Pediatric Palliative Care: The Forces Impeding Quality

Pediatric palliative care providers have room for improvement when it comes to understanding the factors that can impact health care decisions among seriously ill young adults and adolescents. A diverse range of social, emotional and psychological developmental factors can complicate the ability of pediatric palliative providers to navigate advance care planning conversations and deliver goal-concordant […]

Palliative Care’s Value-Based Future

Many believe that the fee-for-service model does not sufficiently support a robust palliative care program, meaning that providers must turn to value-based systems for sustainable reimbursement. But primarily, Medicare still reimburses for palliative care through fee-for-service payment programs that cover physician and licensed independent practitioner services. That model does not sufficiently cover the full range […]

How California Began Expanding Palliative Care Via Medicaid

Palliative care has become a more sought-after treatment plan in recent years, and one agency in California has led the charge in advancing palliative care support among its population. In September 2015, the Partnership HealthPlan of California — managed by Medicaid — launched a pilot program dedicated to palliative care, with an emphasis on enhancing patient […]

Growing Neuropalliative Care: Overcoming Barriers to Scale

The emerging specialty of neuropalliative care faces several obstacles to scaling and reaching more patients. A huge need exists for neuropalliative care, Dr. Claire J. Creutzfeldt at the Harborview Medical Center’s Department of Neurology told Palliative Care News. Neurological illnesses result in a change in not only physical health, but also mental health as social […]

Sierra Community Care, Mettle Health Partner on Guiding Palliative Care, Hospice Decision-Making

Sierra Community Palliative Care is partnering with Mettle Health to help patients and families navigate potentially life-changing health care decisions. Sierra is the palliative care arm of California-based Hospice of the Foothills, designed to care for nonterminal patients who have serious or chronic conditions. It seeks to aid with symptom management, prevent unnecessary ER visits, […]

How Palliative Psychiatry Can Support Quality of Life, Symptom Management

The lines of palliative and psychiatric services may increasingly intersect as demand for collaborative care swells among seriously ill populations with mental health conditions. Though palliative care and behavioral health collaborations can be beneficial for patients, widespread misconceptions and a fragmented health care system represent significant headwinds curbing growth. The impact of limited access to […]

Bringing Palliative Telehealth to Rural Tennessee

A Tennessee provider is working to break down barriers to palliative care for rural cancer patients in their home state. For cancer patients in rural areas, accessing palliative care services can be a burden due to the distance needed to travel to a clinic or for an in-home provider to come to them. Tennessee Oncology, […]

Most Rural Regions Lack Palliative Care Specialists

The lion’s share of palliative care physicians dwell in more densely populated communities, creating disparities among the rural seriously ill population. Recent research has found that more than 90% of board certified palliative physicians and nurse practitioners nationwide were located in metropolitan and urban areas in 2022. Only 10% of these palliative clinicians were in […]

The Impacts of Child Abuse, Neglect in Pediatric Palliative Care

Seriously ill children may be at increased risk of experiencing abuse and neglect, an issue challenging palliative care providers’ ability to deliver trauma-informed care among pediatric populations. Children with chronic conditions and disabilities experience neglect and abuse at a higher rate than others, according to research published in the pediatric journal Child: Care, Health and […]

The Emergence of Contemplative Medicine in Palliative Care

Interest in contemplative medicine may be rising in the palliative and end-of-life care communities as more practitioners realize the potential benefits for clinicians and patients. The concept of contemplative medicine is rooted in the use of mindfulness, meditation and other practices designed to reduce clinician stress and help them embrace care for the whole patient […]