Hospice Management Advisor articles from November 2003

Hospice Management Advisor archives from November 2003

Hospice opportunities abound, especially in palliative care: NHPCO conference highlights opportunities for the future.
November 1, 2003... National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) president J. Donald Schumacher, in office just one year, portrays the U.S. hospice industry and its trade organization as on the move, with opportunities on the horizon. ...

NHPCO leader outlines upcoming initiatives: grants sought to help finance efforts.
November 1, 2003... Signs of forward motion for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in Alexandria, VA, were cited during its recent Management and Leadership Conference, held Sept. 7-9 in Phoenix. Under the leadership of president J....

Steps to boost quality advocated at conference: concerns must be addressed, officials say.
November 1, 2003... Participants at the 18th Management and Leadership Conference of the Alexandria, VA-based National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), held Sept. 7-9 in Phoenix, said that while they were looking forward to growth and expanded...

Good to Great author inspires reflection: do you have the right people on the 'bus'?
November 1, 2003... Although he did not make a physical appearance at the 18th Management and Leadership Conference of the Alexandria, VA-based National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), held Sept. 7-9 in Phoenix, management expert and author Jim...

Two new TV ads readied for national release: ads designed to increase public awareness.
November 1, 2003... The Alexandria, VA-based National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Hospice Foundation (NHF), NHPCO's development arm, are rolling out two new television public service announcements (PSAs) to increase consumer...

Studies show pain disparity among minorities: research on minorities examined.
November 1, 2003... An African-American patient is more likely to endure disease-related pain than his or her white counterpart. Experts in end-of-life care have noted this fact for years, and now a recent University of Michigan research study has drawn a similar...

Congress considers bill to aid dying children: two pilot programs would test the concept.
November 1, 2003... Two Ohio lawmakers want to see palliative care become the standard for dying children in the United States. A House bill was introduced in September by U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-OH. The bill is also co-sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Mike...

Hospice a factor in 'best hospital list'.
November 1, 2003... If a hospital wants to be considered one of the best in the country, it had better have access to hospice care. U.S. News and World Report released its list of "America's Best Hospitals" in its Aug. 4 issue. The availability of hospice and...

Providers gear up for new HIPAA regulations.
November 1, 2003... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) won't seek out and penalize health care organizations that don't comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) transactions and code sets rule after the rule's...

JCAHO revises areas for random surveys in 2004.
November 1, 2003... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has revised the fixed and variable performance areas that will be evaluated during random unannounced surveys next year. Beginning in 2004, performance will be reviewed in...

CMS: 3.3% rise in home health payment rates.
November 1, 2003... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a 3.3% increase in Medicare payment rates to home health agencies (HHAs) for fiscal year 2004. The increase will provide an extra $340 million in payments to HHAs next year. Home...

No quick end to nursing shortage, new report says.
November 1, 2003... Although health care organizations are using innovative strategies to recruit and retain nurses, and federal, state, and local government agencies are providing financial support to help alleviate shortages, the national nursing shortage will...

Fear of investigation can hinder treatment: survey finds pain management affected.
November 1, 2003... Despite all of its successes in improving care for patients facing the end of life, Oregon still has not made headway in treating pain and suffering, according to researchers at the Center for Ethics in Healthcare at Oregon Health Sciences...