Literature Review

Data book: Beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid MEDPAC (Medicare Payment Advisory Commision) and MACPAC (Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission); December 2025 This data book is a joint project of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). The data book presents information on the demographic and other personal characteristics, expenditures, and health care utilization of individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Dually eligible beneficiaries receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits by virtue of their age or disability and low income. This population is diverse and includes individuals with multiple chronic conditions, physical disabilities, and cognitive impairments such as dementia, developmental disabilities, and mental illness. It also includes some individuals who are relatively healthy.

Awards and Recognitions: November 2025

In-flight emergencies: Practical medicine and ethical considerations Medscape; by Stephen Powell, MD, Bret A. Nicks, MD, MHA, Michael W. Supples, MD, MPH; 11/3/25As a medical professional, are you prepared to respond to an in-flight medical emergency as a passenger on a commercial aircraft? Key questions are addressed about the scope of care, available equipment, decision-making regarding diversions, and liability concerns. Editor's Note: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "expects the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest in 15 years." Please read and share.

Rowan and Bayada Home Health Care to strengthen nursing workforce with innovative partnership Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ; Press Release; 11/18/25 “More. Great. Nurses”: That was the chant echoing through the room as BAYADA founder and chairman of the board Mark Baiada energized the crowd during a ceremonial signing event on Nov. 17 at Rowan University. The celebration launched a new agreement between Rowan and BAYADA Home Health Care, the nation’s largest independent nonprofit home health care provider. The partnership creates a debt-free pathway for aspiring nurses and expands access to high-quality home health care in the region.

“I was horrified”: 34 surgeons and doctors recall their worst mistakes BoredPanda; by Justin Sandberg; 11/19/25 Someone asked “Medical professionals, what mistake have you made in your medical career that, because of the outcome, you've never forgotten?” and people shared their stories from fortunately comical to downright grim. ...#4.  I work in palliative care, ... I knew he wanted to be a DNR (do not resuscitate). I wrote it on my note. But I didn't re-fill out the hospital paperwork. The next day, I got to work to discover he'd been coded and was on a ventilator in the ICU. Instead of passing peacefully, his wife had to make the decision to turn off life support.  ...Editor's Note: Entry #20 comes from a hospice nurse describing a patient with severe bone pain started on morphine—then an out-of-town daughter arrived, shocked to see “Daddy on morphine.” What unfolded was realistic and tragic. This story highlights two timely essentials:

Major hospice company that operates in 15 states says patient data stolen by hackers NJ.com; by Jackie Roman; 11/24/25 The personal information of current and former hospice patients may have been exposed in a cyberattack targeting VITAS Healthcare, one of the largest hospice companies in the United States. VITAS discovered on Oct. 24 that an unauthorized party had gained access to certain network systems through a compromised vendor account, according to a company statement about the data breach. ... Patrick Hale, executive vice president and chief information officer, in a statement sent to NJ Advance Media ... [said, "We] are acting swiftly to ensure transparency, accountability, and enhanced security moving forward. Our top priority remains the patients and families we are privileged to serve."

Ophthalmology considerations in end-of-life careCureus; by Mendel Shloush, Akiva Eleff, Eric Eleff; 10/25Ophthalmologic interventions can significantly impact quality of life, even in the context of end-of-life care. This paper explores the ethical and clinical considerations for ophthalmologic treatments in hospice care, with a focus on cataract surgery, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) therapy, retinal detachment (RD) repair, glaucoma, painful blind eye (PBE) management, benign and surface ocular tumors, and corneal or anterior segment diseases. Ophthalmologic procedures should be considered viable options in end-of-life care when clinically indicated, with careful ethical review. Restoration of vision contributes meaningfully to the quality of life and deserves thoughtful inclusion in care planning.Assistant Editor's note: When a patient is terminally ill on hospice, we focus on the Big-Bad illness-the one likely to cause death. But often patients suffer from other illnesses as well. For example, when my 95-year-old mom was dying from colon cancer and on hospice, she developed a severe corneal abrasion from an inwardly turned eyelid; a comorbid condition that she had endured for many years called entropion. In this case her inwardly turned eyelashes scraped open her cornea. She was in excruciating pain from her eye. Certainly, this condition was unrelated to colon cancer. But her hospice treated her as a whole person, knowing that her eye pain was contributing to her overall suffering. To their credit, the hospice admitted her to their in-patient hospice house for GIP intervention and care. They had to sedate her deeply for several days until the abrasion began to heal. She was then able to go back home and live comfortably until her death from cancer. There is great variability in what hospices consider "related conditions" and what they believe they are responsible for in terms of payment and treatment. In this case, my mom and us family members experienced only gratitude for the holistic and expert hospice care my mom received.

The Chaplain & the Doctor: A podcast with Betty Clark and Jessica ZitterGeriPal Podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Betty Clark, Jessica Zitter; 11/20/25In this week’s episode, we delve into the powerful documentary The Chaplain and The Doctor with two extraordinary guests: Betty Clark, the chaplain at the heart of the film, and Dr. Jessica Zitter, the physician and filmmaker who brought this story to the screen.

Hospice Tree Lighting Remembrances 2025Hospice & Palliative Care Today; compiled by Joy Berger; 11/26/25 We celebrate many hospice organizations who are having remembrance tree lighting ceremonies for this 2025 holiday season. Click for a list of 27 hospices, with links to articles for each. Did you have a similar event, but it's not listed? Please email me, jberger@hospicepalliativecaretoday.com. 

Honoring compassion: A beautiful afternoon with Hospice Austin ActiveRain, Austin, TX; by Dorie Dillard; 11/16/25 Each year, I look forward to the Beauty of Life Luncheon hosted by Hospice Austin, a tradition that has become both meaningful and deeply personal for me. Held at the JW Marriott in downtown Austin, this year’s event was nothing short of extraordinary. More than 1,000 attendees filled the grand ballroom, creating a powerful sense of community and shared purpose. Even more inspiring, the luncheon raised an incredible $1,000,000 to support Hospice Austin’s mission of providing compassionate end-of-life care.

Empath Health leans into value-based care with plans for multi-state expansion Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/14/25 Florida-based senior care provider Empath Health is blazing a trail forward in value-based care programs and has plans to expand beyond its home state. The nonprofit’s three-year strategic plan is heavily focused on working with risk- and value-based payers, leveraging its diversified suite of services, according to President and CEO Jonathan Fleece. Empath refers to its continuum of care, much of which is home-based, as its “Full-Life Care Model.”

Consciousness and meaning at life’s end: How the study of dying deepens our understanding of everyday presencePsychology Today; by Alexander Batthyany, PhD; 11/15/25Sergei Rachmaninoff lies dying in his Beverly Hills home. Family and friends surround him, the room suffused with that particular stillness that often accompanies life's final hours. Then something unexpected occurs. The composer opens his eyes and asks those present: "Can you hear this beautiful melody? The enormously beautiful music?" The response from those at his bedside is immediate: "No, there's no music here." ... I share this story with all those who wish to participate in our work as mandatory reading, simply because I want to prevent us from making the same error—saying "No, there's no music" instead of asking "What do you hear?" ...