Literature Review

Death can be isolating and dehumanizing. But what if it didn’t have to be?City Life, by Ben Seal; 2/17/24... In the three years since Elaine’s passing, I’ve longed for a world where more people could be given the chance to die as she did — with the fullness of life surrounding her, and with complete support, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual, not just the medical. In Philadelphia and beyond, a growing community of death-care workers — doulas, nurses, grief counselors, social workers, even funeral directors — is trying to build that world. They are reclaiming death and dying from the institutional model that has become the norm over the past century. Editor's Note: Has hospice now become so institutionalized and medical/regulatory focused that we have lost sight of "emphasizing the emotional and spiritual, not just the medical"? I ask the question, but do not draw judgment, as answers must be contextualized. 

McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor gains 24 in 2024McKnight's Senior Living, by Lois A. Bowers; 2/15/24Twenty-four women working in senior living, skilled nursing or home care are being announced today as 2024 inductees into the Hall of Honor in the annual McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program, a joint effort of McKnight’s Senior Living and sister media brands McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care. ... The Hall of Honor category honors women who are at a level equivalent to vice president or higher and who have had a significant effect on their organization or industry.

Bon Secours Mercy Health outsourcing home health, hospiceBecker's Health IT, by Naomi Diaz; 2/16/24Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health will turn over operations of its home health and hospice operations across five states to home-based care company Compassus. Per the arrangement, Compassus will be responsible for overseeing the operations of 10 home health agencies and 11 hospice operations. ... Bon Secours Mercy Health will retain ownership of its hospice house real estate assets in specific locations, while Compassus takes charge of managing the operations.

Commentary: Virginia hospice care coalition a model for other states to emulateThe Roanoke Times, by Steve Cone; 2/16/24 Here in Virginia, eight nonprofit hospice care organizations are working together with a private sector sponsor on a statewide initiative called the Virginia Hospice Awareness Campaign to publicize the benefits of hospice. This approach should serve as a model for other states to emulate. (Two of the nonprofits in the campaign serve the Roanoke and New River valleys and Alleghany Highlands: Good Samaritan and ConnectionsPlus.)

United States: Buying or selling a hospice? The 36-month rule prohibiting change of ownership now appliesGreenbergTraurig, by Sonya C. Penley and Christopher E. Gottfried; 2/15/24Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the so-called "36-month rule" to hospices, prohibiting a change in majority ownership of a hospice, as well as the transfer of a Medicare provider agreement and Medicare billing privileges, in the 36 months after Medicare enrollment or a prior change of majority ownership. The 36-month rule previously only applied to home health agencies.

Chippewa Co. Health Department announces end of Home Health and Hospice services 9and10news.com, by Logan Kassuba; 2/14/24 The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners announced their decision to end the health department’s Home Health and Hospice division. ... CCHD was the only health department in Michigan that still had a Home Health and Hospice division. In the absence of Home Health and Hospice services, CCHD said hospice patients can choose to spend their final days at Ball House, Pennington Home, Harbor View Home and White-Wiles Home. Patients are also able to remain in their own homes and receive care there.

U.S. News & World Report: How to choose a hospice provider and questions to askU.S. News & World Report, by Claire Wolters; 2/14/24Hospice is a critical piece of end-of-life care for many families. Here's how to determine if hospice care is a good fit for you. [Includes "Questions to Ask Yourself," "Questions to Ask Your Hospice Provider," and "How to Choose a Hospice Provider."]Editor's Note: This high profile article provides concise information and questions for the public. Do your marketing materials address these questions? For CMS hospice CAHPS and HHS quality ratings, examine the National Hospice Locator, which provides information about every known hospice in the United States.

NHPCO celebrates achievements of hospice and palliative care providers in nationwide Quality Connections Program NHPCO press release; 2/13/24The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recognizes the achievements of participating member organizations who have earned rings in the third program year of NHPCO’s Quality Connections program. First launched in January 2021, Quality Connections (QC) is the only national program designed to support hospice and palliative care provider delivery of high-quality, person-centered care. The program is structured around four fundamental pillars which are represented by four rings: Education, Application, Measurement, and Innovation.

Using patient narratives to evaluate a hospice serviceNursing Times - Patient Experience, by Val Stangoe and Steve Mee; 2/12/24Questionnaire surveys at a hospice proved ineffective as a tool to identify areas for service improvement, but narrative inquiry with patients and their families identified important deficits that offered clear guidance for service development. This method needed a careful, respectful approach, as well as significant time and resources, but proved to be invaluable. Many of the patients enjoyed having an opportunity to tell their stories, while nursing staff could be involved in the project, thereby enhancing their skills and raising their ambitions.

Explore the enormous benefits of multigenerational living in this essential guide for the modern American familyNewsDirect; 2/5/24In today's rapidly evolving world, the modern American family encounters unprecedented challenges without a roadmap for guidance. Addressing this pressing need, Under One Roof (River Grove Books, Feb. 5, 2024) emerges as a comprehensive guidebook authored by Emily K. Graham, Angel L. Vargas, and John L. Graham. With a wealth of experience and insights, the authors present innovative approaches to multigenerational living, shedding light on its opportunities and complexities.

Cancer facts & figures 2024American Cancer Society; 2024Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 is an educational companion for Cancer Statistics 2024, a scientific paper published in the American Cancer Society journal, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. These annual reports provide:

Facing the future: Home health providers gear up for 2024’s value-based care, M&A landscapesHome Health Care, by Andrew Donlan; 2/1/24Home-based care providers have faced many headwinds over the past few years. They’ll continue to do so in 2024. But uncertainty has also plagued providers, and there may be less of that this year. Providers know the threat of fee-for-service Medicare cuts. They know Medicare Advantage (MA) penetration is an unstoppable force. They know staffing woes will be a mainstay, even if the labor market nominally improves.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issues rule: Medicare Program; Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Home Health (HH) Prospective Payment System rate update; HH Quality Reporting Program requirements; HH ...Department of Health and Human Services, by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 1/31/24SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors in the final rule that appeared in the November 13, 2023 Federal Register titled "Medicare Program; Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Home Health (HH) Prospective Payment System Rate Update; HH Quality Reporting Program Requirements; HH Value-Based Purchasing Expanded Model Requirements; Home Intravenous Immune Globulin Items and Services; Hospice Informal Dispute Resolution and Special Focus Program Requirements, Certain Requirements for Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics and Orthotics Supplies; and Provider and Supplier Enrollment Requirements'' (referred to hereafter as the "CY 2024 HH PPS final rule"). Effective date: This correcting document is effective January 31, 2024