RESEARCHERS EXAMINE THE ROLE OF SELF-COMPASSION IN CAREGIVERS AND PATIENTS For those working in and/or being served by hospice and palliative care, suffering is inevitable. Having the ability to offer compassion towards oneself is a resource, and helps to be certain “that needs are not neglected particularly during times of suffering. Self-compassion in hospice […]
WASHINGTON STATE SEEKING BEST PATHS FOR DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT TO EVOLVE In 2008, when 30 of 39 Washington counties voted to approve the Death With Dignity Act, assisted dying became legal in the state. The last year for which data is available for utilization of the law is 2018. The data indicates that […]
MEDPAC RELEASES MARCH 2021 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON MEDICARE PAYMENT ISSUES On March 15, MedPAC released its annual March report to Congress. Overall, the report calls for increases for two provider systems — hospitals and long-term care hospitals. The report calls for zero payment increases for physicians, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient dialysis providers, skilled […]
COVID-19 RELIEF BILL MAKES IMPORTANT PROVISIONS FOR SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (CTAC) posted “Congress Passes COVID-19 Relief with Important Serious Illness Provisions.” The article reviews the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, “the latest round of COVID-19 relief legislation which includes several key provisions affecting people with serious illness […]
DEATH DOULAS AND HOSPICES CAN SERVE PATIENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY “Meeting People at the End: Embracing the role of the death doula for your hospice patients” appears in the March issues of HomeCare. The author describes the role of a death doula, elaborates on the services a doula provides—to patient and family, and explores why hospice […]
EXPLORING ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATH AND END-OF-LIFE EXPERIENCES Several recent articles explore the nature of death, how it is viewed and experienced, and how our attitudes about death and near-death experiences impact us. Each article addresses death from a different perspective and each brings issues and ideas for consideration. Next Avenue recently published “How […]
REVIEWING THE STATE OF HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE: NHPCO’S STUDY OUTCOMES & DR. DIANE MEIER’S PERSPECTIVE NHPCO Newsline’s Winter Issue examines the state of palliative care offerings of hospice providers. The article, written by Lori Bishop, shares findings of NHPCO’s 2020 survey, and action ideas for moving forward. The survey found that 69% of […]
WITH DYING PATIENTS, FOCUS ON PATIENTS’ GOALS IN CARE, BEING HONEST AND BEING GENTLE -– NOT SPECIFIC MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS: ENCOURAGE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE In “The Magic Words: Turning Despair Into Hope,” physician Ian Jenkins begins his thoughts on “how doctors should talk about the end of life” with their patients. In this article […]
LEADINGAGE, VNAA, AND ELEVATINGHOME FORM PARTNERSHIP LeadingAge has more “than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations” that work together “to make America a better place to grow old. VNAA, also a nonprofit organization, works to advance “quality, value and innovation in home-based care.” ElevatingHOME is “an offshoot” of VNAA. A year […]
ABIDE BY END-OF-LIFE ORDERS OR FACE LAW SUITS Especially since the beginning of the pandemic, more Americans are taking seriously the need and desire to specify their end-of-life medical care wishes. But, asks an article in New York Times, “are medical providers listening?” The author is Paula Span, columnist for New York Times’ series, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
HOSPICES FACE CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH PATIENTS WHO USE CANNABIS In “Navigating Medical Cannabis Is Continuing Challenge in Hospice and Palliative Care,” author Larry Beresford examines the difficulties that patients and providers face in using and overseeing the use of cannabis. The article, published by Shively Institute for Palliative Care, explores these challenges, especially the […]
MEDICARE CARE CHOICES MODEL RANKS WELL ON PATIENT SATISFACTION, QUALITY OF END OF LIFE, AND REDUCED COST At the end of the third year of implementation, evaluations of the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM) have been released. In the CMS Perspective, found at the first ink below, readers are reminded that MCCM began because […]
SURVEY FINDS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PATIENTS ARE LESS PLEASED WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE THAN TRADITIONAL MEDICARE PATIENTS An increasing number of Medicare beneficiaries choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA). How has MA served patients as they die? This is the question asked by researchers who recently reported in JAMA Network Open. The researchers’ survey of […]
HOSPICE PATIENT REFERRAL SITE IMPACTS HOSPICE EXPERIENCE The site from where patients are referred to hospice tends to make a difference in their care. Findings from the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy offer information about the referral site for hospice, and call the findings “an important step toward improving the care experiences of […]
PERSON-CENTERED HEALTH INFORMED BY CARE AT END OF LIFE~~ONE HOSPICE’S EFFORTS The National Quality Forum (NQF) and the Institute of Medline have each called, in separate reports, for improving person-centered and harmless healthcare. Specifically, the NQF report, “The Care We Need: Driving Better Health Outcomes for People and Communities,” calls for reorienting “the system […]