Literature Review

‘We did it!’: West Penn nurses celebrate their new contract Pittsburgh Union Press, Pittsburgh, PA; by Steve Mellon; 9/12/24 Before Joanne Germanos had a chance to approach a podium to make her announcement, someone in the crowd called out, “We did it!” ... What Germanos and her fellow union nurses at West Penn did was win a new contract that raises pay and addresses staffing and burnout issues that the nurses say have been pushing experienced nurses out of the profession. Ninety percent of the hospital’s union nurses voted to approve the contract Wednesday. Under the three-year deal, pay for nurses will rise an average of 24%, with some seeing increases as high as 35%. By contract’s end, all nurses will make at least $40 an hour; nurses with 20 years of experience will make at least $50 an hour. ... Pay, however, isn’t the only issue. At rallies, union nurses have called on hospital administrators to address staffing and scheduling problems that can affect patient care and cause nurse burnout. They took those concerns to the bargaining table and, on Thursday, said they were thrilled with the outcome.

More home health providers sunset relationships with largest Medicare Advantage players Home Health Care News; by Andrew Donlan; 9/13/24 Essentia Health--a regional nonprofit health system with a substantial home health arm--announced this week that it will no longer serve as an in-network provider for UnitedHealth Group. ... Dr. Cathy Cantor, Essentia’s chief medical officer for population health, said in a statement ... “The frequent denials and associated delays negatively impact our ability to provide the timely and appropriate care our patients deserve. This is the right thing to do for the people we are honored to serve.” Headquartered in Duluth [MN], Essentia Health provides care across Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Its network includes about 15,000 employees, 14 hospitals, 78 clinics, six long-term care facilities, six assisted living and independent living facilities, and much more. It also has a robust home health and hospice business. The company has informed patients that it will no longer serve as an in-network provider for the above-mentioned MA payers beginning Jan. 1. ... Sanford Health, a health system based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, announced a similar plan this week. 

Antitrust lessons for healthcare roll-ups – and everyone else Competition Policy International - CPI Columns US & Canada; by Lauren F. Dayton & Swara Saraiya; 9/12/24 ... The practice described in the U.S. Anesthesia Partners suit, known as a “roll-up,” is a common strategy employed by private equity firms through which smaller businesses in adjacent markets are acquired and consolidated. Large healthcare networks acquire smaller practices for similar reasons. That consolidation enables companies to build a greater presence, operate more efficiently, and can allow them to attract better talent. But that same consolidation can also create the risk of anticompetitive effects. The FTC’s suit is noteworthy because federal competition regulators have historically focused on the companies themselves, not their financial sponsors. The case is in step with statements by competition regulators about increased scrutiny of the healthcare industry, and of acquisitions by private equity firms, in particular. ...

Agape Care Group expands premier hospice services in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Georgia BusinessWire, Spartanburg, SC; 9/13/24 Agape Care Group, a portfolio company of Ridgemont Equity Partners and the premier provider of hospice and palliative care across nine states, has acquired select Crossroads Hospice locations in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Georgia. Crossroads Hospice will continue to operate in Tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania. ... Agape Care Group currently serves 5,000 patients in nine states and employs more than 2,000 team members. Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma locations will operate under the ACG Hospice brand, while the Georgia location will operate under the Georgia Hospice Care brand.

It pays to know: How to be an effective health care agent The Rafu Shimpo; by Judd Matsunaga, Esq; 9/12/24 Being asked to be someone’s health care agent is a special honor — it means the person is saying, “I trust you with my life.” That said, it’s also a huge responsibility. As a health care agent, you will be in charge of making healthcare decisions for your loved one when they can no longer make decisions for themselves. ... Advance care planning is a process. It’s not something that gets done all at once. To help you be an effective health care agent, here are some questions you can ask your loved one: (Source: www.mskcc.org, “How to Be a Health Care Agent”)

Simon Boas’ ‘inspirational’ book A Beginner’s Guide to Dying is published posthumously Jersey Evening Post; by Rod McLoughlin; 9/13/24 Friends and family of the late Simon Boas gathered ... to celebrate the posthumous publication of his book, A Beginner’s Guide to Dying. The former Jersey Overseas Aid chief executive – who died from throat cancer on 15 July at the age of 47 – spent his last months developing into a book ideas first explored in articles for the Jersey Evening Post. Described by the Daily Mail as “an inspirational paean to the joy of life”, Mr Boas’ words reached a huge audience after they were reprinted in the national press and broadcast on the BBC’s Today programme. A proportion of the proceeds are being donated to the African Palliative Care Association and the International Children’s Palliative Care Network. Mr Boas’ inspiring writings in the face of his terminal diagnosis saw him awarded the Bailiff’s Silver Medal in May. Shortly before his death, he also received a personal letter from the King and Queen ahead of their visit to Jersey.

Private equity acquisitions of hospices are increasing; Ownership remains opaqueHealth Affairs; by Melissa D. Aldridge, Lauren J. Hunt, Zelle Halloran, Krista L. Harrison; 9/24Private equity ownership across the US health care system is rapidly increasing, yet ownership structures are complex and opaque. We used an economic data set tracking mergers and acquisitions linked to Medicare data to identify private equity hospice acquisitions. Given the influence of for-profit ownership on hospice quality, transparent data on private equity investment are fundamental to ensuring high-quality end-of-life care.

The 'great disruption' coming for Medicare Advantage Becker's Payer Issues; by Jakob Emerson; 9/9/24 Come mid-October, the Medicare Advantage program will enter its annual enrollment period, marked by significant changes for older adults. Among these changes are increased government scrutiny, tighter CMS regulations, reduced base payments, and rising healthcare costs. ... "Taken together, some are calling these cuts 'the great disruption,'" wrote Sachin Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Group, a nonprofit MA carrier with more than 285,000 members, in a LinkedIn post on Sept. 4. Dr. Jain outlined five key observations about the evolving landscape:

Gilchrist and Hospice of Washington County join forces in landmark affiliation agreementGilchrist [MD] press release; 9/9/24Hospice of Washington County and Gilchrist, Maryland’s leading provider of geriatric, palliative, and hospice care, have announced an affiliation agreement. This partnership will unite two of Maryland’s oldest and most experienced nonprofit organizations, together with nearly 70 years of service to their communities.

Bittersweet bouquet: Hospice worker transforms her grief into a garden of memories ABC 13, Grand Rapids, MI; by Matt Gard; 9/5/24For the most part, Kaitlyn Dawson’s desk at the Emmanuel Hospice office is exactly what you’d expect it to be. On her left, she has office supplies, ... but it’s what’s on the wall over her left shoulder that really gives this workspace character. Inside three separate picture frames are hundreds of flowers. Kaitlyn was an art major at Grand Valley State University before she switched to social work, and she still has a passion for creativity. Every one of those flowers – whether red, purple or orange - was her creation. ... “These flowers represent patients that I have been able to be a part of their journey at end of life,” said Kaitlyn, who has worked in hospice for about four years. “I had one particular case that was really difficult, and I remember leaving that visit and thinking ‘I'm going to start doing this process in honor of her.’ And I went to the store and I bought pencils and a notebook and decided I was going to do flowers. It was easy. It was simple. It was something I could sit down and do in the evening, and if I lost a couple of people that day, I could draw a couple of flowers.” Before Kaitlyn knew it, she had a "bittersweet bouquet."

Leading the Way: Gilchrist and Franklin Hospice forces in landmark integration Franklin Hospice, Chambersburg, PA; by Karen M. Giffin; 9/9/24 Franklin Hospice and Gilchrist ... have announced an affiliation agreement. This partnership will unite two of Maryland’s oldest and most experienced nonprofit organizations, together with nearly 70 years of service to their communities. As the healthcare landscape continues to transform nationwide, this type of affiliation of two synergistic nonprofit organizations with similar missions, visions, and values will position both organizations for continued growth, innovation and financial strength. ... This strategic affiliation will strengthen their ability to offer compassionate care to more patients and families throughout Central and Southern Maryland, as well as Washington and Frederick Counties and South-Central Pennsylvania. Both organizations will retain their name and branding while offering a unified approach to care. 

NAHC and NHPCO unveil name, logo, and website for newly formed organizationPress Release; 9/5/24The National Alliance for Care at Home will combine the strengths of the two largest national organizations representing healthcare providers delivering care primarily in homes. The Alliance will provide unparalleled resources and representation to support the care-at-home community.