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‘Upgrading’ the Medicare Hospice Benefit

Hospice News

The Medicare Hospice Benefit could use an “upgrade” to ensure greater flexibility that may be necessary to fully support patients’ needs. Wladkowski, the Larry and Patty Benz Professor and an associate professor of social work at Bowling Green State University. This is according to a recent editorial in Health Affairs by Cara L.

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The Question of Palliative Care Sustainability

Hospice News

Both Medicare and managed care don’t reimburse appropriately to cover the cost of salaries and education in palliative care,” McInnes said. So productivity cannot be as robust for some of the social work, chaplain or nurse visits. Reimbursement and staffing challenges are the most significant factors. It’s really the funding.

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Top 5 ‘Hidden Gem’ Palliative Care News Stories from 2023

Hospice News

A growing number of educational and academic institutions also have created partnerships with providers to create new pathways for palliative care clinical training, with many focusing on nurses, social work and pharmacy students – areas that are hurting for qualified professionals.

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VA Study Finds 95% Increase in Palliative Care Utilization When Patients Have Access to Social Workers

Hospice News

Patients are more likely to receive palliative care if they can access social workers through their primary care providers, Veterans Health Administration (VA) research has found. These findings suggest that social workers may increase access to and/or use of palliative care.”. The average age among the veterans was about 65.

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How Outpatient Palliative Care Clinics Advance Person-Centered Care

Hospice News

Insurance companies and Medicare are also starting to recognize the cost savings and improved patient outcomes the clinics can provide. “I To meet growing demand, more outpatient palliative care clinics and programs are cropping up. The patient will then be referred to an outpatient clinic or home-based provider for further care.

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LeadingAge to Congress: Reform Hospice Benefit, Fund Palliative Care

Hospice News

The Medicare Hospice Benefit should allow some concurrent care, and Congress should support greater access to palliative care, among other reforms, according to LeadingAge. The senior care advocacy organization wrote to Congressional leaders today calling on lawmakers to devote attention to improving the 40-year-old benefit.

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How Value-Based Care, Investors Could Impact Palliative Care Staffing

Hospice News

We’re seeing more and more nurse training programs, more social work training programs, etc., In tandem with these investments is the rise of managed care, such as Medicare Advantage plans and some Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). We’re putting more people out there in the world through these training programs.”