Despite the American Medical Association’s stance that “cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern,” the use of medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, is increasing. With the legalization of marijuana in various states and the availability of marijuana and/or cannabidiol for medical purposes in over twenty states, hospice providers are…
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is the spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities associated with end stage liver disease. Symptoms range from subtle alterations in mental status to confusion and coma. A severely diseased liver is not able to normally metabolize ammonia and a variety of other neurotoxic substances, resulting in their accumulation. Because the primary cause of HE…
For decades, patients, caregivers, and sometimes even hospice staff have erroneously believed that morphine use hastens death. However, these same people have continued to use morphine believing that the provision of a pain-free death is more important than extending the dying process. After the death of a loved one who was treated with morphine or…
A Recent Hospice Update Eliminates The 3-Decade Old Per-Diem Rate: Hospices will now be reimbursed a rate that is higher on days 1-60 of a stay ($187.54) and lower thereafter ($145.14). Hospices can now bill for reimbursement for service intensity add-on (SIA) payments which pay agencies for up to four hours of direct patient care…
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission suggested that hospice rates should receive a 0% market basket adjustment for fiscal year 2017
The Inn Between Homeless Hospice Gets a Helping Hand from CNS Hospice Salt Lake City, UT. Community Nursing Services’ hospice program has made a significant donation to The Inn Between, a new hospice created to serve the area’s homeless population. Since Community Nursing Services (CNS) is a non-profit business, they are usually the recipient of…
Boise Rescue Mission Receives a Helping Hand from Meridian’s Accent Hospice Boise, ID. Accent Hospice Care, LLC, has donated hundreds of dollars to the Boise Rescue Mission (BRM) in honor of a patient they have who was living at the mission. In many instances, hospices are the recipient of charitable contributions, but in this case,…
YWCA Domestic Violence Program Gets a Helping Hand from Walla Walla Community Hospice Walla Walla, WA. Walla Walla Community Hospice (WWCH) has facilitated a substantial donation to the Walla Walla YWCA Women’s Safe Shelter. As non-profit health care agency, WWCH often is the recipient of charitable contributions, but in this case, their pharmacy administrator, Origins…
New law includes provisions to create increased transparency within the hospice community The newly adopted “IMPACT Act” (Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act) includes provisions creating greater oversight and increased transparency within the hospice community. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization heralds the passage of this legislation and the additional oversight it will bring…
Origins’ is poised to donate monies for their “1 For the Least of These” program in early March. This campaign donates 1% of their clients’ drug costs, in the name of the hospice, to a charity serving the homeless or displaced children within the communities they serve. The Origins marketing department then submits an article…