Literature Review

What you need to know about the HOPE Tool HomeCare; by Jennifer Kennedy and Kimberly Skehan; 2/10/25 The Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) assessment tool is scheduled to be implemented Oct. 1, 2025, meaning the clock is ticking for hospice providers to complete internal preparations. Providers can collect and submit hospice item set (HIS) data until Sept. 30, 2025, after which only HOPE data will be accepted for all patients admitted or discharged on or after Oct. 1, 2025. The HOPE tool is a standardized interdisciplinary assessment that aims to meet these goals from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): [click here for goals] ... CMS said it is important for providers to ensure their documentation software vendor maintains CoP content while building their HOPE content. The HOPE tool will replace the HIS content, but the core of the HIS data items will be captured in the HOPE tool. Additionally, CMS posted a change table that compares the HIS and HOPE data elements.

How the DOJ-UnitedHealth Group lawsuit could change hospice M&A Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 2/11/25 A U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) victory in its lawsuit to block UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) acquisition of Amedisys is unlikely to have a cooling effect on hospice M&A, according to some experts. The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum in June 2023 agreed to acquire Amedisys in a $3.3 billion deal. Optum in February 2023 also acquired the home health and hospice provider LHC Group for $5.4 billion. DOJ in December 2024 filed the lawsuit to kill the deal. The state attorneys general of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York are also plaintiffs in the suit. ... DOJ’s chief concern is that the combination of the two companies would dampen competition in the hospice and home health space. Should the transaction proceed, Optum would control 30% or more of the home health or hospice services in eight states, according to the Justice Department’s complaint.

UF Health realigns into 3 regions, names new leaders Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Madeline Ashley; 2/6/25 Gainesville, Fla.-based UF Health has realigned into three geographical areas in Florida and reworked its leadership to help manage patient care programs, services and facility growth. The regions are Northeast Florida, Central Florida and Greater Gainesville, according to a Feb. 6 news release. [Click on the title's link for the following Senior Vice President / Regional President updates:] 

Wilton’sTurnover Shop surpasses historic milestone — $1 million in donations to Visiting Nurse & Hospice  Good Morning Wilton, Wilton, CN; by Reader Contributed to GMW; 2/7/25 A legacy of generosity has reached a historic milestone — the Turnover Shop of Wilton has surpassed $1 million in lifetime donations to Waveny LifeCare Network’s Visiting Nurse and Hospice. This extraordinary achievement, 80 years in the making, continues to fuel the Network’s Patient Care Fund, ensuring that home care and hospice services remain accessible to those in need, regardless of financial circumstances. “This milestone is a powerful testament to the impact of community-driven generosity,” Homecare at Waveny Vice President Carol Smith said. ... As two deeply rooted nonprofit organizations, Waveny’s Visiting Nurse & Hospice and the Turnover Shop share a mission of service, dedication and heartfelt support for their community. 

100 Women Who Care present $10,325 to CHI Health at Home Hospice Morrison County Record, Coon Rapids, MN; 2/10/25 CHI Health at Home Hospice of Little Falls, MN is proud to announce and celebrate being one of the selected nonprofits from Morrison County 100 Women Who Care to receive the donation of $10,325.00. “Many of our Hospice services are not covered by insurance including the healing touch by our massage therapist and the beautiful music from our music therapist. We are thrilled to have received these funds from 100 Women Who Care to continue to provide very unique services to our Hospice clients.” – Michele Halvorsen; Director of CHI Health at Home Hospice.

AdventHealth's AI chief aims to cut through the 'uncertainty' of AI in healthcare Becker's Hospital Review; by Naomi Diaz; 2/5/25 AdventHealth, based in Altamonte Springs, Fla., has appointed Rob Purinton as its first chief artificial intelligence officer, a newly created role aimed at reducing uncertainty around AI while guiding the health system's overall strategy for using the technology. "We think there's some uncertainty in the future with AI and healthcare, and so my job is to take some of that uncertainty out," Mr. Purinton told Becker's. "The future could be bright and productive and rosy and a really great experience for consumers and clinicians, or it could be the opposite of that. ..."

Best Nurse Practitioner (NP) career and salaries in 2025 AllNurses; by Erin Lee, BSN, RN; 2/7/25 ... Over the years, the scope of practice for NPs has significantly expanded, enabling them to specialize in various healthcare fields and cater to diverse patient populations. NPs now play a vital role in meeting primary care needs and delivering specialized care across a wide range of specialties. Regardless of the chosen specialty, all NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have obtained their master's degree or doctorate in nursing practice, passed a board certification exam, and obtained state licensure to practice. ... The level of autonomy and responsibility NPs have in their professional roles is influenced by state regulations on the scope of practice. Although some states allow NPs to work independently, others require them to be supervised by a healthcare provider or MD. To determine which NP job suits your career goals, it's imperative to understand your state's scope of practice regulations and the responsibilities of the NP specialty you plan to pursue. ..  [Click here for extensive data] from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report that shows NPs' annual salaries for 2025. 

Chesapeake Life Center offers healing for those experiencing loss after DCA tragedy Southern Maryland News Net, Chesapeake, MD; 2/10/25 The Chesapeake Life Center will offer “Healing Our Community: Navigating Grief in the Aftermath of the DCA Tragedy” to support those affected by the Jan. 29 tragedy at Reagan National Airport. Chesapeake Life Center’s trauma-informed grief counselors will lead this healing workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Hospice of the Chesapeake’s center at 2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, Maryland. The session offers a supportive space for community members to connect with others who share in their loss. Together, they can learn about grief and healthy coping strategies, participate in activities to express and process emotions and create a remembrance keepsake. Adults will meet separately from the children and teens to ensure age-appropriate conversations. 

Access tops list of Americans' healthcare concerns: 4 survey findings Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Erica Carbajal; 2/5/25A quarter of Americans rank healthcare access and affordability as the top public health priority they want government leaders to focus on, according to poll findings from Gallup and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. ... Four key findings:

[Germany] Green hospice snails: Dresden bakeries support incurable children Archynewsy; 1/10/25 In Dresden, Germany, a heartwarming campaign is uniting bakeries and communities to support families facing the challenges of life-limiting illnesses in their children. Every February 10th, known as the "Day of Work for the Hospice for Children," participating bakeries offer delectable "green" treats, with a portion of their proceeds contributing to the invaluable work done by local children’s hospices. ... This campaign transcends mere fundraising; it acts as a powerful platform to shed light on the often-overlooked needs of families navigating the complex journey of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness.

What we talk about, or not, when talking about death Enumclaw Courier-Herald; by Wire Service; 2/9/25 Death is a guarantee for everyone, so why do people shy away from talking about it and using words like death and dying? ... As a death doula and grief coach, Kathleen Putnam hopes that providing care to those who are grieving can help change the language surrounding death. ... Putnam explains that in present society, people want to avoid grief and pain. With medical advancements and industries and marketing systems focusing on keeping people alive, the rhetoric surrounding dying has become negative. Putnam also pointed out that instead of using phrases like “they died” or “they’re dying,” other phrases like “pass away” and “they went to sleep” have become popular when talking about a loss.

UnitedHealth Group withdraws motion to dismiss antitrust challenge Competition Policy International; by CPI; 2/8/25 UnitedHealth Group has withdrawn its motion to dismiss the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit challenging its proposed acquisition of Amedisys, a home care and hospice provider. According to the , the healthcare giant stated that new information provided by the government in late January rendered its initial motion moot. ... On January 29, the Justice Department responded to the motion by filing a list of 381 service areas where it alleged the acquisition would negatively impact competition. UnitedHealth Group, in its latest filing, acknowledged that this submission “finally identified” the locations in question, leading the company to withdraw its motion.

Montana bill to outlaw physician-assisted death clears Senate Ravalli Republic; by Carly Graf; 2/7/25 The proposal would prohibit a health care provider from prescribing life-ending drugs at the request of a terminally ill patient. That ability currently exists largely due to a legal loophole. [Article is behind a paywall.]