Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News | Utilization.”
Groundbreaking ceremony for new hospice house in Derby
06/03/25 at 03:30 AMGroundbreaking ceremony for new hospice house in Derby CBS WCAX-3, Burlington/Derby, VT; by Hailey Morgan; 5/31/25 ... Marion Dehnke lost her husband Clint Stevens to cancer back in 2013. She says during that time, she was his caregiver, and he had to stay in a nursing home in a tiny room, with one other person. She said it made things very disruptive, and she didn’t get to spend the time she wanted with him, and she doesn’t want that for someone else. ... Community leaders, and members with the Newport Church of God invested in a solution called the Living Waters Hospice House. It is a two bedroom home dedicated to those in need in their final days. The project is worth a million dollars, and is funded entirely by donations. ... Construction for the home, started this past week, the groundbreaking ceremony was held on the church lawn Saturday.
Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System opens hospice cottage
06/03/25 at 03:00 AMSioux Falls VA Healthcare System opens hospice cottage Dakota News Now, Sioux Falls, SD; by Dakota News Now staff; 5/30/25 The Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System has cut the ribbon and opened the newest facility on its campus, a hospice cottage. The 10,000-foot facility with 10 beds is meant to give veterans and their families a high level of care and a peaceful environment that allows them to spend time together. The VA says the cottage is the perfect setting for end-of-life care for veterans, treating them with dignity. ... "We are here for the veterans, and we complete that circle. The time they gave, and now we’re giving back to them at the end of their life,” said Sioux Falls VA Hospice Nurse Manager Cami VanWyhe.
[United Kingdom] Hospice cuts 19 jobs to save £1.7m amid ‘worst financial crisis’ in its history
06/03/25 at 03:00 AM[United Kingdom] Hospice cuts 19 jobs to save £1.7m amid ‘worst financial crisis’ in its history LSE - The London School of Economics and Political Science; by Emily Moss; 5/29/25 A Yorkshire-based hospice charity has cut 19 jobs in the hope of reducing its annual costs by £1.7m as it faces what it has previously described as “the worst financial crisis” in its almost 40-year history. The Kirkwood, which provides palliative and end-of-life care for people living in and around Kirklees, West Yorkshire, said that an additional nine employees had agreed to reduce their hours or adjust their roles to enable the hospice to save money. The hospice opened its redundancy consultation in February. The initial plans placed 33 roles at risk of redundancy. At the time, the Kirkwood said it was facing the “worst financial crisis” in its history, citing a “perfect storm” of an increasing demand for hospice services versus rises in the prices of essential equipment, energy and food.Editor's note: This represents just one of many ongoing reports of financial crises, extreme fund-raising, closures and staff layoffs throughout the UK's hospices. Themes and patterns pair with trends we're seeing throughout the US.
US trends from 1999 to 2020: Mortality and location of deaths in ischemic stroke
06/03/25 at 02:00 AMUS trends from 1999 to 2020: Mortality and location of deaths in ischemic stroke Neurology Advisor; by Meghna Rao; 6/2/25 Patterns of ischemic stroke mortality have varied over the last 2 decades in the United States, according to study findings published in PLOS One. Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality in the US. Researchers studied the trends in location of ischemic stroke deaths to improve end-of-life care and address health care inequities.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database was used to examine trends in ischemic stroke mortality between 1999 and 2020.
OP-ED: How hospice care falls short for people living with dementia
06/02/25 at 03:15 AMOP-ED: How hospice care falls short for people living with dementia Being Patient - Alzheimer's News, Advice, Stories & Support; by Maria J. Silveira; 5/30/25Only 12 percent of Americans with dementia ever enroll in hospice. This may be due to how hospice is structured and paid for in the U.S., explains University of Michigan associate professor of internal medicine Maria J Silveira. ... In contrast to the former president [Jimmy Carter's extended hospice care], his wife, who had dementia, lived only nine days under hospice care. Palliative care physicians like myself who treat both conditions are not surprised at all by this disparity. ... Strikingly, only 12 percent of Americans with dementia ever enroll in hospice. Among those who do, one-third are near death. This is in stark contrast to the cancer population: Patients over 60 with cancer enroll in hospice 70 percent of the time.
Hard conversations, celebrations accompany AANHPI Heritage Month
06/02/25 at 02:15 AMHard conversations, celebrations accompany AANHPI Heritage Month Public News Service; by Roz Brown and Suzanne Potter; 5/30/25 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are a rapidly growing population in California and across the nation - but as they age, research indicates they're less likely to use hospice care or be familiar with end-of-life options. Nationwide, the group makes up about 6% of the population - and 15% in California - but like many minorities, they face greater health-care disparities. Ben de Guzman, director of the Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs in the Washington, D.C., mayor's office and the son of Filipino immigrants, said cultural beliefs can hinder conversations about death and dying, and language also is a barrier.
Hospitalists should champion hospice as ‘life with dignity’
05/30/25 at 03:00 AMHospitalists should champion hospice as ‘life with dignity’ Medscape; by Julie Peck; 5/29/25 If anyone can put a positive spin on the end of life, it’s Charles Vialotti, MD, director of Hospice Care at Holy Name Medical Center’s Villa Marie Claire in Bergen County, New Jersey. Violotti, who at the age of 80 lives at the 20-bed Villa Marie Claire to serve its residents full-time, says the hospice industry needs hospitalists’ help with sort of a rebrand, one that will almost certainly have a positive effect on patient and family satisfaction. “Providers used to stress offering people death with dignity. And if you think about that, who is ever going to choose anything that offers death? Death in any form is still death,” Vialotti said. “So, we really like to focus on offering people life with dignity, giving people back choice, giving them the option to structure their final days, weeks, or months the way they would most like to see it happen."
Remove barriers that restrict hospice care, Alliance offers in new report
05/30/25 at 02:00 AMRemove barriers that restrict hospice care, Alliance offers in new report McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/28/25 Hospice providers can boost quality and patient satisfaction with a focus on transparent, culturally sensitive communication with clients, according to a new report by the National Alliance for Care at Home. ... For the report, the Alliance surveyed 2,000 adults who either recently experienced the death of a loved one or have been involved in healthcare decisionmaking for a person with a serious illness. Respondents included individuals of a variety of ages, income levels, ethnicities and educational backgrounds. ... . For many seniors, one of the largest barriers to care is ineffective communication, the survey found. Language barriers are a significant hurdle for non-English speaking older adults, particularly those who are first generation immigrants, it noted. Many seniors are also less comfortable with technology-based communication than younger people, and prefer face-to-face conversation over text messages.
WHO unveils new guideline to improve global access to controlled medicines
05/29/25 at 03:00 AMWHO unveils new guideline to improve global access to controlled medicines World Health Organization; by Departmental update; 5/26/25 The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a rapid communication outlining its comprehensive new guideline on balanced national policies for controlled medicines. The guideline’s recommendations were officially presented during a high-level side event at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly on Friday 23 May 2025. It is designed to support countries in ensuring safe, equitable and affordable access to essential controlled medicines which are critical for treating acute and chronic pain, mental health conditions, substance use disorders and other serious health issues.
Addressing barriers in palliative care for rural and underserved communities
05/28/25 at 03:00 AMAddressing barriers in palliative care for rural and underserved communities American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book (ASCO); by Matthias Weiss, MD, PhD, Susan Sabo-Wagner, MSN, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, Julia Frydman, MD, MS, and C.S. Pramesh, MS, FRCS; 5/21/25 Thirty-two million Americans live in rural counties and have no access to multidisciplinary cancer care, and patients with cancer describe a greater number of unfavorable social determinants of health (SDoH), experience more serious financial hardship as well as greater symptom burden, and are more likely to die of cancer. Delivering effective symptom management may be achieved through adoption of a hub and spoke model, which connects rural community care sites with a cancer center. Modern technologies (electronic medical record and virtual telehealth), advanced practice provider care models, and engagement in symptom management clinical trials can extend more optimal care to connected rural sites. Pragmatic examples of addressing these care barriers include systematic and proactive assessment of SDoH, supported by navigation and social services, and telehealth-enabled palliative care (PC).
National Alliance for Care at Home publishes CONNECT to Care Report
05/28/25 at 03:00 AMNational Alliance for Care at Home publishes CONNECT to Care Report National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/27/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) published the results of new research conducted by Transcend Strategy Group exploring perceptions of hospice care among underserved communities. This research compiles findings from a series of surveys of 2,000 people and explores perceptions of hospice care among Black, Hispanic, Asian American, LGBTQ+, and rural communities. Using the CONNECT acronym – Communication, Outcomes, Network, Nurture, Engagement, Collaboration, and Transparency – the report aims to help providers support equitable, inclusive, and comprehensive access to care and is part of the Alliance’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to hospice and home care through knowledge sharing, data collection, and collaborative discussion. Along with key research findings, CONNECT to Care offers recommendations for hospice providers to help increase understanding of hospice care and help overcome barriers to access.
Dover Hospice celebrates ribbon-cutting ceremony
05/27/25 at 03:00 AMDover Hospice celebrates ribbon-cutting ceremony The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Glen Carbon, IL; by Karla Vasquesz Mejia; 5/25/25Dover Hospice in Glen Carbon had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on the afternoon of May 19. Employees of the new center at 2 Ginger Creek Village Drive in Glen Carbon were accompanied by the EdGlen Chamber of Commerce and family members of the employees. Executive Director Page Belongy said Dover Hospice, began in St. Louis two years ago after branching out from Cedarhurst Assisted Living.
When patients die: A myeloma specialist grieves
05/27/25 at 03:00 AMWhen patients die: A myeloma specialist grieves Medscape; by Manni Mohyuddin, MD; 5/28/25 ... We form such beautiful bonds with patients as we guide them through the highs and lows of treatment. And that is why I struggled so profoundly with the abrupt separation created by a transition of a patient to hospice. How can it be okay for me to be seeing a patient weekly (and sometimes more often) for such a long time and then suddenly never see them again after they transition to hospice? How can we just disappear from their lives at such a critical juncture? I understand that I may not have more chemotherapy to offer, but I at least can offer emotional support, validation, and my friendship. ...Editor's note: Continue reading this powerful commentary. Taking this further, do you have HIPAA compliant systems in place to notify the patient's oncologist or pre-hospice primary physician of the death?
Johnson champions Eddie's Law to bring dignity to end-of-life-care in Illinois
05/27/25 at 03:00 AMJohnson champions Eddie's Law to bring dignity to end-of-life-care in Illinois Public, Springfield, IL; News Release; 5/22/25 After an incarcerated man named Eddie Thomas died alone in a prison infirmary without receiving any end-of-life care, State Senator Adriane Johnson is championing legislation to bring dignity, compassion, and transparency to hospice and palliative care services in Illinois correctional facilities. "This bill is about basic human dignity," said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). "No one should die in pain, in isolation or without the comfort of care - no matter who they are or where they live. House Bill 2397 brings transparency to a system that too often leaves people to suffer silently." ... House Bill 2397 would require the Illinois Department of Corrections to prepare and publish an annual report detailing its hospice and palliative care programs. The bill aims to provide lawmakers with data that can guide future policy decisions on compassionate and medically appropriate end-of-life care for people incarcerated in Illinois.
Mom takes first picture with new baby, not knowing in weeks he'll be gone
05/27/25 at 02:15 AMMom takes first picture with new baby, not knowing in weeks he'll be gone Newsweek; by Daniella Gray; 5/24/25 A grieving mom has shared the first picture of herself with her newborn baby, not knowing she'd lose him just weeks later. Wunmi Babalola from the West Midlands in the UK, shared photos on TikTok looking at her baby in his hospital crib. In the same carousel on TikTok, Babalola also included the last photo the two of them would have together, just six and a half weeks later. ...
Hospice Buffalo begins $3.5M expansion at Cheektowaga campus
05/22/25 at 03:00 AMHospice Buffalo begins $3.5M expansion at Cheektowaga campus Buffalo Business First, Buffalo, NY; by Tracey Drury; 5/21/25 An end-of-life donation is funding an expansion at Hospice Buffalo's campus in Cheektowaga. Hospice Buffalo has begun a renovation at its Cheektowaga campus to create an education center. The Andrew J. & Mary Ann Dodges Center will include offices, conference rooms and educational space accessible through a dedicated entrance inside an existing 15,000-square-foot patient services building. The $3.5 million construction project includes renovating 6,000 square feet of underutilized space on the campus at 225 Como Park Blvd. Andrew Dodges, then 95, made a pledge of $6 million in 2023 to fund a center. Dodges was a Buffalo resident whose wife received services through the organization in the 1990s. A portion of the gift also funded the Andrew J. and Mary Ann Dodges fund to support hospice care for others in the community.
Iowa legislature passes "Mason's Law," with assistance from Children's Respite Homes of America, paving way for 1st Pediatric Palliative Care Center License in the nation
05/20/25 at 03:00 AMIowa legislature passes "Mason's Law," with assistance from Children's Respite Homes of America, paving way for 1st Pediatric Palliative Care Center License in the nation Cision PRWeb; by Children's Respite Homes of America; 5/16/25 Iowa has made history. With final approval from both chambers of the Iowa Legislature, "Mason's Law" (House File HF 933) has officially passed, making Iowa the first state poised to authorize a specialized Pediatric Palliative Care Center license. This landmark legislation now awaits the Governor's signature—anticipated before the end of June—and is set to transform how children with life-limiting conditions receive care in Iowa and beyond. Named in memory of Mason Sieck, a young child who passed away in 2021, Mason's Law represents the tireless advocacy of Mason's parents, Shanna and Curtis Sieck.
The evolution of hospice care
05/20/25 at 02:00 AMThe evolution of hospice care The Journal; by Dr. Sarah Phillips, Medical Director, Hospice of the Panhandle; 5/18/25 Historians believe that the first hospices originated in Malta around 1065, dedicated to caring for the ill and dying enroute to and from the Holy Land. The term “hospice” referred to places of shelter for travelers, particularly in medieval Europe. The moder hospice movement began to gain momentum in the 1960’s with Dame Cicely Saunders’s establishment of St. Christopher’s Hospice in London, which emphasized comfort and quality of life for patients and their families. This idea of specialized care for the dying was first introduced to the United States during a lecture at Yale University in 1963. In the early 1970’s the first national hearings on the subject of death with dignity were conducted by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. In 1978, the National Hospice Organization was established and the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare task force reports that “the hospice movement … is a viable concept and one which holds out a means of providing more humane care for Americans dying of terminal illness while possibly reducing costs. As such, it is the proper subject of federal support.” [Continue reading ...]
A proposal to remove hospice providers from a state review poses a threat to patient care
05/19/25 at 03:00 AMA proposal to remove hospice providers from a state review poses a threat to patient care The Boston Globe, Boston, MA; by Diana Franchitto; 5/16/25 The General Assembly should maintain rigorous standards and oppose rolling back Rhode Island’s Certificate of Need process, writes HopeHealth president and CEO. ... As the president and CEO of HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, I am proud that Rhode Island offers some of the highest-quality hospice care in the nation. But right now, legislation before the General Assembly could put that quality at risk.A proposal in Governor Dan McKee‘s fiscal 2026 budget would eliminate the requirement that hospice providers be scrutinized by Rhode Island’s Certificate of Need (CON) process. Some may position this as an effort to streamline government, but those of us who work in hospice care know better. The CON process isn’t one of the flashier, public-facing functions of state government, but it has a direct impact on the quality of health and hospice care that Rhode Islanders receive throughout their lives. ... Exempting hospice from meeting the rigorous standards that a CON requires poses an immediate threat to the quality of patient care. ...
New standards could transform palliative care for dementia patients
05/19/25 at 03:00 AMNew standards could transform palliative care for dementia patients McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 5/15/25 An Invited Commentary published Wednesday [5/14/ in JAMA Network Open highlights vital new consensus on when to refer dementia patients to specialist palliative care. The commentary, authored by Laura J. Morrison, MD, from Yale University School of Medicine, analyzes the Delphi survey study, which established the first international agreement on palliative care referral criteria for dementia patients.The Delphi survey study, led by Yuchieh K. Chang, DO, and colleagues, brought together 63 experts from five continents who identified 15 major criteria for specialist palliative care referral, grouped into five categories: dementia type, symptom distress, psychosocial factors, comorbidities and hospital use. Each major criterion was considered sufficient on its own to warrant referral, even for patients expected to live more than two years. Additionally, the study outlined 42 minor criteria, which could be used in combination to justify a referral decision.
New palliative care unit at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield
05/19/25 at 03:00 AMNew palliative care unit at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield WWLP Springfield, MA; by Kayleigh Thomas; 5/15/25 Mercy Medical Center in Springfield has just opened its new Palliative Care Unit, the first in western Massachusetts. This unit is named after the late Andy Yee, a well-known local restaurant owner. It serves as a tribute to his legacy and dedication to the community. ... To honor his memory, Mercy Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new palliative care unit named after him. “My dad is extraordinary. He always took care of others. He always showed up when it mattered most. And this space here, this unit embodies that spirit,” said Andy Yee’s daughter, Bella Yee.
Medicaid hospice payments for room-and-board to resume in California
05/16/25 at 03:00 AMMedicaid hospice payments for room-and-board to resume in California Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/15/25 After years of nonpayment, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has instructed Medicaid managed care plans to pay hospices for nursing home room and board. The issue pertains to patients who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. When caring for patients in nursing homes, hospices typically pay for their room and board with the expectation that they will be reimbursed by Medicaid for those expenses. However, due to confusion among managed care plans that oversee Medicaid in most states, those hospices have not been receiving those payments.
Dying at home becomes more common for patients with history of ischemic stroke
05/16/25 at 03:00 AMDying at home becomes more common for patients with history of ischemic stroke NeurologyToday; by Susan Fitzgerald; 5/15/25 In contrast to earlier studies showing a decline in stroke prevalence and mortality, a new study found that the rates are going up and more people, particularly Black Americans, are either dying at home or arriving to the hospital dead on arrival. Experts speculate that the trend may be driven by the lack of access to hospice services and care, in general.
A new era of healing: How home care is changing the healthcare landscape
05/16/25 at 02:00 AMA new era of healing: How home care is changing the healthcare landscape Repertoire Magazine; 5/13/25 Older adults often prefer receiving care in familiar surroundings, which enhances their comfort and quality of life. Home health services enable patients to age in place, reducing the need for institutional care, such as nursing homes. ... For the May issue, Repertoire Magazine spoke to several experts – from distributors to providers – on the current realities of the home care market and what’s in store in the years to come. ...
Palliative and end-of-life care during critical cardiovascular illness: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association
05/16/25 at 02:00 AMPalliative and end-of-life care during critical cardiovascular illness: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association American Heart Association; by Erin A. Bohula, MD, DPhil, Michael J. Landzberg, MD, Venu Menon, MD, FAHA, Carlos L. Alviar, MD, Gregory W. Barsness, MD, FAHA, Daniela R. Crousillat, MD, Nelia Jain, MD, MA, Robert Page II, PharmD, MSPH, FAHA, Rachel Wells, PhD, MSN, and Abdulla A. Damluji, MD, PhD, MBA, FAHA on behalf of the American Heart Association Acute Cardiac Care and General Cardiology Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; 5/15/25 Abstract: Cardiac intensive care units are witnessing a demographic shift, characterized by patients with increasingly complex or end-stage cardiovascular disease with a greater burden of concomitant comorbid noncardiovascular disease. Despite technical advances in care that may be offered, many critically ill cardiovascular patients will nevertheless experience significant morbidity and mortality during the acute decompensation, including physical and psychological suffering. Palliative care, with its specialized focus on alleviating suffering, aligns treatments with patient and caregiver values and improves overall care planning. Integrating palliative care into cardiovascular disease management extends the therapeutic approach beyond life-sustaining measures to encompass life-enhancing goals, addressing the physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of critically ill patients. This American Heart Association scientific statement aims to explore the definitions and conceptual framework of palliative care and to suggest strategies to integrate palliative care principles into the management of patients with critical cardiovascular illness.