Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Palliative Care Provider News | Operations News | Financial.”
NJ extends Medicaid palliative care for poor and elderly
12/09/23 at 04:00 AMNJ extends Medicaid palliative care for poor and elderlyNJ Spotlight NewsDecember 7, 2023New Jersey plans to expand health insurance coverage so that low-income residents with a serious advanced illness can get pain relief and other palliative care at home, regardless of their prognosis, or if they live independently, in a nursing home or assisted living. The state Assembly is expected to take a final vote Thursday on bipartisan legislation that adds community-based palliative care—including specialized medical treatment, emotional and spiritual support and other services to improve patients’ quality of life—to the list of benefits Medicaid will pay for in New Jersey.
Palliative Care News’ Top 5 Stories of 2023
12/08/23 at 03:50 AMPalliative Care News’ Top 5 Stories of 2023Palliative Care NewsDecember 6, 2023A look back at Palliative Care News’ five most-read stories this year paints a picture of trends shaping the serious illness care space. Securing reimbursement—and the promise of value-based contracts—continues to be top of mind for many palliative care providers as they look ahead to 2024. Operators have their eyes on the ever-shifting payment landscape and the headwinds and opportunities that come with it. Meanwhile, more providers are increasingly working to address health disparities among underserved populations in various settings, including prisons and rural areas, among others. But in the midst of this, workforce shortages and clinical capacity issues remain obstacles to palliative care access. The following are the most-read Palliative Care News articles of 2023.
The Medicare Gold Rush Is Slowing Down
12/08/23 at 03:19 AMThe Medicare Gold Rush Is Slowing DownWall Street JournalDecember 6, 2023The popularity of private Medicare plans has been a huge driver of profits for insurance companies in recent years. There are signs the gold rush isn’t quite what it once was. ... The most immediate red flag came from the industry leader, UnitedHealth. During an investor day last week, it predicted its Medicare Advantage enrollment would grow by 450,000 to 550,000 seniors in 2024. That translates to around 5% growth next year, a significant slowdown from the 11% it grew so far this year, according to TD Cowen analyst Gary Taylor. As UnitedHealth executives were presenting in New York, The Wall Street Journal reported that the second-largest Medicare plan provider, Humana, was in merger talks with Cigna. While Cigna’s interest in Humana surely attests to insurers’ continued desire to expand into the Medicare market, some investors took it as a sign that Humana isn’t so sure about the strength of the business going forward.
Patient-centered medical homes can reduce care cost of chronically ill patients, study finds
12/07/23 at 03:07 AMPatient-centered medical homes can reduce care cost of chronically ill patients, study findsMcKnight’s Home Care DailyDecember 5, 2023High-cost patients receiving care through patient-centered medical home programs are less likely to remain high-cost in the long term, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Managed Care. ... The researchers compared the healthcare expenditures and health outcomes of thousands of PCMH and non-PCMH patients across Maryland during the state’s Multi-Payer PCMH program. They found that high-cost patients, such as those with chronic conditions, frailty or greater rates of hospital or ambulance usage, experienced better health outcomes with less health service utilization.
How Value-Based Care, Investors Could Impact Palliative Care Staffing
12/06/23 at 04:00 AMHow Value-Based Care, Investors Could Impact Palliative Care StaffingPalliative Care NewsDecember 4, 2023Interest in palliative care is rising among job-seeking clinicians, but the influx remains too slow to meet rising demand. ... Though far more resources are needed, more opportunities for clinical palliative care training have been emerging in recent years, according to Dr. Nathan Goldstein, currently professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.