Hospice Management Advisor articles from February 2004

Hospice Management Advisor archives from February 2004

Hospice status survives and advances in medicare reform legislation; new law will offer some immediate benefits.
February 1, 2004... While the debate over Medicare reform swirled around how to provide relief to senior citizens burdened by the high cost of prescription drugs, care for the dying was quietly improved. Once the massive Medicare reform bill was signed into law...

National study provides great marketing data; study in JAMA shows you have what they want.(Hospice Trends)
February 1, 2004... Left to die in nursing homes and hospitals, terminal patients and their families are largely underserved. Hospices, on the other hand, provide a variety of services that meet the needs of the terminally ill and their families. That, in a few...

Palliative consultations improve outcomes--study; 'broad impact' on patient care possible.(Hospice Trends)
February 1, 2004... Palliative care consultations can lead to improved patient outcomes, including relief of dyspnea, anxiety, and sleeplessness, and may reduce the number of times patients must seek primary or urgent care, according to a new study. The...

Providers have recourse when MCOs don't pay: don't be afraid to challenge claims denials.(Guest Column)
February 1, 2004... Home care providers and patients remain concerned about the decisions that managed care organizations (MCOs) and other payers make about whether to pay for care. Both groups often perceive that the true decision-makers about treatment may be...

Limit nursing shifts to protect patients; fatigue has impact for patients, workers.(Guest Column)
February 1, 2004... Nurses should be restricted from working more than 12 hours at time or more than 60 hours per week to prevent "error-producing fatigue," an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel recommended in a comprehensive review of the nursing work environment....

Pain cases settled: nursing home fined; undertreatment of 'severe and constant pain'.(Guest Column)
February 1, 2004... In a case watched closely as a harbinger of what can happen when a health care provider under-treats pain, two doctors and two health care facilities reached settlements just before the case was scheduled for trial. There were financial...

Coming year colored by medicare reform package: regulatory, staffing, financial issues key for HHAs.(Guest Column)
February 1, 2004... If you are a fan of roller coasters, then home health is the industry for you. Most experts agree that home health managers have experienced a lot of ups and downs, and unexpected bumps and turns, during the past several years. The good news is...