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Between Compassion and Commerce: Navigating the complex landscape of Hospice care in America

In this week’s email:

• Today’s Insight from AgingHere

• A Comprehensive Guide to Palliative and Hospice Care

• The Disturbing Trend of For-Profit Hospice Care in America

• Dissecting the Influence of Hospice Ownership on Family Caregiver Experiences

• Dispelling the Top Misconceptions About Hospice Care

• Today’s AgingHere Survey

• Making us laugh this week

• AgingHere Referral Program

• Today’s Sponsor: Mastering Medicare Podcast (MasteringMedicare.net)

Today’s Insight from AgingHere

Palliative and hospice care both serve to alleviate the burdens of serious illnesses, but they differ in focus and application. Palliative care aims to relieve physical, emotional, and psychosocial stress, allowing for curative treatments across a range of illnesses. On the other hand, hospice care, which requires a terminal illness certification, prioritizes comfort and symptom management, foregoing curative treatments. Both approaches involve a multidisciplinary team and are typically covered by insurance and Medicare. When choosing between them, one should consider personal values, expected prognosis, and insurance coverage.

The hospice care industry in the U.S. is increasingly influenced by for-profit entities and private equity firms. This shift towards commercialization has raised concerns about rising costs, potential fraud, and care quality. Issues such as fraudulent patient enrollment, improper care categorization, and cost-cutting-induced quality reduction have been highlighted. As non-profit hospices decline due to financial constraints and increased scrutiny, critics warn of a potential compromise in patient care. Concurrently, potential changes to Medicare coverage, such as integrating hospice into the Medicare Advantage program, are under discussion.

Despite the observed trends, public perception of hospice care is plagued by misconceptions. Contrary to popular belief, hospice care does not hasten death, is not restricted to cancer patients or the elderly, and is not only for those nearing death. Hospice care, which is generally covered by insurance, can be initiated by anyone, not just doctors, and can be received at home or in a facility. Moreover, it provides support to the entire family, ensuring it's an accessible and comprehensive care option. Dispelling these misconceptions can ensure wider access to this crucial service.

Palliative Cheat Sheet provides a comprehensive approach to symptom management, offering resources for primary care providers and support during end-of-life, including COVID-19 considerations for actively dying patients at home.

Palliative and Hospice Care

Palliative care aims to alleviate physical, emotional, and psychosocial burden for those with serious illnesses, allowing curative treatments. Hospice care focuses on comfort and symptom management for terminally ill individuals, forgoing curative treatments. These care types affect insurance coverage and type of care received. Diverse conditions, including Alzheimer's, cancer, and COPD, qualify for palliative care. To receive hospice care, one must be certified terminally ill. Both care types involve a multidisciplinary team, and are generally covered by insurance and Medicare. Choosing between the two involves considering personal values, expected prognosis, and insurance coverage. read more.

The Disturbing Trend of For-Profit Hospice Care in America

The hospice care industry in the U.S. is increasingly dominated by for-profit entities, with private equity firms stepping in. This shift has sparked concerns about rising costs, fraud, and quality of care. Issues include fraudulent enrolment of patients, improper categorization of care, and reduced care quality due to cost-cutting. Non-profit hospices are becoming less prevalent, attributed to financial constraints and increased scrutiny. While some argue that consolidation and privatization can maintain quality, critics warn it may compromise patient care. Simultaneously, Medicare coverage changes are being proposed, potentially integrating hospice into the Medicare Advantage program. read more.

Dissecting the Influence of Hospice Ownership on Family Caregiver Experiences

This cross-sectional analysis of US hospice data shows that family caregivers often report poorer care experiences at for-profit hospices compared to not-for-profit ones. Despite this, there is variation in reported quality among both types. The study underscores the importance of public reporting of hospice quality data to help identify high-quality hospices. read more.

Dispelling the Top Misconceptions About Hospice Care

Hospice care is often misunderstood. Key misconceptions include: it hastens death, is only for cancer patients or the elderly, is only for those near death, and is unaffordable. In reality, hospice care provides symptom relief, serves various serious illnesses, and is available to anyone with a prognosis of six months or less. Hospice care can be received at home or a facility and supports the entire family. It can be initiated by anyone, not just doctors. Lastly, it's typically covered by insurance, making it accessible. read more.

Making us laugh this week:

AgingHere Referral Program

Today’s Sponsor: Mastering Medicare (MasteringMedicare.net)

Listen to Mastering Medicare Podcast Episode 22: Interview with Dr. Marc Gruner from Limber about Remote Therapeutic Monitoring

AgingHere Inspirational Quotes

Aging is not a burden to be carried, but a chapter of life that should be embraced with love, understanding, and support.