Researchers Uncover Widespread Disparities Affecting Rural Hospice Caregivers

Lagging supportive services around social determinants of health and limited access to hospice and palliative care are driving disparities among rural family caregivers. Rural caregivers are more vulnerable to adverse emotional health impacts than others due to their remote locations, researcher Arienne Patano, PhD student at Michigan State University, said at the American Academy of […]

HAP Foundation, NORC: Structural Racism Impedes Access to Hospice, Palliative Care

Black Americans are frequently denied access to hospice and palliative care due to structural racism, and many of those communities lack sufficient information to make end-of-life care decisions, new research has found. The HAP Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago recently published the results of a joint research project designed to gain better […]

Spiritual Care Key to Addressing Disparities Among Underserved Black Communities

In case you missed it, Hospice News has launched a new specialty publication for palliative care professionals. You can subscribe to Palliative Care News here: Subscribe today! Spiritual hospice care providers are an important link to building bridges of access and trust among underserved African American populations. Spirituality plays a key role in end-of-life decisions among African […]

AMOREM’s New Director of Faith Outreach: Build Community Relationships to Boost Hospice Access

Hospices are reaching an inflection point when it comes to breaking down communication barriers around spiritual care among underserved communities, according to William Williamson, who recently became the new director of faith outreach at AMOREM. North Carolina-based AMOREM provides hospice care across 12 counties in the northwestern region of the state. The nonprofit hospice provider […]

Researchers Link Social Determinants to Pain Management in End-of-Life Care

Recent research shows that social determinants of health programs can help improve pain and symptom management for end-of-life patients in underserved communities. A recent study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology found disparities in pain management among Black, Asian and Hispanic cancer patient populations, based on variation in the availability of social determinants of […]

Breaking Down Barriers: The Crucial Role of Social Workers in Dispelling Hospice Misconceptions

Social workers have an increasingly important role to play in breaking down barriers among underserved populations, including misconceptions about hospice that can deter or dampen utilization. Social workers can be pivotal to shaping care delivery approaches and community outreach efforts that improve hospice access and understanding, according to Arlen Gaines, licensed clinical social worker and […]

How Health Equity Payment Models Are Impacting Hospice Staff Diversity

Recent health equity initiatives in hospice reimbursement may reverberate impacts into providers’ staff recruitment and retention strategies, particularly when it comes to leadership roles. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) in 2021 announced a “strategy refresh” that included focus on health care equity in payment model design. The Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, […]

Hospices Seek Special Focus CONs to Reach Underserved Populations

Some states with certificate of need (CON) regulations have special focus policies that allow hospice providers to expand services among underserved communities. But navigating these CON processes can be a challenge. State medical facilities plans (SMFPs) are programs built into CON processes that focus on expanding health care services among populations with specific unmet needs. […]

VNS Health Expands Hospice Education for Underserved Asian Americans

VNS Health has developed community education programs to boost awareness and hospice utilization among Chinese populations in New York City.  Having a diverse staff, as well as outreach materials in various dialects, are two keys to developing culturally competent public education programs designed for Asian Americans, according to Teresa Lin, vice president of cultural market […]