Literature Review

Getting your claims denied? Here are reasons why and what you can do about itMedial Economics; by Gretchen Heinen, RN, PHN, BSN and Wael Khouli, MD, MBA; 4/25/24A recent voluntary, national survey by Premier shed new light on denied claims. The survey, conducted from October to December 2023, revealed that nearly 15% of all claims across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Commercial, and Managed Medicaid are denied. Of those denied claims, 45% to 60% were overturned, albeit with a costly appeal process sometimes involving multiple appeals. ... With a skillfully crafted appeal letter, a denial can be overturned 50% to 70% of the time. In this article, we will cover denial basics, reasons for claim denials, and actions to take. It is crucial to address all potential reasons for claim denial, including: ...

Missoula's first end-of-life center taking shape amid fundraising MissoulaCurrent., by Martin Kidston; 4/24/24 ... Missoula's first dedicated hospice center broke ground last June and is well on its way to opening early next year. The 15,000 square-foot facility has been planned down to the finest detail, from the play of lighting and sound in each room to a reflection center, with end-of-life literature and bereavement support for families. “Missoula has one of the fastest aging and oldest populations in the country. Not only that, we have a vast expanse of area to cover,” said Amanda Melro [Executive Director, Partners of Hope Foundation] . “People live in rural areas and they also live alone. Having a place like this where a family knows they'll be well-taken care of is a huge asset for them. We expect there will be a large demand for the beds.”

New hospice home set to open in Burton, offering home-like care for end-of-life patients mlive.com; by Fuad Shalhout; 4/25/24A new hospice home is expected to open in Burton [MI] this summer. ... By creating a guest home in Burton, individuals will receive hospice care in a home-like setting to live out their final days instead of a hospital. ... “We’ve been renovating it for the last six months just making it safe for people,” said Diane Welker, one of the group’s founders and a retired palliative care nurse practitioner at Hurley Medical Center. The foundation received a $4,300 grant from Home Depot to pay for the flooring, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint provided a $45,000 grant to help with renovations.

Hall to retire from Hospice; new KEDCO CEO to be announced Times Union Online, by David L. Slone; 4/23/24 In giving their quarterly reports to the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday, one organization revealed a forthcoming retirement while the second organization said a new CEO would be taking the helm in June. Suzie Light, Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation interim co-CEO, reported during KEDCO’s first quarter she and Greg Fitzloff served as interim co-CEOs. ... “We are not making a public announcement. We are happy to report that there will be a public announcement soon on the new CEO, who will take the helm in mid June. We’re really excited that we’ve got a very talented individual who’s coming on board. ...," Light stated.

Skepticism is healthy, but in medicine, it can be dangerous The New York Times, Guest Essay, by Dr. Daniela J. Lamas; 4/24/24 I arrived at the hospital one recent morning to find a team of doctors gathered just outside a patient room. The patient was struggling — his breaths too fast and too shallow. For days we had been trying to walk the line between treating the pain caused by his rapidly growing cancer and prolonging his life. [The author describes interactions with the family.] ... We are at a crossroads in medicine when it comes to public trust. After a pandemic that twisted science for political gain, it is not surprising that confidence in medicine is eroding. ... Our medical system relies on trust — in face-to-face meetings as well as public health bulletins. Distrust can lead doctors to burnout and can encourage avoidable negative outcomes for our patients.Editor's Note: For a patient/caregiver/family to agree to a hospice admission, they must first trust the physician who refers them to your organization. Before that, the referring physician must trust your organization. Too often, "trust" is diluted as a "soft skill." "Trust"--as described in this article--is a cornerstone, a foundation of strength, endurance, and integrity in the hardest, most conflicted times of decisions about living and dying that a person (and family) might face.

[Maine] Attention Section 43 Hospice Services Providers: Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) implementation delayed until further noticeState of Maine Department of Health and Human Services; 4/22/24 As of March 15, 2023, MaineCare temporarily excluded hospice services from EVV requirements as a delayed enforcement of our approved State Plan requirements. On December 1, 2023, we announced our plan to implement EVV requirements for hospice services starting July 1, 2024. following enactment of P.L. 2023, ch. 576 (LD 2055), An Act to Prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from Implementing Electronic Visit Verification for Hospice Providers Within the MaineCare Program Unless Mandated by the Federal Government, the Department is delaying the implementation of EVV requirements for hospice services until further notice.

Health disparities across states: 6 new findings Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Kelly Gooch; 4/18/24 The Commonwealth Fund released a new report April 18 examining racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access, quality and outcomes across the U.S. The report, titled "Advancing Racial Equity in U.S. Health Care: The Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report," examined state health system performance for five racial and ethnic groups — (non-Hispanic) Black; white; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander; and Hispanic (any race). [Click on the title's link for (1) Six summary findings, and (2) To download the report. 

Hospice volunteers share their ‘why’ The Journal, by Lores Morton; 4/21/2024 From volunteer Lores Morton: Why am I a volunteer for Hospice of the Panhandle? It is for our patient’s caregivers, to give them break relief; to share what may be missing with patient’s spiritual support; to be a memory keeper — legacy; to give simple visitation; and, also, to volunteer administratively for Light Up a Life. ...  From volunteer Kelly Orwig, "My why has evolved, but at the core, is that I love people. I love people who need love. Death and dying are natural, but over our lives, we’ve been socialized to fear death to the point that we fear those who are dying. ...." 

Save A Lot donates 7,000 pounds of food and $500 to local hospice Hazard Herald [KY], by Justin Begley; 4/18/24Save A Lot has once again lent its support by donating seven thousand pounds of food and water, along with a $500 gift card, to the Greg and Noreen Hospice Center. This year marks the fifth consecutive year that the grocery chain has made such a donation to hospice. Jason Smith, a district manager for Save A Lot, alongside management from other stores, was on hand to unload truckloads of supplies to replenish the hospice’s pantry ...

Black patients with ovarian cancer had lower-quality end-of-life care, study says American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), by Brooke McCormick; 4/21/24 Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients with ovarian cancer (OC) received lower-quality end-of-life (EOL) care than non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients, according to a study published in Cancer Research Communications. ... Although trends and disparities in EOL care among patients with OC are well documented, the researchers noted that the role of health care access (HCA) in quality EOL care has not been well characterized; HCA is comprised of 5 distinct, interrelated care access dimensions, namely affordability, availability, accessibility, accommodation, and acceptability. 

Man forces himself inside home, robs 2 women, including hospice patient, at gunpoint in north St. Louis NBC 5, St. Louis; by Calrissa Cowley; 4/19/24 The victim in hospice care was unable to move on her own or call the police during the ordeal. A man is facing charges three days after forcing his way into a north St. Louis home and robbing two 60-year-old women, one of whom was in hospice care, at gunpoint. St. Louis prosecutors charged 46-year-old Ronnie Jackson on Thursday with one count of first-degree robbery, one count of burglary, one count of kidnapping and three counts of armed criminal action. Each charge is a felony.

Season Hospice is expanding beyond Rochester KIMT 3 News, Rochester, MN; by Saral Khare; 4/18/24Earlier this April Seasons Hospice has already begun to provide at home hospice care to one patient in Owatonna. Seasons Hospice Executive Director, Kristina Wright-Peterson says it’s important to go out to rural communities and give hospice to those who need it. Wright-Peterson says residents who get hospice can focus on what truly matters.