Literature Review
False Claims Act decisions to know from Q2 2024
08/26/24 at 03:00 AMFalse Claims Act decisions to know from Q2 2024 JD Supra; by Bass, Berry & Sis PLC; 8/22/24 In case you missed it, this post recaps some key False Claims Act (FCA) decisions and case updates from the second quarter of this year. Courts weighed in on the FCA’s anti-retaliation provision, its first-to-file bar, and issues around judgments and awards. ... In U.S. ex rel. Rosales v. Amedisys, Inc., the relator alleged that Amedisys, a hospice operator, falsely certified patients as terminally ill and submitted claims for reimbursement to Medicare and North Carolina Medicaid for patients who were not properly eligible for hospice care. Amedisys filed a motion to dismiss Rosales’ Amended Complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, ...
What is Death?
08/26/24 at 03:00 AMWhat is Death?GeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Winston Chiong, Sean Aas; 8/22/24We’ve talked about Brain Death before ... and in many ways today’s podcast is a follow up to that episode. Why does this issue keep coming up? Why is it unresolved? Today we put these questions to Winston Chiong, a neurologist and bioethicist, and Sean Aas, a philosopher and bioethicist.
Review – ‘Eternal You’: a documentary about the digital afterlife industry
08/26/24 at 03:00 AMReview – ‘Eternal You’: a documentary about the digital afterlife industryehospice; 8/19/24In her second blog for Part of Life, Khadiza Laskor, a third-year PhD Student at the University of Bristol’s Cyber Security Centre for Doctoral Training Programme, reviews ‘Eternal You’: a documentary about the Digital Afterlife Industry. It features companies serving the Digital Afterlife Industry which has grown with the emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): texts, audio and images generated by algorithms.
How to integrate AI into your business: A 2024 guide
08/26/24 at 03:00 AMHow to integrate AI into your business: A 2024 guide eWeek; by Sam Rinko; 8/22/24 If you’re an IT professional or executive, the question of how to integrate AI into your business has probably been top of mind since the recent generative AI boom. You know you should be using AI tools to improve your operational efficiency, but you might worry you lack the policies, data quality and implementation strategy to do so effectively. ... Key Takeaways:
St. Louis Man sentenced for home health care fraud
08/26/24 at 03:00 AMSt. Louis Man sentenced for home health care fraudDOJ press release; 8/21/24U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Tuesday sentenced a man who used his brother’s identity to fraudulently obtain money from the Missouri Medicaid Program to six months of incarceration and six months of house arrest. Judge Clark also ordered Christopher J. Spencer, 46, to repay $56,173 to Missouri’s Medicaid Program. Spencer made false statements from June 2018 to February 2022 in connection with claims for Medicaid-reimbursed personal care assistance services.
Transformational leadership: The how and why
08/25/24 at 03:55 AMTransformational leadership: The how and why Forbes; by Akin Akinpelu; 8/13/24 The ability to inspire and motivate a team isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a necessity. That is why transformational leadership goes beyond traditional management tactics, to driving innovation and fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered. Here’s why it matters and how you can cultivate it within your own organization. At its heart, transformational leadership is about creating a vision that motivates and inspires your team to achieve more than they ever thought possible. There are a few key elements that really set transformational leaders apart:
Navigating the complexities of life and caregiving
08/25/24 at 03:50 AMNavigating the complexities of life and caregiving WorldHealth.net; by Pat Baker; 8/16/24 As individuals advance through different life stages, especially when tasked with caregiving or managing the challenges of aging, they encounter a complex web of intertwined challenges. ... This article explores the multifaceted nature of caregiving and aging, offering insights and strategies that can help individuals manage these demanding situations effectively. ... As the population ages and the demand for caregiving increases, it is crucial to continue developing strategies and policies that support caregivers and enhance the quality of care. Editor's Note: Examine 75+ caregiver education and support videos designed for hospices to use with the primary caregiver and family members they serve. Designed and delivered via our newsletter's sponsor, Composing Life Out of Loss.
3 of the fastest growing hospice companies
08/25/24 at 03:45 AM3 of the fastest growing hospice companies Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/16/24 Three of the nation’s for-profit hospice companies have hit the accelerator on revenue growth, achieving triple-digit percentages. Each of these organizations — Traditions Health, Fortis Health and HealthFlex Hospice — appeared on Inc. magazine’s 2024 listing of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. ...
5 DEI expectations organizations should have of all leaders
08/25/24 at 03:40 AM5 DEI expectations organizations should have of all leaders Forbes; by Julie Kratz; 8/18/24 Without leadership support, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts do not work. ... For organizations wrestling with holding leaders accountable for DEI, consider these questions:
John Oliver on US for-profit hospice care: ‘too important to just hope the free market fixes it'
08/25/24 at 03:35 AMJohn Oliver on US for-profit hospice care: ‘too important to just hope the free market fixes it' The Guardian; by Adrian Horton; 8/19/24 On the latest Last Week Tonight, John Oliver delved into the many issues with hospice care in the US. Doing so is “an almost offensive parody of this show”, he acknowledged. “If somebody else did that, it would genuinely be hurtful. But I promise this is worth talking about.” There are “lots of dedicated people work with hospices, providing huge relief for dying patients and their families, particularly those who want to remain at home”, such as the 1.8 million Americans who received end-of-life care at home last year. But like anything, hospice is subject to fraud, mismanagement and abuse. One government report estimated that hospice’s inappropriate billing costs Medicare hundreds of millions per year. ... “Hospice care, when done well, is hugely beneficial to those that are dying and their families. It is too important to just hope the free market fixes it,” Oliver concluded. “This industry badly needs reform. That’s clear.” [Click on links below for more information and responses.]
Hospice CARE Act would create reimbursement for high-acuity hospice services
08/25/24 at 03:30 AMHospice CARE Act would create reimbursement for high-acuity hospice services Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/19/24 If enacted, the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act could open up reimbursement pathways for high-acuity palliative services during a time when demand and costs are rising. Developed by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenaur (D-Oregon) and announced in June at the Hospice News Elevate conference, the bill proposed massive reimbursement and regulatory changes to the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Currently in a discussion draft phase, the bill includes ways for hospice providers to have clearer definitions and improved payment for more intensive forms of palliation, such as radiation therapy, blood transfusions or dialysis, among others.
A.L.S. stole his voice. A.I. retrieved it.
08/25/24 at 03:25 AMA.L.S. stole his voice. A.I. retrieved it. DNYUZ, originally posted in The New York Times; 8/15/24Four years ago, Casey Harrell sang his last bedtime nursery rhyme to his daughter. By then, A.L.S. had begun laying waste to Mr. Harrell’s muscles, stealing from him one ritual after another: going on walks with his wife, holding his daughter, turning the pages of a book. “Like a night burglar,” his wife, Levana Saxon, wrote of the disease in a poem. ... Last July, doctors at the University of California, Davis, surgically implanted electrodes in Mr. Harrell’s brain to try to discern what he was trying to say. ... Yet the results surpassed expectations, the researchers reported on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, setting a new bar for implanted speech decoders and illustrating the potential power of such devices for people with speech impairments.
Reimagining end-of-life practices: Setas Eternal Living’s MyCoffin offers a sustainable legacy
08/25/24 at 03:20 AMReimagining end-of-life practices: Setas Eternal Living’s MyCoffin offers a sustainable legacy Franklin County Free Press; 8/13/24 In the heart of Pennsylvania’s countryside, a quiet revolution is taking place that promises to transform our end-of-life practices. At Setas Eternal Living, innovation and sustainability are at the forefront, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burials through their unique MyCoffin. MyCoffin is designed to biodegrade the human body in under three years, and their pet coffin will biodegrade your pet in under two. This initiative aims to honor life while promoting environmental stewardship, reflecting a profound respect for nature’s cycles. ... The eco-friendly burial market is gaining momentum as more people become aware of the environmental impact of traditional burial practices. According to industry projections, the U.S. coffin and casket manufacturing industry is shifting towards greener alternative. ...
YoloCares: Overregulated California skips key regulations
08/25/24 at 03:15 AMYoloCares: Overregulated California skips key regulations Our Community Now (OCN); by Craig Dresang, Special to The Enterprise; 8/17/24 California is the most heavily regulated state in the country. According to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the Golden State has 420,434 regulatory restrictions which is more than double the national average. ... So, it seems ironic that certain critically important sectors in California that impact the well-being, health and quality of life for millions of seniors are grossly unchecked and mis-regulated. My husband, who has owned and operated salons for nearly 30 years, pointed out that California’s Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) appears to have more rigorous rules and regulations for nail technicians than it does for board-and-care (B&C) owners or privately owned hospice companies. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
Health group expands to Presque Isle
08/25/24 at 03:10 AMHealth group expands to Presque Isle The County, Presque Isle, ME; 8/14/24 Andwell Health Partners (formerly Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice) has expanded its hospice services to Aroostook County. “As Maine’s largest non-profit home and community-based healthcare and care management organization, we are driven to meet the growing and evolving needs of individuals and families,” said Ken Albert, president and CEO, Andwell Health Partners, who has deep family roots in Aroostook County. ... Serving all ages of hospice patients, from infancy to those who have lived full lives, Andwell’s hospice services are available to individuals regardless of ability to pay.
Mortuaries get a modern-day makeover
08/25/24 at 03:05 AMMortuaries get a modern-day makeover The Hustle; by Sara Friedman; 8/20/24 When window shopping in a city, it’s often an aesthetic storefront that captures your attention and pulls you inside. But what if the handcrafted vase that caught your eye was actually an urn for human remains? That’s the business model for the crop of trendy, modernized mortuaries popping up around the world, per The New York Times. ... Pretty enough to be spas or nightclubs, these new mortuaries bring some levity to customers looking for something different. In a Co-Op Funeralcare study of 4k people in the UK, 68% said they see funerals as celebrations of life, not sad occasions. [Examples given] ... These new mortuary models are tapping into a lucrative industry: The average funeral costs ~$6.6k in London, while the median cost of a US funeral is $8.3k.
Sunday newsletters
08/25/24 at 03:00 AMSunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!
TCN podcast: The need to know on the 2025 Hospice Wage Index
08/25/24 at 03:00 AMTCN podcast: The need to know on the 2025 Hospice Wage Index Telios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux; 8/21/24 In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris interviews Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios and Judi Lund Person, Principal with Lund Person & Associates LLC. The conversation covers the need to know around the final published 2025 Wage Index for Hospices. Some of the key points discussed are:
Today's Encouragement
08/25/24 at 03:00 AMIt’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards… ~Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, And What Alice Found There
[Ireland] Does a palliative medicine service reduce hospital length of stay and costs in adults with a life-limiting illness?-a difference-in-differences evaluation of service expansion in Ireland
08/24/24 at 03:55 AM[Ireland] Does a palliative medicine service reduce hospital length of stay and costs in adults with a life-limiting illness?-a difference-in-differences evaluation of service expansion in IrelandAnnals of Palliative Medicine; by Soraya Matthews, Eimir Hurley, Bridget M Johnston, Pauline Kane, Karen Ryan, Eoin Tiernan, Charles Normand, Peter May; 7/24People approaching end of life account disproportionately for health care costs, and the majority of these costs accrue in hospitals. The economic evidence base to improve value of care to this population is thin. Our primary analytic sample included 4,314 observations, of whom 608 (14%) received timely palliative care. We estimated that the intervention reduced LOS [length of stay] by nearly two days, with an estimated associated saving per admission of €1,820.
[Netherlands] Potentially inappropriate end of life care and healthcare costs in the last 30 days of life in regions providing integrated palliative care in the Netherlands: A registration-based study
08/24/24 at 03:50 AM[Netherlands] Potentially inappropriate end of life care and healthcare costs in the last 30 days of life in regions providing integrated palliative care in the Netherlands: A registration-based studyInternational Journal of Integrated Care; by Chantal F R Pereira , Anne-Floor Q Dijxhoorn, Berdine Koekoek, Monique van den Broek, Karin van der Steen, Marijanne Enge, Marjon van Rijn, Judith M Meijers, Jeroen Hasselaar, Agnes van der Heide, Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Marieke H J van den Beuken-van Everdingen, Yvette M van der Linden, Manon S Boddaert, Patrick P T Jeurissen, Matthias A W Merkx, Natasja J H Raijmakers; 7/24This study aimed to assess the effect of integrated palliative care (IPC) on potentially inappropriate end- of-life care and healthcare-costs in the last 30 days of life in the Netherlands. In regions providing IPC deceased adults (n = 37,468) received significantly less potentially inappropriate end-of-life care post-implementation compared to pre-implementation. Mean hospital costs significantly decreased for deceased adults who received IPC ... while mean costs increased for general practitioner services. This study shows less potentially inappropriate end-of-life care and a shift in healthcare costs from hospital to general practitioner and home care with IPC.
Today's Encouragement
08/24/24 at 03:50 AMLife is all about how you handle Plan B ~Suzy Toronto
Mid-Atlantic primary care providers’ perception of barriers and facilitators to end-of-life conversation
08/24/24 at 03:45 AMMid-Atlantic primary care providers’ perception of barriers and facilitators to end-of-life conversationPalliative Care and Social Practice; by Melanie A. Horning, Barbara Habermann; 8/24Primary care providers are ideal people to facilitate end-of-life conversations, but these conversations rarely occur in the out-patient setting. Reported barriers in descending order included resistance from patients and families, insufficient time, and insufficient understanding of prognosis and associated expectations. Reported facilitators in descending order included established trusting relationship with provider, physical and/or cognitive decline and poor prognosis; and discussion standardization per Medicare guidelines. The involvement of primary care providers is associated with earlier ACP [advance care planning].
Transitional palliative care for family caregivers: Outcomes from a randomized controlled trial
08/24/24 at 03:40 AMTransitional palliative care for family caregivers: Outcomes from a randomized controlled trialJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Joan M Griffin, Jay N Mandrekar, Catherine E Vanderboom, William S Harmsen, Brystana G Kaufman, Ellen M Wild, Ann Marie Dose, Cory Ingram, Erin E Taylor, Carole J Stiles, Allison M Gustavson, Diane E Holland; 8/24Patients receiving inpatient palliative care often face physical and psychological uncertainties during transitions out of the hospital. Family caregivers often take on responsibilities to ensure patient safety, quality of care, and extend palliative care principles, but often without support or training, potentially compromising their health and well-being. This study tested an eight-week intervention using video visits between palliative care nurse interventionists and caregivers to assess changes in caregiver outcomes and patient quality of life. Addressing rural caregivers' needs during transitions in care can enhance caregiver outcomes and improve patient quality of life.
Access to legacy-oriented interventions at end of life for pediatric oncology patients: A decedent cohort review
08/24/24 at 03:35 AMAccess to legacy-oriented interventions at end of life for pediatric oncology patients: A decedent cohort reviewPediatric Blood and Cancer; by Sarah Daniels, Nelson D Franqui-Rios, Suraj S Mothi, Elizabeth Gaitskill, Kathryn Cantrell, Erica C Kaye; 8/24Legacy-oriented interventions have the potential to offer pediatric oncology patients and families comfort at end of life and during bereavement. Certified child life specialists often provide these services, and presently little is known about whether disparities exist in the provision of legacy-oriented interventions. [In this study] fifty-two percent of patients received a legacy-oriented intervention. Older adolescents (≥13 years) were less likely ... to receive legacy-oriented interventions than younger ones. Patients with home/hospice deaths were also less likely ... to receive interventions compared to patients who passed away at SJCRH [St. Jude Children's Research Hospital] locations. Hispanic patients ... and those in palliative care ... were more likely to receive interventions.