Submission of the Hospice Election Form 3071 and Physician Certification of Terminal Illness Form 3074 The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed Medicaid hospice providers that it has updated its list of regional contacts for hospice election and certification forms to Community Services, Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership, and Health and Human Services Commission Medicaid Eligibility staff. For more information, download the letter and attached list of … [Read more...] about Four New Provider Letters
Hospice Care Reduces End-of-Life Hospitalization
According to a new study published by Health Services Research, nursing home residents receiving hospice care reduce their chances of hospitalization by half compared to those who don't receive hospice care. From SeniorJournal.com: People who choose hospice, which focuses on comfort instead of cure, tend to refuse aggressive end-of-life treatment anyway, Gozalo said. But even taking this into consideration, hospice still makes a significant difference in keeping people out of the hospital … [Read more...] about Hospice Care Reduces End-of-Life Hospitalization
Provider Letters: Alerts for Hospice and Nursing Facilities
Last week the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued provider letters for hospice and nursing facilities, and community services and therapy providers: August 9 - DADS reminded hospice and nursing facilities that the current DOS-based form system is being upgraded to a web-based system called LTC Online Portal, effective August 21. Providers that don't have access to the new system can mail hardcopies to Provider Claims Services. The PCS fax lines will be … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Alerts for Hospice and Nursing Facilities
An Interview With Andy Kessler
Earlier this month, I wrote a post about a new book entitled The End of Medicine : How Silicon Valley (and Naked Mice) Will Reboot Your Doctor written by Andy Kessler. Today, I had the opportunity to interview Andy as my guest while sitting in as a guest host for my friend Mychal Massie on his show, Straight Talk, which plays on Right Talk Radio. John, at Right Talk, graciously allowed me to download the show in order to reproduce it here. I thank John and Right Talk for giving me … [Read more...] about An Interview With Andy Kessler
Legislating Ethics: So…Where’s Your Compliance Plan?
You may have heard of them at seminars, seen them referenced in handbooks and vaguely associated them with the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). But what are Compliance Plans and, more importantly, why don't you have one yet? Do You Want a Compliance Plan? You Bet…And You'd Better! The Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services dictates that almost all providers have Compliance Plans. Specifically, the … [Read more...] about Legislating Ethics: So…Where’s Your Compliance Plan?
It’s National Hospice Month
November has been designated National Hospice Month. As more families continue to face difficult decisions about hospice care, providers have an opportunity to raise awareness about end-of-life issues for the terminally ill and their care-givers. The National Association for Homecare and Hospice has written an informative fact sheet called Hospice Facts & Statistics (PDF). I'm also linking to a letter to the editor at the Journal Standard written by a woman who works at a hospice called … [Read more...] about It’s National Hospice Month
The Compassion of Hospice: Dame Cecily Saunders
I wrote yesterday of the passing of Dame Cecily, the founder of modern hospice. Today, I find a beautiful article by Wesley J. Smith about the purpose of hospice as envisioned by Dame Cecily. Click here to read the article. … [Read more...] about The Compassion of Hospice: Dame Cecily Saunders
Founder of Hospice, Dame Cicely Saunders, Dies
Dame Cicely Saunders has died in the hospice she founded.Dame Cicely Saunders, who died yesterday aged 87, was regarded as the mother of the modern hospice movement; at St Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham, south London, founded in 1967, she charted new approaches in techniques for treatment of the terminally ill, based on her Christian belief that no human life, no matter how wretched, should be denied dignity and love.--snip--Cicely Saunders first had the idea of creating a modern hospice in … [Read more...] about Founder of Hospice, Dame Cicely Saunders, Dies
How to Save Medicare? Die Sooner?!
A story in the New York Times proposes that the government consider saving Medicare money by having people die sooner(free subscription required to view):ALTHOUGH Social Security's fiscal direction has taken center stage in Washington of late, Medicare's future financing problems are likely to be much worse. President Bush has asserted that the Medicare Modernization Act, which he signed in 2003, would solve some of those problems - "the logic is irrefutable," he said two months ago. Yet the … [Read more...] about How to Save Medicare? Die Sooner?!