The High Costs of Limited Hospice Access for Dementia Patients 

Limiting hospice access for dementia patients is likely to increase overall health care costs at the end of life, according to recent research. During the past decade, Medicare beneficiaries with dementia who utilized hospice had lower overall health care costs than those who did not, according to the Health Affairs study. The findings provide a […]

Focus on Quality Competencies Key for Hospices in Value-Based Models

As hospices move towards value-based payment models, payers, referral partners and patients and families themselves are paying increasing attention to quality metrics. However, health care providers, including those in the hospice field, would benefit from additional training and workforce development dedicated to quality and safety, according to new research from the National Association for Healthcare […]

Amedisys Acquires Contessa Health in $250 Million Deal

Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) has agreed to purchase Contessa Health,  a Tennessee-based company that provides hospital-at-home and skilled nursing-at-home services, for a total consideration of $250 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The transaction, expected to close Aug. 11, will bring higher acuity home-based care under Amedisys’ wings. The company will be […]

Moving Health Home Engages Hospice, Palliative Care Providers

Moving Health Home is getting involved in hospice, having expanded to include providers Compassus, Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) and the community-based support company Contessa Health. Moving Health Home is a coalition of health care organizations that advocate for the expansion of home-based care. Moving Health Home was established in March by founding members […]

Diane Meier to Step Down as CAPC Leader, CSO Brynn Bowman to Succeed

Diane Meier, M.D., founder and executive director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), is stepping down as the leader of that organization this coming April. Chief Strategy Officer Brynn Bowman will succeed Meier as executive director. Meier, a geriatrician and palliative care specialist, has been a leading voice in the movement to improve […]

Mt. Sinai, Contessa Expand Palliative Care at Home

The New York City area’s largest academic medical center, the Mount Sinai Health System, is expanding its community-based palliative care service in partnership with Contessa. The initiative is called Palliative Care at Home. The program is born out of needs that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. With many patients anxious about entering facilities due to […]

Lack of Caregiver Support Adversely Impacts Hospice Utilization

A lack of sufficient family caregiver support can have a negative impact on whether or not a patient receives hospice care. New research shows that patients who are faced with end-of-life decisions may be less likely to choose hospice unless they have a network of friends or family who can serve as home caregivers. The […]

Hospice Utilization in Assisted Living Exceeds Private Homes

Hospice utilization among Medicare beneficiaries is greater in assisted living facilities than many other settings, including private residences, according to new research published in Health Affairs.  Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City indicated that this was the first national study to examine the types of residences where […]

WSJ: COVID-19 Outbreak Boosting Demand for Palliative Care

As health care providers across every setting scramble to meet patient needs during the novel coronavirus pandemic, many are starting to recognize the importance of palliative care and are seeking more support from those clinicians. The outbreak — and associated morbidity and mortality — has underscored the need for clinicians to navigate difficult, often emotional conversations […]

Palliative Care Providers Mobilize During COVID-19

As the COVID-19 spread continues with climbing death rates and confirmed cases, providers across the health care continuum are navigating the impact on patients and staff. With older adults and those with serious medical conditions at greatest risk, palliative care stands to play a significant role during the coronavirus outbreak. According to the U.S. Centers […]