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Hospices Stepping Up Performance on Visits-in-Last-Days-of-Life Measure

Hospice News

The number of registered nurse and social worker visits during a patient’s final week is one of the seven quality measures that CMS uses to evaluate providers. Social worker visits in the last days of life also rose to 9% in 2021, up from 7% in 2020. In 2019, for example, the percentage was 66%.

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Federal Legislation Would Create National Strategy on Grief

Hospice News

introduced legislation this morning to create a National Strategy on Grief and establish grants to fund trauma-informed care for the bereaved. The massive loss of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic — more than 1 million deaths since 2020 — has spurred demand for bereavement care and was a partial impetus for the legislation. .

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Phoenix Children’s Pediatric Palliative Care Training Works to Bridge Access, Staffing Gaps

Hospice News

Phoenix Children’s palliative program began in 2009 and includes nine physicians, social workers, mental health therapists, child life specialists and bereavement support professionals. The organization’s pediatric palliative and hospice fellowship program launched in 2020.

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Caring for the Caregivers: Keys for Helping Family Members in Palliative Care Roles

Hospice News

Schaefer relays that palliative care social workers can “assess safety and health-related social needs like food insecurity, housing instability, financial stressors and behavioral health needs.” In addition to defining what palliative care is, providers should consider the caregivers—both their role and well-being.

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How Hospice, Behavioral Health May Cross Paths

Hospice News

In some respects, the two sectors are already inextricably linked, given the holistic nature of hospice care, including attention to patients’ psychosocial and spiritual needs as well as bereavement support for families. Hospices also lack quality measures associated with bereavement care.

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St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care Launches New Florida Inpatient Hospice Center

Hospice News

Volunteers, social workers, chaplains and bereavement counselors also make up the center’s staff. Francis, the organization rebranded in 2020 to reflect its expanded scope of community-based services in an area with a growing need for serious illness and end-of-life care. Formerly Hospice of St.

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Government Funding Bill Extends Telehealth Flexibilities, Averts Cap Cut

NHPCO

Telehealth extension: The legislation extends hospice telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2024, which were initially enacted as part of the CARES Act in 2020. There is no requirement for hospices to use MFTs or MHCs and a social worker is still required if needed under a patient’s plan of care. It also directs the U.S.