Literature Review

Southern California doctor defrauded over $3.2 million from MedicareKTLA; by Vivian Chow; 7/24/24A Southern California doctor was convicted of defrauding Medicare out of millions of dollars through a multi-year scheme. Victor Contreras, 68, of Santa Paula, worked for two Pasadena hospices, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. From July 2016 to February 2019, Contreras and an accomplice, Juanita Antenor, 61, worked to defraud Medicare by submitting nearly $4 million in fraudulent claims for hospice services, officials said. The hospice companies — Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc. and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. — were controlled by Antenor.

5 evolving trends on end-of-life matters The Leavenworth Echo, Wenatchee, WA; 7/21/24 One of the most difficult conversations many people have in their lives involves the end of life. While often uncomfortable to think about or discuss with others, talking about and sharing end-of-life wishes should be a common occurrence. In fact, 91% of Americans believe talking about death and dying is healthy and normal, but 1 in 4 (27%) are uncomfortable actually doing it, according to a first-of-its-kind survey commissioned by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the world’s leading and largest funeral service association. With nearly one-third (31%) of survey respondents admitting they’re uncomfortable thinking about their own mortality, Remembering A Life, the organization’s online resource for accessing grief resources and funeral planning information, is offering a free downloadable guide, Start the Conversation, to help family and friends have meaningful conversations about loved ones and how they’d like to be remembered.

AMOREM names new Chief Executive Officer WKSK 93.5 West Jefferson, NC; 7/23/24 On Monday evening, the AMOREM Board of Directors named April Moore as the organization’s new chief executive officer. Moore began her career in hospice in 2004 ... with Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, which integrated with Burke Hospice and Palliative Care in 2021 to form AMOREM. ... Since the integration, she oversaw the building project for AMOREM’s palliative care center in Boone. She currently leads the building project for AMOREM’s patient care unit in Boone, set to open in early 2025. ... “The Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the hiring of April Moore as CEO of AMOREM,” AMOREM Board of Directors Chairman Jordan Greene ... “April has shown 20 years of leadership, dedication and love for our organization. Her commitment to the mission, vision and values of AMOREM is second to none. April is the definition of the hospice heart."

NAHC President Bill Dombi: Hospices in for a ‘bumpy ride to new era’ Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/23/24 The Medicare Hospice Benefit is ripe for change nearly four decades after its establishment, but moving the needle will include a heavy lift around evolving regulations. This is according to Bill Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). The hospice industry is undergoing tremendous changes amid rising demand and increased regulatory oversight, Dombi said at NAHC’s Financial Management Conference in Las Vegas. ..."[Hospice] hospice has moved into a new era. It’s a very mature benefit at this point and all signs are that people in Congress and at [the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)] think it’s overdue for some reform. Hospice is facing potential massive reform.” Among the signs of major reform on the horizon is an intensified survey and auditing climate in recent years, Dombi stated. 

These are the most common jobs in each state in the US USA Today; by Sara Chernikoff; 7/22/24 The most common job in the U.S. is a three-way tie, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Home health care and personal aides, retail workers and fast food counter workers ranked at the top of the list with 3.6 million workers in each occupation. ... The desire for home health and personal care aides is on the rise as the share of the elderly U.S. population grows exponentially. This occupation is the fastest growing among most states, news outlet Stacker, reported. ... Home health care aides typically assist people living with disabilities or with chronic illness. Personal care aides are often hired to care for people in hospice care, according to BLS. Advanced degrees are not required for most home health aides, rather those employed by home health or hospice agencies may need to complete formal training or pass a standardized test.Editor's Note: Federal requirements for nursing aides in hospice care are defined in the CMS Hospice of Conditions Participation §418.76 and for home health in the CMS Home Health Conditions of Participation §484.80. Additionally, extensive state laws exist, with differences between states.

‘I never thought I’d live to see it’: Veterans honored at WTRC’s Hospice of the Big Country thank you dinnerKTAB/KRBC Abilene, TX; by Noah McKinney; 7/19/24 Fellowship and reverence filled the West Texas Rehab’s Hospice of the Big Country boardroom Thursday evening. The organization opened its doors once more to local Veterans for its annual ‘We Honor Veterans’ thank-you dinner. ... Veterans of every branch spanning the decades showed up to sit with each other and break bread. The evening started with the Dyess Honor Guard presenting the flag and the singing of the national anthem. Following that, a POW/MIA or “Missing Man table” was set as a tribute to those who never returned. The attendees were then served dinner, and lively conversations filled the room. Notable Mention: Angie Lane, Director of Hospice Services, Hospice of the Big Country 

Top Projects of 2023: Our Lady of Peace Finance & Commerce, Minnesota Business; by Kate Leibsle; 7/19/24 Jamey Flannery and her team at Flannery Construction took seriously their obligation not just to their client, Our Lady of Peace, but to the patients, their families, and staff to make the construction project at the hospice center as smooth and transparent as possible. Limiting disruptions when you are renovating or adding on to an existing, occupied building is always important, but when the facility you are working on is a hospice center, it becomes paramount. ... The project turned the facility’s 21 double-occupancy rooms into private suites. Each room now is big enough for family and friends to gather in a living area, have a TV and offer more privacy, Flannery said.

Hospice care provider embroiled in federal health care fraud allegationsMarketBeat; by Due.com; 7/18/24A hospice care provider has been at the center of allegations that it may have defrauded federal health care programs. According to court documents, Kindred at Home was accused of knowingly defrauding the U.S. government. The umbrella organization operated out of Atlanta and had multiple splinter branches, including Avalon, Kindred, SouthernCare, and SouthernCare New Beacon. Kindred at Home has now agreed to quash the allegations. The federal watchdogs’ grilling resulted in a financial penalty and closed nine separate lawsuits. ... Kindred has agreed to pay $19.428 million to resolve allegations. The federal government will receive $18,956,151.32, the State of Tennessee will receive $448,800 and the State of Ohio will receive $23,618.68. Editor's Note: This Kindred news story is flooding news circuits, due to the scope and significance of its impact. While we reported this on 7/19/24, we will provide occasional variations, keeping it in your awareness. 

Celebrating growth: NPHI welcomes new members to its mission-driven family NPHI, Washington, DC; 7/15/24 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for not-for-profit hospice and palliative care providers, is thrilled to announce the addition of several not-for-profit hospice organizations to its ever-growing community. Over the past year, the organization has experienced remarkable growth, underscoring its collective commitment and mission to providing the highest quality end-of-life care. ... [These include:] Byt The Bay Health; Blue Ridge Hospice; Center For Hospice Care; Community Nursing Services; Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; Hospice Austin; Hospice of Northwest Ohio; Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS); Hudson Valley Hospice; Hudson Valley Hospice; Kaua'i Hospice; Midland Care Connection; Navian Hawaii (formerly Hospice Hawaii); Sutter Care at Home; Tillery Compassionate Care. Notable Mentions: Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of NPHI and Carole Fisher, President of NPHI

Why are some people happy when they are dying? StudyFinds; by The Conversation, Mattias Tranberg, Lund University; 7/18/24Simon Boas, who wrote a candid account of living with cancer, passed away on July 15 at the age of 47. In a recent BBC interview, the former aid worker told the reporter: “My pain is under control and I’m terribly happy – it sounds weird to say, but I’m as happy as I’ve ever been in my life.” It may seem odd that a person could be happy as the end draws near, but in my experience as a clinical psychologist working with people at the end of their lives, it’s not that uncommon. There is quite a lot of research suggesting that fear of death is at the unconscious center of being human. William James, an American philosopher, called the knowledge that we must die “the worm at the core” of the human condition. But a study in Psychological Science shows that people nearing death use more positive language to describe their experience than those who just imagine death. This suggests that the experience of dying is more pleasant – or, at least, less unpleasant – than we might picture it.

Is your organization truly clinically integrated? TCNtalks podcast; host Chris Comeaux; 7/17/24 In this conversation, Chris Comeaux and Dr. Will Faber discuss the importance of clinically integrated networks (CINs) in the Hospice and Palliative Care industry.  They explore the challenges and benefits of creating a CIN, including reducing costs, improving quality of care, and competing with larger organizations. Dr. Faber explains that CINs are legal entities that allow independent providers to come together for group effectiveness, enabling them to negotiate with payers and improve quality while reducing healthcare costs.  They also touch on the concept of the triple aim and the evolving concept of the quintuple aim in healthcare. CINs are attractive to hospice and palliative care organizations because they provide a way to stay independent while being part of something larger. 

Hospice patient takes 'one last ride' as hospice wish NBC WREX TV-13, Rockford, IL; by Derek Bayne; 7/16/24 Michael Rickert is ready to ride. "Let's hit the pavement," he said. As Rickert gets in the sidecar of Tom Dean's motorcycle, supporters can't help but get emotional. As the engine revs, Rickert, who is in hospice care, remembers why he started riding motorcycles 25 years ago. "It's like my adrenaline is so up," Rickert said. He asked for one last ride, with the Northern Illinois Hospice Foundation setting up this special moment. ... And getting his wish granted means a lot, especially going out to ride on a beautiful day. "If I wouldn't have made it two more days or a day, at least I could say one thing," Rickert said. "I got my wish." 

Bereaved families face ‘devastating’ impacts of hospice fraud Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/16/24 Fraudulent activity in the hospice space may be leaving some families without sufficient bereavement support. Fraudulent hospice schemes can take a tremendous toll on families that have lost loved ones who received poor or negligent end-of-life care, according to Cheryl Kraus, director of government affairs and policy at the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS). ... “It’s tragic if you’re already grieving the loss of a loved one to have your suspicions confirmed that they did not receive the level of care that they were entitled to because of bad actors in the hospice space,” Kraus said. “It just shocks the conscience what these fraudulent hospices are doing to people. It’s going to take a long time to restore not just the individuals’ trust who have experienced this firsthand, but also the public’s.”