Literature Review

UnitedHealth drops dismissal bid in US suit over Amedisys deal Bloomberg Law; by Justin Wise; 2/6/25 (additional subscription may be required)UnitedHealth Group Inc. is withdrawing its motion to dismiss the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block its $3.3 billion acquisition of home-health and hospice services provider Amedisys Inc. and planning to fight the case at trial. In a Wednesday [2/5/25] filing in the US District Court for the District of Maryland, UnitedHealth and Amedisys said that new information provided by the Justice Department eliminated the basis for its request to toss the case at a preliminary stage. The firms previously argued the DOJ was withholding key geographic market information integral to its claim that the tie-up would stifle competition ...

A broader end-of-life-view: The need for hospice and palliative care extends beyond the elderly, as the patient population at Transitions LifeCare suggestsTriangle Business Journal, Raleigh, NC; by Connie Gentry; 2/7/25 Although the likelihood of developing cancer is highest for anyone over age 65, the American Cancer Society’s annual report on cancer statistics, released last month, noted increasing incidents of many cancer types among younger adults and women. ... But positive outcomes were also reported: The cancer mortality rate in the U.S. declined by 34 percent from 1991 to 2022 and, since 1970, cancer mortality in children 14 years and younger has declined by 70 percent and among adolescents ages 15 to 19 years it has dropped by 63 percent. ... Although the majority of their hospice patients are over the age of 75, Transitions LifeCare is seeing an increase in younger patients. Last year, roughly 9 percent of their hospice patients were under age 65, almost evenly divided between women and men.

Chapters Health System names new Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the Foundation for Chapters Health Foundation Cision, Temple Terrace, FL; PR Newswire; 2/6/25 Chapters Health System ... announced the appointment of Franklin Guerrero as the new Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the Chapters Health Foundation. Guerrero, accomplished fundraising executive with more than 20 years of experience in developing successful fundraising strategies, previously served as the Vice President of Major and Planned Gifts at Capital Caring Health, a Chapters Health affiliate organization. He also partnered with leadership at organizations such as AARP Foundation, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Project HOPE, USA for UNHCR and Children International. "We're thrilled to have Franklin's leadership at the Chapters Health Foundation to help expand our culture of philanthropy," said Rhonda White, president of hospice and PACE, Chapters Health System.

Hospice of North Idaho celebrates record-breaking event Coeur d'Alene / Post Falls Press, Coeur d'Alene, ID; by Devin Weeks; 2/7/25The 40th year turned out to be the finest. Hospice of North Idaho hosted a successful sold-out soirée Feb. 1, raising an all-time best of more than $276,000 at the 40th annual Wine Taste and Auction at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. "It’s a new record for us," Hospice of North Idaho Executive Director Eric Ladwig said Thursday. ... "These are programs we don’t get any reimbursement from Medicare for," Ladwig said. "There's no mechanism for reimbursement other than community support." The annual event has seen increasing support year over year ... [for] Hospice of North Idaho, which has been providing end-of-life care and support services for the community for 44 years. Counting volunteers, attendees and sponsors, well over 400 people gathered for "The Secret Garden"-inspired evening, ... "It sold out three days before the event," Ladwig said.

Use of digital health technologies by older US adultsJAMA Network Open; Cornelius A. James, MD; Tanima Basu, MS, MA; Brahmajee K. Nallamothu, MD, MPH; Jeffery T. Kullgren, MD, MPH, MS; 1/25Older adults use various types of DHT [digital health technologies], and they use patient portals most often. Although some older adults have unique physical and cognitive needs that can affect the utility and usability of DHTs, in aggregate they share some predictors of DHT use with younger adults. Additionally, our study showed a statistically significant association between non-Hispanic Black race and ethnicity and DHT use. Various factors may contribute to this finding, including medical mistrust among Black patients leading to decreased engagement with the health system and increased reliance on DHTs. This study highlights the need to carefully consider the unique characteristics of older adults when developing and deploying DHTs to avoid worsening the digital divide. 

Reflection on the Potomac River Crash Hospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger, Editor in Chief; 1/30/25We are absorbing the heartbreaking news about Wednesday night’s tragic plane and helicopter crash over the Potomac River. Like many of you, I’m flooded with memories of flying into this same airport--delighting in the beautiful river and DC’s historic sites, the diversity among fellow travelers, and the city's adventures ahead. Many of these Washington DC trips were to be with our hospice and palliative colleagues at the NHPCO Conferences (now The Alliance). Today, I’m grateful for our many safe journeys and the rich connections we made in meetings, meals, spontaneous greetings, and our shared purpose. And, these current Potomac River tragic deaths can stir currents of our own traumatic losses. For me, I remember the pains of a beloved family in my childhood’s home church, whose adult son was killed in the January 1982 Potomac River plane crash. I easily feel the loss of my grandfather from when he was killed by a drunk driver. What are these for you? What truths do we glean from our hospice work? As news unfolds, may we treasure anew the unknown measures of our time on this earth. May we cherish our connections and treat each other with respect across our differences. May we, in our work and in our lives, sensitively tune into the often silent, life-altering traumas carried by others. May we learn, live, and give. Humbly, Joy

How to prepare children for hardships and tragedies The Citizen; by Dr. Victor Garlock; 2/4/25 All of us must face hardships and tragedies. How well we are able to get through difficult times is a major factor affecting the overall quality of our lives. Sometimes these challenges arrive individually, as in a sudden serious illness, an accident, or the death of a loved one. Sometimes — as in last fall’s devastating floods in North Carolina or the recent wildfires in Southern California — entire communities must find a way to move forward. ... Resilience is the capacity to recover from challenges and adversity. Tragic optimism is the determination to remain optimistic and find meaning and purpose in the face of tragedy. [With children:]

Owners of McHenry Village restaurant have partnered with nonprofit [hospice] to open Modesto cafe The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA; by Dominique Williams; 2/3/25 ... Cafe Verona opened to the public Monday inside Community Hospice & Health Services, a Modesto nonprofit. It is operated by executive chef Jaime Alderete and his wife, Edwarda, owners of Verona Cucina Italiana in McHenry Village and Verona18 in Copperopolis. ... The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Its business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Editor's note: Click here and scroll down to view Community Hospice & Health Services' use of this partnership to host "Coffee & Conversations With Community Hospice & Health Services."  Consider the ease and effective cost-management of providing hospice employees and volunteers with this accessible food service.

Grief and bereavement books for kids and teens Evermore; list developed in collaboration with Dr. Donna Gaffney; 2/1/25... How can a young person grasp the enormity, meaning, and consequences of an occurrence that brought death, injury, or harm into their life? ... Because books can be such a powerful balm during a time of grief, here’s our list of favorite books for kids and teens that explore the difficult experiences of death, grief, loss, and bereavement. [Click here for the full article with book descriptions, photos, and links.]

You can be mature and respectful – and still have a dirty sense of humor.You can curse a lot – and still be highly intelligent with a robust vocabulary.You can be quiet and reserved – and still be witty and even outgoing in certain circles.You can be intelligent and sharp-minded – and still forget what month it is.   ~Higher Perspective

Follow-up: Helene and hospice care in the western North Carolina mountains Hospice & Palliative Care Today; summary from a meeting between Vern Grindstaff (CEO, Compassionate Care Western North Carolina), Chris Comeaux and Tina Gentry (Teleios Collaborative Network), Cordt Kassner and Joy Berger (this newsletter); 1/28/25 Hospice recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina's mountains have been massive, with extensive long-term needs ahead. Vern Grindstaff, CEO of Compassionate Care Western North Carolina described the "new normal" they are experiencing.  Photos of this hospice and its service area vividly portrayed this hospice before, soon after Helene, and in its current recovery. Key topics included unthinkable patient care challenges with creative problem-solving, financial implications amounting to a $350,000 deficit for repairs, and the trauma experienced by staff—both professionally and personally. Discussions highlighted the importance of long-term recovery strategies, including the involvement of larger trusts for sustained funding, while also recognizing community support efforts by organizations like the Cajun Navy and Samaritan's Purse. Additionally, Chris Comeaux is presenting to hospice organizations about Emergency Disaster Management, equipping leaders to learn from this tragedy. Editor's note: Click here for a map of Compassionate Care Western North Carolina's service area (CCWNC). Click here to donate to their ongoing recovery. We thank our readers for your previous support to this and other hospices affected by emergency disasters. Additional resources:

Care for patients with a history of immigrationJAMA; Margaret Wheeler, MS, MD; Juan Raul Gutierrez, MD; Alicia Fernandez, MD; 1/25Home to 20% of the world’s immigrants, the US is the leading destination for people leaving their birth countries, and the US Census estimates that almost 14% of the US population in 2022 was born outside the US. ... The 2023 US Preventive Services Task Force Guideline on screening for latent tuberculosis recommends screening for tuberculosis in patients from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia because in 2020, 71% of cases of active tuberculosis in the US occurred among individuals from these areas. Assessment of clinically relevant premigration factors involves consideration of the epidemiology of disease, health care practices, and sociopolitical and environmental exposures in an immigrant’s country of origin. These factors can alter risk assessment in differential diagnoses; for example, neurocysticercosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of seizures in a patient from Central America.