How Gender-Affirming Care Bans Could Impact Hospice Access, Utilization

Hospice providers are growing increasingly concerned about how state laws related to transgender rights may impede access to their services among LGBTQ+ communities. A rash of states have recently passed legislation to ban the delivery of gender-affirming health care, including Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, among others. What’s happening in these states has caused mounting […]

Study: Asian Americans Most Open to Receive Emotional Support Near End of Life, Less Likely to Have Advance Care Plan

Though older Asian-American adults may be less likely to discuss pain and symptom management needs with their health care professionals, they may be more receptive to the psychosocial support included in hospice and palliative care, according to recent research from VITAS’ Healthcare. About 63% of Asians indicated that they would want to receive emotional support […]

Hospice, Palliative Providers Strategize to Reach Underserved Communities

Providers are seeking to better understand the scope of health care disparities to find where the greatest areas of needs exist among underserved populations. But defining the range of communities that specifically lack access to hospice and palliative care can be a moving target. Every community in the nation has pockets of underserved communities, and […]

Hospice & Palliative Care of Wood River Valley Works to Reach Underserved Latino Populations

Idaho-based Hospice & Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley has initiated Spanish-speaking services in an effort to reach underserved Latino patients and families. The organization recently held its first Spanish-speaking group for families at a local church. Additionally, the hospice provider is seeking a $5,000 grant from a local charity foundation to fund its […]

AccentCare Leverages Data, Transparency to Build Diverse, Inclusive Workforce

Aiming to foster greater diversity, equity and inclusion in its ranks, AccentCare has developed an annual program to study the demographics of its workforce. The hospice and post-acute care provider recently unveiled a study of its nearly 30,000 active employees in an effort to both understand and improve driving forces that create a culture of […]

NHPCO: Language, Mistrust, Lack of Diverse Staff Come Between Hospices and Underserved Populations

Language barriers, mistrust of the health care system and a lack of diverse staff are the most common obstacles between hospice care and underserved communities, research from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recently found. NHPCO’s Diversity Advisory Council, in partnership with Transcend Strategy Group, recently polled more than 1,200 individuals among LGBTQ+, […]

Payers, Providers Work to Keep Health Equity in the Spotlight

Concern is mounting around whether current health equity initiatives will be a flash in the pan or yield long term improvement on reducing disparities in hospice care among communities of color. Racial disparities in end-of-life care access have long proliferated, but in recent years health care providers and regulators have been paying closer attention, particularly […]

Hospices Integrating Cultural Competency into Recruitment, Retention

As hospices expand their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, more are putting cultural competency at the forefront of their hiring and training processes.  Understanding and awareness of cultural beliefs and practices makes a difference when it comes to attracting and keeping staff, according to Keith Everett, CEO of Louisiana-based Hospice of Acadiana Inc. A key […]

Advance Care Planning a Bridge to Hospice Among Latino Communities

Early access to advance care planning can be a vehicle for greater health equity among underserved Latino communities, recent research has shown. Early advance care planning can help strengthen trust between providers and patients and families, according to a recent report from Compassion & Choices and the National Hispanic Council on Aging. As with other […]