, medicine or doctor bills, and these gift cards can help them with their bills or other necessities to survive. ... “These gift cards help families bridge the gap when they need food and are juggling bills and feeling stressed,” said Hospice of the Valley Executive Director Debbie Shumway. “He is a servant leader who quietly gives back and makes a huge difference, one person at a time.” Thank you, Jeff, for all you do to help others!

Navigating the Future: HOPE, Wage Index, and CMS Quality Measures Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN; podcast by Chris Comeaux with Annette Kiser and Judi Lund Person; 5/21/25 What happens when ancient philosophical questions about "the good life" collide with modern healthcare regulations?  In this compelling episode of TCNtalks, host Chris Comeaux welcomes Hospice leaders Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios, and Judi Lund Person, Principal, Lund Person & Associates LLC,  for a deep dive into the regulatory crossroads facing hospice providers. In this episode,  we discuss the FY 2026 Proposed Rule, which focused on implementing the HOPE initiative, and two RFIs (Requests for Information) that were part of it. 

[Australia] Overtreatment of older people near end of life: A qualitative scoping review of modalities, drivers, and solutionsOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Samantha Fien, Emily Plunkett, Daniel Wadsworth, Magnolia Cardona; 4/24This study aimed to understand the drivers better to help minimise further risks of overtreatment for older people near the end of life (dysthanasia). Determinants included healthcare system factors, patient-centered care, family and caregiver, and clinician perspectives. This review confirms that despite almost two decades of recognition of the potential harms of overtreatment near the end of life, society, patients, and health systems have a role to play in reducing and addressing the determinants. We offer a range of solutions for clinicians, health service managers, and members of the public to consider.

Proposed bill would require MA to pay for hospice care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/21/25 Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) has introduced the Medicare Advantage Reform Act, which among other provisions would require health plans to pay for hospice care. If enacted, the bill, numbered H.R. 3467, would make wholesale changes to the Medicare Advantage program. It would mandate capitated payment models, change risk adjustment methodologies and create new exemptions for physician self-referrals, among other provisions. The potential impacts of moving hospice into Medicare Advantage at this time would be “devastating,” according to the National Alliance for Care at Home. 

Home health use remains high among beneficiaries with dementia, study findsMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/19/25Medicare beneficiaries who have dementia increasingly are using home healthcare, according to a new study published Friday in JAMA Network Open... Home health utilization increased by roughly 17% among beneficiaries with dementia between 2010 and 2019 and decreased slightly between 2020 and 2022, the study found. Beneficiaries with dementia were also more likely to initiate home healthcare from community-dwelling settings, rather than from post-acute care settings.

A narrative review—Characterizing palliative care curriculum aimed at high school adolescents and young adultsIllness, Crisis and Loss; by Austin B. Elder; 4/25The aim of this narrative review is to explore the characteristics of palliative care curriculum developed for high school adolescent and young adults (AYAs). Characteristics including a variety of designs, methods, and strategies were all identified to have positive participation, feedback, and experiences from high school AYA being provided palliative care curriculum. Conclusions: The literature indicates that the use of subject matter experts within palliative care curriculum for high school students is a core characteristic in meeting the World Health Organizations recommendation to embed palliative care curriculum into public awareness strategies.

Sunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. ~Henry David Thoreau

The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude. ~Jeff Miller

Care transformation in palliative care: Leveraging a payor-provider partnership to fast-track growth of a palliative programJournal of Palliative Medicine; Emily Jaffe, Emily Hobart, Alexandra Aiello, Amber Shergill, Amanda Harpster-Hagen, Tyson S. Barrett; 5/25This study describes a unique partnership between an insurer and a provider to enhance the quality, availability, and access to palliative services. A retrospective cohort analysis of insurance claims data for patients receiving palliative care compared to a matched cohort not receiving palliative care services from 2019 through 2022. Outcomes demonstrated a total savings of $4,526,408 through reductions in costs for the treatment group compared to the control group for total cost of care ...., inpatient stays ($5,672 ... ) , outpatient visits ($229 ... ), professional claims ($1,243 ... ), and pharmacy fills ($17 ... ). The treatment group had lower skilled nursing facility ($1,049 ... ) and inpatient rehabilitation facility ($216 ... ) costs. The treatment group had higher rates of hospice care (83.7% in the treatment compared to 50.2% ... ) but had lower lengths of stay (four days compared to five ... ).Conclusions: Collaborative investment in a palliative program by a payor and provider system shows significant financial savings for an insurer when patients receive evidence-based palliative care near the end of life.