Literature Review

New ACO model paves way for innovative home-based primary care services: CMS McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/20/24 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday unveiled a new person-centered care payment model that expands how and where beneficiaries can receive primary care. “People whose primary care provider participates in the ACO PC Flex Model may get care in more convenient ways, like care based at home or through virtual means, extra help managing chronic diseases, and more preventive health services to keep them healthy,” CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a statement. “Not only will people with Medicare receive more coordinated, seamless care that addresses their unique needs, but CMS is supporting primary care clinicians and giving them more flexibility to provide person-centered care.”

CAHPS Hospice Survey - Quality Assurance Guidelines V10.0: Technical Corrections and Clarifications, March 2024 

Should the DOJ break up UnitedHealth Group? MedCity News, by Marissa Plescia; 3/17/24 The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly recently launched an antitrust investigation of UnitedHealth Group, which begs the question of whether the healthcare giant should be broken up. Experts have varying opinions.

Institutional effforts to address legacies of slavery—Implications for the health care system JAMA Health Forum; by Sara N. Bleich, PhD; Jose F. Figueroa, MD, MPH; Martha Minow, JD; 3/14/24... Health care systems across the country are increasing their efforts to help address structural racism. For example, the Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN), which launched in 2017, includes 40 health systems in 45 states and Washington, DC, that have committed to address structural racism and the corresponding public health disparities. HAN aims to improve community health by leveraging key assets such as hiring, purchasing, and place-based investment strategies.

Telehealth study investigates reimbursements for rural health care deliveryMedical Xpress, by Vincent Jacobbi, Mayo Clinic; 3/15/24A recent Mayo Clinic study published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine investigated how telehealth in palliative care may provide value for rural caregivers, health care teams and their patients. Researchers were particularly interested in determining what billing models were most cost-effective and sustainable for health care teams and caregivers transitioning patients from hospital to home care

Google Cloud releases new clinical generative AI tools at HIMSS24MedCity News, by Katie Adams; 3/12/24 At HIMSS, Google Cloud announced new AI features designed to assist providers, payers and any other healthcare organizations seeking to make better use of their clinical data.

Providers push lawmakers to make telehealth provisions permanent McKnights Home Care, by Foster Stubbs; 3/11/24 More than 200 healthcare organizations including LeadingAge and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice recently signed a letter to congressional leadership urging the permanent adoption of telehealth provisions affecting Medicare beneficiaries. Current provisions, which are set to expire at the end of the year, allow beneficiaries to access telehealth services in their home. 

NHPCO and We Honor Veterans welcome CMS clarification regarding Medicare Hospice Benefit for dually eligible veterans NHPCO Press Release; 3/11/24 The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its We Honor Veterans (WHV) program responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) clarification on concurrent care eligibility for Veteran beneficiaries. Under Change Request 13523 issued by CMS on February 22, 2024, the Medicare Benefit Manual is updated to clarify that a Veteran beneficiary who elects hospice services under the Medicare benefit may still receive services that are not included on the hospice plan of care and are furnished and paid under the beneficiary’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, in addition to hospice services.

Opportunity uncovered: How COVID-19 accelerated healthcare transformation Managed Healthcare Executive; by Patrick Horine, MHA; 3/6/24The COVID-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on the healthcare landscape, spotlighting critical areas for improvement while accelerating transformations that were already underway. From addressing disparities in equity and access to adopting digital health strategies, the pandemic has forced healthcare to move swiftly to meet urgent needs. First, let us look at some of the issues we had been facing and how these were changed by the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. ...

The Joint Commission, Kaiser Permanente announce application period for 2024 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity GlobeNewswire, by The Joint Commission; 3/5/24 The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente are now accepting applications for the 2024 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity. The award program will recognize a healthcare organization that led an initiative that achieved a measurable, sustained reduction in one or more disparities. Bernard J. Tyson, the late CEO and chairman of Kaiser Permanente, worked tirelessly to address the disparities that plague the U.S. healthcare system. Now in its fourth year, the award honors Tyson’s legacy by presenting organizations the opportunity to earn national recognition for their efforts to improve healthcare equity, as well as share best practices and lessons learned with thousands of organizations across the country.

Wound coding changes bring compliance, legal questions McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 3/5/24 Changes to end-of-life wound classification in a recent Minimum Data Set update should be a positive for long-term care, but regulatory and legal ambiguity still surrounded the new coding procedures at press time. 

Why home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ cultures Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/4/24 Over the last several years, a notable trend is emerging in home care: Top-tier companies are shifting their focus from prioritizing customers to prioritizing caregivers. This strategic move reflects a growing recognition of the critical role caregivers play, and aims to address persistent caregiver shortages.

Hospice launches Mothers Day tribute page Newrie.ie; 3/3/24Southern Area Hospice has launched an online tribute page ahead of Mother’s Day, providing a platform for individuals to remember their mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures who have passed away. Visitors to the Mother’s Day online tribute page can leave messages, share stories, and upload photographs of their loved ones. The page also allows individuals to read other dedications, fostering a sense of community and remembrance.