Literature Review

Hospice rationale should be reassessed, says ethicist Medscape; by Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, Medical Ethics at NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine; 1/23/25 ... Decades ago, I first found out about the idea that came from England and a nurse, Cicely Saunders, to change the setting in which people die. ... I think that was a wonderful idea, and it has revolutionized end-of-life care. We have many excellent, superb hospice programs. ... The hospice institution is decades old, and it’s time to take another look at what’s going on there.  ... Private equity is all over this area, buying up hospice chains and home care hospice — looking to make big profits but not looking to maintain the quality requirements that ought to be there or to do more than is minimally required to set up and staff hospice. ... ... For reasons of serving the best interests of hospice patients, we should be rechecking the fairness of reimbursement, not overburdening families with care that ought to be provided by hospice programs, and making sure that those who are dying are monitored adequately and receiving checkups regularly. ...

Children’s book written by Manheim Township mother finally published 3 years after she died of cancer [video] LNP Lancaster Online, Lancaster, PA; by John Walk; 1/27/25 As she battled a rare sarcoma cancer over the last two years of her life, Manheim Township resident Ginny McCreary struggled to find a children’s book she could read to her two young daughters to help them better understand what she was going through. So McCreary wrote the book herself, sometimes on a smartphone while laying in bed late at night, ... McCreary died Aug. 15, 2021. She was 34. She left behind a self-published manuscript of the children’s book that sat idle for about two years but was not forgotten. ... The book has also made its way inside four Hospice & Community Care locations in Lancaster as well as Penn Medicine’s Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute in East Hempfield Township. [Video with Ginny's mother] "I'd love to get it to some cancer centers and hospice centers ..." [Click on the title's link for more information.]

Orban and Shirley Haas’ legacy gift ... Continues to transform Dickinson County Abilene-RC.com, Abilene, KS; by Elizabeth Weese; 1/23/25 When Orban and Shirley Haas passed away, they left behind more than memories — they left a profound and enduring legacy for their community through the Community Foundation of Dickinson County. Their visionary generosity has become a testament to the power of keeping local money local. Since their legacy gift was entrusted to the Foundation, more than $300,000 has been granted to the organizations they cared about most: Dickinson County Home Health & Hospice and the Abilene Public Library. These funds have not only supported these vital organizations but have allowed them to expand their operations and services, creating a ripple effect of positive impact across Abilene and Dickinson County.

Some wary of Providence home health joint venture with for-profit company Herald Net, Everett, WA; by Jenna Peterson; 1/23/25 Some nurses in the state say an upcoming joint venture between Providence Home and Community Care and Compassus, a for-profit company with private equity ownership, could have an adverse effect on health care. The deal, expected to be finalized in Washington early this year, ... impacts locations in five U.S. states. ... Boyle and Compassus spokesperson Dana Coleman said there will be no changes in care or staffing under the joint venture. But some nursing advocates, like Ian Mikusko, worry that a for-profit, private equity influence could be harmful for health care.“Private equity is somewhat more extractive because there’s a pressure to provide large dividend payments to investors,” said Mikusko, strategic researcher with the Washington State Nurses Association. Mikusko cited research that shows quality of care diminishes when private equity companies become involved in health care, such as a 2023 study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Hospice of Santa Barbara surpasses $1 million  Legacy of Compassion Campaign goal Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara, CA; by Hospice of Santa Barbara; 1/21/25 Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is thrilled to announce that it has reached and surpassed its 2024 Legacy of Compassion Campaign goal raising $1,155,410 during the year-long campaign which launched, in part, in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The campaign initiated a multi-stage effort to ensure the continued sustainability of HSB’s free compassionate care services, helping to meet current demand while building a stronger foundation for years to come. 

Federal report highlights private equity, consolidation concerns Modern Healthcare; by Hayley Desliva; 1/16/25 Three federal agencies on [1/15/25] said "more effective and vigorous" enforcement is needed to protect patients harmed by healthcare's continued consolidation. In a report released just days before a new administration takes over, the Health and Human Services Department, Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department said comments they sought earlier this year on the state of the industry made clear that worries about access to services and costs have intensified as consolidation and private equity's role have grown. ... The report noted several areas of concern: 

Hospice agency changes of ownership: An analysis  of publicly available ownership data Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation: Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy; 1/10/25 ... Over time, the number of both Medicare enrollees receiving hospice care and hospice providers has grown. Between 2010 and 2022, the number of Medicare enrollees receiving hospice care grew by approximately 50%, while the number of hospice agencies grew by 69%. Growth in the hospice provider market was driven predominantly by a 125% increase in for-profit hospices, which represent a growing share (approximately three-quarters in 2021) of the hospice provider market. The shift toward for-profit ownership in the hospice industry has been driven not only by newly enrolling hospices, but also changes of ownership. For example, acquisitions of nonprofit hospice agencies by publicly traded corporations and private equity firms have contributed to the increase in market share of for-profit hospices.

VITAS eyeing expansion in 12 states Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/14/25 Historically, VITAS Healthcare has relied heavily on organic growth, a strategy the company is not turning away from. However, it may add more acquisitions to the mix. VITAS is a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE). The company this year made its return to the M&A market after a hiatus of several years. In April, VITAS acquired Covenant Health and Community Services’ hospice operations as well as one assisted living facility in an $85 million deal. Now, the company is seeking out other targets, with an emphasis on Certificate of Need states. “There are at a minimum 12 states we don’t operate in that we think are very attractive to us, and we are out actively sourcing deals, and we expect some of that deal flow to continue to come through here in 2025 and beyond …” VITAS CEO and Chairman Nick Westfall said during the JP Morgan Healthcare conference. “We think we’re in the early roads of really an ongoing consolidation inside of the space.”

Hospice of the Chesapeake expands inpatient care with high-flow oxygen therapy Southern Maryland News Net; by Hospice of the Chesapeake; 1/13/25 Hospice of the Chesapeake is proud to announce the addition of high-flow oxygen therapy to its inpatient care centers, enhancing the quality of care for patients with complex respiratory needs. ... High-flow oxygen therapy is designed to deliver precise oxygen levels, improving breathing efficiency and overall comfort for patients. ... “Adding high-flow oxygen therapy to our inpatient care centers represents our commitment to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care,” said Dr. Sonja Richmond, Vice President of Medical Affairs & Hospice Medical Director. “This advancement enables us to better meet the needs of our patients and their families during a challenging time.”

Lamar Area Hospice receives donation from proceeds of Backyard Bash, Angel Open The Prowers Journal, Lamar, CO; by Barbara Crimond; 1/11/25 The Lamar Area Hospice was recently the recipient of a very generous donation.  Presenting a check for $75,000 was Rose Ann Yates of the Lamar Hospice Foundation’s fundraising committee. ... The donation was made possible from the committee’s two large fundraisers held each year – the Backyard Bash and the Angel Open golf tournament. ... Pelley says the group is blessed this year to have 35 corporate sponsors.  She still marvels at the generosity of a community our size and the hard work the volunteers and fundraising committee members do.  She calls it a “community effort” and said the diversity of the fundraisers appeals to a broad range of people. 

New inpatient centers unveiled as other hospice programs consider closure Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/9/25 Hospice providers across the country have recently launched new inpatient facilities as 2025 unfolds. The new year may also bring closures of certain hospice programs

Kirva Hospice CEO: Quality begins with staff education, engagement Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/7/25 Long-time hospice CEO Cheryl Hamilton Fried has taken the helm at Kirva Hospice, a new, standalone nonprofit established by the public service organizations Jewish Family Services and Beth Shalom. Kirva serves the Richmond, Virginia, region with plans to expand into contiguous markets. ... About 16% of their patients are of the Jewish faith.Q: What are your top priorities as you take the helm at Kirva? Developing culture, that’s always been big for me. I’ve done that everywhere I’ve gone. A: Developing people, so I’ve already tapped a couple of managers to elevate to directors, as we are growing our census pretty rapidly and really identifying areas that are unmet in the community. That’s what Kirva and Jewish Family Services want to do, is look at where the gaps are in senior care.

Hawaiʻi Palliative and Hospice Care Collaborative forms to strengthen advanced illness care across state MauiNow - Maui News; 1/7/25 Six grassroots nonprofit hospice providers—Hawai‘i Care Choices, Hospice Maui, Kaua‘i Hospice, Navian Hawaii, North Hawai‘i Hospice, and St. Francis Hospice—have united to form the Hawai‘i Palliative and Hospice Care Collaborative, a statewide initiative leveraging decades of expertise to provide compassionate palliative and hospice care across Hawai‘i. “This Collaborative represents a new era for end-of-life care in Hawai‘i,” said Brenda S. Ho, CEO of Hawai‘i Care Choices. “By coming together, we are amplifying our voice, strengthening our resources, and ensuring that every community across our islands has access to care that honors the culture and preferences of each patient and their ‘ohana.”