Literature Review

Health care utilization and opioid use in patients receiving an integrated palliative care intervention for treatment of head and neck cancer compared to a historical control Elsevier, International Journal of Radiation; by F. Rizwan. C. D'Avella, M. Albert, T. King, B. Egleston, T.J. Galloway, M. Chwistek, C. Fang, A. El-jawahri, J.R. Bauman; online access for 4/1/24 release Patients receiving chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) can develop significant symptomology (odynophagia, malnutrition) resulting in frequent hospitalizations and decreased quality of life (QOL) and continue to have chronic symptoms such as dysphagia and/or pain. The integration of a palliative care (PC) team during CRT has the potential to address the high symptom burden and improve QOL.

Personal care workers received most Medicaid fraud convictions in 2023: OIG McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/15/24 More personal care workers were convicted for Medicaid fraud than any other provider type last year, according to a new report released Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. OIG found that 279 personal care services (PCS) attendants were convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2023 — far more than the next four highest provider types combined. These convictions amounted to more than $10.5 million in criminal charges. 

CMS.gov: ACO Primary Care Flex ModelCMS.gov; 3/19/24The ACO Primary Care Flex Model (ACO PC Flex Model) is a voluntary model that will focus on primary care delivery in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program). It will test how prospective payments and increased funding for primary care in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) impact health outcomes, quality, and costs of care. The flexible payment design will empower participating ACOs and their primary care providers to use more innovative, team-based, person-centered and proactive approaches to care. The model, which starts January 1, 2025, aims to grow participation in ACOs and the Shared Savings Program and increase the number of people with Medicare in an accountable care relationship.

The benefits of integrating palliative care into home-based care programs Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/18/24 Navigating new service lines can be daunting, especially when integrating palliative care into existing service lines. Yet, as some providers can attest, embracing change can also yield significant benefits. ... “It’s easier to remain in your own silo,” Tiffany Hughes, COO PalliCare Inc., said at the Hospice News/Palliative Care News Palliative Care Conference in Tampa, Florida. “I saw that [mindset] coming from hospice where it’s the perfect model of care because you control everything. When you start adding in different elements and add more hands into the pot, it gets more complicated.” Providers who are integrating more models of care into their operations are showing that – in general – the juice is worth the squeeze.

Becker's Hospital Review, by Alexis Kayser; 3/29/24 Last year, hospital CEO turnover hit a record high, placing additional strain on many health systems' unstable foundations. In March, Becker's connected with healthcare leaders at prominent executive search and consulting firms to learn where this trend stands. ... [This article examines:]

Improvements in Interdisciplinary Communication Following the implementation of a standardized Handoff Curriculum: SAFETIPS (Statistics, Assessment, Focused Plan, Pertinent Exam findings, to Dos, If/Thens, Pointers/Pitfalls, and Severity of Illness) Cureus, by Shaefali Shandilya and Justen M. Aprile; 3/18/24 Handoffs between medical providers serve a crucial patient safety function. While most published literature on the topic studies the handover process among physicians, robust literature is available on interdisciplinary medical communication. Little is known about the downstream effects of effective physician handover on subsequent physician and nursing interactions. ...Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant post-intervention mean score increases of one full point in four categories, namely organization and efficiency, communication, content, and clinical judgment.

Medicare Advantage prior authorization: The impact - increased access to care HHS-OIG; 3/19/24 HHS-OIG’s work on this issue drew national attention to the problem spurring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Industry, and Congress to action.  Editor's Note: You can download the "Impact Brief" from this site. Click on the title's link.

For-profit nursing home owners rebut report that left few untarnished McKnights Long-Term Care, by Kimberly Marselas; 3/18/24 A brutal takedown of private nursing home ownership published last week included both pointed and widespread attacks on the role of for-profit companies in the sector, adding to stakeholders’ fears that negative characterizations will stymie much-needed future investment. ... However, what the article failed to highlight, providers and their representatives pointed out to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Friday, are the investments many for-profits providers are pouring into quality and innovation efforts in a field with historically low margins — margins that they said dried up during the pandemic’s crisis days.Editor's Note: See the original article (posted above this summary) this article rebuts, "For-profit nursing homes are cutting corners on safety and draining resources with financial shenanigans - especially at midsize chains that dodge public scrutiny."

Long-term care costs can cripple families with aging loved ones. Turlock has a solution - Opinion The Modesto Bee, by Jeffrey Lews and Francesa Rinaldo; 3/17/24The sudden closures of the Brandel Manor nursing home and Cypress Place Assisted Living have left many in Turlock and the surrounding communities wondering where they will find quality care for their loved [ones]. ... The Turlock City Council approved a $400,000 grant to support the Legacy Health Endowment Person-Centered Care (PCC) program, an innovative initiative offering comprehensive in-home support services for families looking after aging loved ones. The program aims to assist families by providing care while safeguarding against premature placement into a nursing home or the fear of re-hospitalization. 

Healthcare hit hardest by ransomware last year, FBI IC3 report shows HealthITSecurity, by Jill McKeon; 3/12/24 The healthcare sector suffered more ransomware attacks than any other critical infrastructure sector last year, according to complaint data examined in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Internet Crime Report. ... In 2023, IC3 received a record 880,418 complaints, with losses exceeding $12.5 billion. These figures signify a 10 percent increase in complaints received and a 22 percent increase in losses suffered compared to last year’s report.

COLUMN: March is National Social Workers Month The Andalusia Star News; by Vicki C. Wacaster; 3/16/24 In recognition of National Social Workers Month in March 2024, we wish to honor and recognize the vital gifts of dedication, love, professionalism, time, talent, and care Hospice Social Workers provide. ... Hospice social workers often perform the following tasks:

Dual eligibles, PACE expansion bill draws bipartisan support, industry endorsements McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/18/24A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that would improve care coordination for dual-eligible beneficiaries and expand the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly to a larger share of people. The legislation’s primary function would be to require every state to develop a comprehensive, integrated health plan for dual-eligible beneficiaries, according to a summary. The bill also would require every state to allow PACE programs to be established, open up enrollment to any time in a given month, and extend PACE coverage to people under 55 years of age.