Literature Review

‘Think like a reviewer’: How hospices can use communication, documentation to boost quality McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 9/24/24 Regulators are tightening their scrutiny of the hospice industry, so providers must prioritize the documentation and communication practices that help them obtain higher quality scores. That’s according to hospice industry experts who spoke during an educational session at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s annual meeting in Denver. “They’re looking closely at the hospice industry,” Angela Huff, senior managing consultant at Forvis Mazars, said last week during the conference. “They have increasing concerns about fraud, waste and abuse in this space. … Don’t think this is going to stop.” ... A key part of hospice quality assurance is communication, Gallarneau said. Providers should support open, friendly channels of communication. This helps staff and clients feel comfortable raising concerns, making quality issues easier to tackle quickly and effectively. Also, prioritizing accuracy in documentation will help providers stay ready for any surveys or audits, Gallarneau noted. Hospices should ensure patient consent and election of benefit forms are properly filled out, signed and dated, and staff should all be trained to do so accordingly. 

2 years after its rebrand, CenterWell Home Health is set on tackling big goals Home Health Care News; by Andrew Donlan; 9/24/24 Kirk Allen, the president of home solutions at Humana Inc., is living a home health veteran’s dream. Right now, he is heads down on helping create a value-based home health model within CenterWell, Humana’s provider services arm. Home health leaders have always touted the extraordinary health and monetary value that can be derived from their services. Not many have had the opportunity to prove that out, however. Allen does. Humana owns CenterWell Home Health, which is one of the largest providers in the country. CenterWell also includes CenterWell Pharmacy and CenterWell Primary Care. Eventually, CenterWell Home Health wants to have 80,000 home health patients under its value-based model. ... After Humana fully acquired Kindred at Home, it divested the home care and hospice assets. With the large and remaining home health footprint, Humana created CenterWell Home Health.

Texas families take on Houston-based solar company in arbitration case CBS News Texas; by Andrea Lucia, Lexi Salazar, and Mike Lozano; 9/24/24 In February, the CBS News Texas I-Team revealed a pattern of complaints against Sunnova Energy, accusing it of preying on the sick and elderly by getting them to sign long-term payment plans for solar panels they can't afford. ... Joshua resident Cynthia Hampton was featured in the I-Team's February report about Sunnova. Hampton believed her late father, who was receiving in-home hospice care, was tricked into signing a contract with Sunnova, leaving his children to settle the debt after his death. ... Mark Alexander believes the company's practices violate the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and that the company has committed breach of warranty and fraud. ... In an emailed statement to the I-Team, Sunnova wrote in part: "Nothing is more important to us as a company than customer service. ... 

Building a clinic-based palliative care program Hospice News; by Jennifer Murtoff; 9/25/24 Palliative care is often delivered in the hospital setting or in the home, but a number of organizations have set up clinics to deliver those services. These locations often assist patients by offering a variety of services beyond symptom management. While they offer an alternative to home-based services, they present their own unique benefits and challenges. One of the agencies that uses the clinic model is Hospice of Northwest Ohio, which serves both Ohio and Michigan. Their palliative care subsidiary, Sincera — Supportive Care and Symptom Relief, launched in 2008 and recently opened a location in Oregon City, Ohio. At Sincera clinics, patients of any age who have chronic, serious illnesses can receive expert palliative care services. Creating the clinic-based model was a challenge, according to Richard Russell, president and CEO of Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

James City County couple who started pediatric hospice nonprofit glad for its expansion Daily Press; James City, VA; by Alison Johnson; 9/25/24 Every year on July 3, Allen and Joan Hogge take out old photo albums to look at pictures of a little boy who barely reached age 8. The James City County couple remembers happy moments on the birthday of their only son, Marcus, who died of a progressive neurological disease. ... They think about how he loved sneaking up on people, giving them a gentle pinch and running off giggling as a toddler. ... Marc’s short life with his parents and two younger sisters led the Hogges to found a pediatric home health and hospice nonprofit, Edmarc, that has grown steadily over the past 46 years to provide free services to families across Hampton Roads. Recently, the nonprofit opened a new Williamsburg office to reach residents of the city and surrounding counties, including James City, Gloucester, Mathews, Charles City and New Kent.  ... “This expansion means so much to us,” Allen Hogge said. “We understand all too well how lonely and difficult and exhausting it can be to have a child with a serious illness." ... Named for Marc and the late Rev. Edward “Ed” Page, the pastor at the Hogges’ former church in Suffolk, Edmarc in 1978 became the nation’s first hospice and palliative care program designed for children. 

Oncology leaders call for ‘ethical deployment’ and ‘responsible use’ of AI in cancer care Healio; by Josh Friedman and Matthew Shinkle; 9/25/24 The AI revolution already has transformed delivery of cancer care. New algorithms rapidly identify patterns or abnormalities on imaging, improving diagnostic accuracy. Large language models can craft responses to patient questions, and machine learning predicts treatments to which a patient is most likely to respond. ... Oncologists are grappling with complex issues as they integrate AI into cancer care, according to results of a nationwide survey. Most oncologists believe they should have the ability to explain how AI models work and must protect patients from biased AI, findings published in JAMA Network Open showed. Most respondents also indicated patients should consent to use of AI before it is implemented in practice. ... Despite the potential benefits of AI to improve decision-making and outcomes, clinicians have expressed concerns about ... AI bias; the ability of AI to detail its decision-making process; who bears responsibility for errors or misuse; and whose treatment recommendation takes precedence when a physician and AI do not agree.

National PACE Association to Congress: End the PACE Part D Penalty before this session concludes PR Newswire; by National PACE Association; 9/23/24 The National PACE Association (NPA) is calling on Congress to end the costly financial penalty incurred by the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) participants eligible for Medicare who must enroll in the PACE Medicare Part D drug benefit. Every other original Medicare enrollee may comparison shop for an affordable Part D plan from among numerous options in their county. Medicare-enrolled PACE program participants face exponentially higher premiums for prescription drugs—22 times higher, on average—than other people enrolled in Medicare Part D who may select from numerous Part D plans available in their county. The PACE Part D penalty, which can total $11,000 annually, prevents people enrolled in Medicare with complex care needs from participating in the PACE program, which provides affordable, high-quality, highly coordinated services to people directly in their homes and communities.

The evolving landscape of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A fatal disease!  Delveinsight; 9/24/24 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately, death. ... Despite ALS being relatively rare, affecting 2-5 per 100,000 people worldwide, the question Is ALS on the rise? is gaining attention. While global prevalence has not significantly increased, improved diagnostic techniques, earlier detection, and greater awareness have led to a more accurate identification of ALS cases. Many researchers believe that enhanced surveillance and better tools for genetic testing are uncovering more cases than previously recognized, rather than a true rise in the disease’s incidence. However, with an aging global population, the burden of ALS may grow, as age is a major risk factor. Editor's note: Do you provide disease-specific training for your staff? ALS patients' and families' needs are unique. A significant disease comparison is between ALZ (Alzheimer's) and ALS. With ALZ (Alzheimer's), the brain decreases its abilities to function while the body can remain strong; the person is mobile with cognitive limitations. In contrast, with ALS, the body decreases its abilities to function while the brain/mind/emotions can remain strong. The person is immobile with cognitive awareness, but extreme physical limitations in communicating one's thoughts, emotions, and needs. ALS-specific communication tools provide crucial help for all. For more information in your location, visit The ALS Association's USA map.

Twenty years of yachts and care The Montecito Journal; by Sigrid Toye; 9/24/24 ... The Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC) members once again gathered to host their annual Charity Regatta benefiting VNA Health and its mission of caring with compassion. Although always a huge event in the Santa Barbara community, this year’s Charity Regatta marks its 20th anniversary! For two decades this annual benefit has raised over $2.5 million in support of VNA Health and its services for our families, friends and neighbors. Dependent on the generosity of our community, VNA Health is an organization that provides a safe harbor for those in need regardless of resources or insurance. ... VNA is the only medically-certified nonprofit provider of home-health care, palliative care, and hospice care in Santa Barbara. The organization also owns and operates Serenity House, the largest nonprofit inpatient hospice facility in California known as a place to transition at the end of life with dignity and comfort. Editor's note: A photo shows that this event raised $220,387.

Telehealth bill for Medicare approved by House Panel Retirement Daily; by Retirement Daily; 9/21/24 House Ways and Means Committee on Sept. 18, 2024, passed the Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act by a vote of 41-0 after lawmakers raised concerns about the need for more guardrails and hospice recertification. The move sets up the legislation for passage by the full House later this year. The markup included objections by Democrats and Republicans to the high cost durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostics guardrails proposed in the bill, saying the provisions merely restate existing authorities of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The bill requires reports on DME and clinical diagnostics fraud which some lawmakers think have already been established and don’t need further study. Many lawmakers likewise expressed concern about the extension of hospice recertification via telehealth. Some lawmakers raised concern about fraud in the hospice program, which they say the telehealth requirement could let fester.

Improv for Caregivers receives a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts EINPressWire; by A. A. Cristi; 9/23/24 The New London Barn Playhouse received an arts in health grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts to continue and expand their Improv for Caregivers program through a larger umbrella program titled “Improv for a Cause.” “Improv for a Cause” will encompass two communication programs that use a similar process to reach different communities. The first, Improv for Caregivers, in partnership with Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, is an ongoing communication workshop series for those who care for loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer's. ... Each improv workshop session combines insight from healthcare professionals with improvisational theatre techniques, with a goal of developing new communication skills, strategies to cope with stress, flexibility in relationships, and an understanding of loved ones' changing perspectives. With guidance from the VNA and caregivers in the community, the team of actors prepare short scenarios that portray situations caregivers commonly face, such as sundowning, taking away car keys, collaborating with care staff, and hallucinations. ...

[United Kingdom] 'Cuts to hospice care are a tragedy' BBC News, United Kingdom; by Helen Drew and James W. Kelly; 9/22/24 A south London hospice has made several staff redundant and cut services because funding levels are failing to meet rising operating costs, its chief executive has said. Nick Stevens said St Raphael's Hospice's operating costs have risen by £1m over the last four years but only received a £140,000 uplift from the NHS, which provides a quarter of the charity's funding. Among the cuts was the disbandment of the "hospice at home" service which serves the local area. ... Mr. Stevens said they have had to reduce their clinical nurse community team by 20%. "That is a real tragedy. We've lost members with decades of expertise and experience who have supported hundreds of people through the last stages of their lives," he said. Mr. Stevens described such staff as "irreplaceable" and their loss will have a "detrimental impact" on the services offered by the hospice. Editor's Note: This trend continues to grow throughout the United Kingdom, with huge fundraisers to help pay costs. What implications might it have for the United States, or not?

Family caregivers need greater support from Medicare, advocates say McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 9/20/24 Though federal agencies have made substantial progress on initiatives supporting family caregivers, more can be done to assist people providing unpaid care for older loved ones, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. “While we’ve made strides, the urgent needs of family caregivers demand more ambitious action,” Jason Resendez, president and chief executive officer of NAC, said Thursday in a statement. “The time for bold action is now.” NAC specifically urged Congress to boost federal funding for national and state-level grants that support family caregivers, and recommended policies that help caregivers access paid family and medical leave, tax credits and Medicare- and Medicaid-sponsored support programs.