NATIONAL GRIEF STRATEGY SEEKS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS NHPCO and the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (SWHPN) issued a joint press release addressing the need to “retool” U.S. grief and bereavement care. The release noted the importance of the recent memorial that was held at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for all who have […]
Federal Register Office for Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, HHS. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule To Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated Care and Individual Engagement–The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or “the Department”) is issuing […]
MEDPAC RECOMMENDS CUTS TO HOSPICE AGGREGATE CAP The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met on January 14 to finalize its annual recommendations to Congress The recommendations from MedPAC are that Medicare make no increase in payment for hospices for Fiscal Year 2021, and that a 20% reduction be applied to the aggregate hospice payment […]
Texas Register TITLE 22. EXAMINING BOARDS PART 9. TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD CHAPTER 174. TELEMEDICINE SUBCHAPTER A. TELEMEDICINE 22 TAC §174.5—The Texas Medical Board (Board) adopts, on an emergency basis, amendments to 22 TAC §174.5, effective January 2, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. The emergency amendment allows physicians to utilize telemedicine to issue refill prescriptions for scheduled medications […]
HOME FUNERAL MOVEMENT BRINGING RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH DEATH IN FAMILY-CENTERED WAYS An article in New York Times magazine explores “The Movement to Bring Death Closer.” The practice of home funerals allows families and loved ones to spend more time with the bodies of the deceased and share rituals that, for some, are empowering […]
Texas Register ATTORNEY GENERAL Requests for Opinions Re: Public access to the Texas Capitol and whether members of the Legislature may vote on legislation from a location other than their respective chambers. Requestor: The Honorable Briscoe Cain Chair, House Select Committee on Driver’s License Issuance & Renewal Texas House of Representatives Post Office Box […]
ARTICLE EXPLORES WHY TOO FEW KIDNEY PATIENTS CHOOSE HOSPICE Undark features a story that explores why “Few Kidney Patients Can Access Palliative Care or Hospice.” Part of a series of articles supported in part by the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation, the article take a deep look at the needs of kidney […]
Texas Register The following amendments were proposed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council CHAPTER 781. SOCIAL WORKER LICENSURE SUBCHAPTER B. RULES OF PRACTICE 781.302 relating to definitions. SUBCHAPTER C. APPLICATION AND LICENSING 781.401 relating to qualifications for licensure. 781.402 relating to clinical supervision for LCSW and non-clinical supervision for independent 781.403 relating to independent practice […]
COMPASSIONATE CARE ACT WELCOMED BY END-OF-LIFE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ADVOCATES The Compassionate Care Act, sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) was introduced on December 2. The act, says a statement posted on Senator Blumenthal’s site, would “promote advance care planning and end-of-life care to ensure that patients get the care they want and that is […]