Abstract
CMS Announces Medicaid Hospice Rates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the federal fiscal year 2011 Medicaid rates for hospices. The rates are effective for services provided from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011. Additional information can be obtained at: https://www.cms.gov/Hospice/Downloads/Medicare_hospice_payment_rates.pdf
HPNA Offers New Practice Driver Educational Program
The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association announced the addition of a North American Cultures practice driver educational program, with patient family teaching sheets, a position statement, and copies of articles related to the care of people in North America. The association offers five evidence-based practice drivers on flash drives: http://www.hpna.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Just%20a%20Minute
CMS Offers Guidance on Pediatric Palliative Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has informed state health officials and Medicaid directors that the new Affordable Care Act, section 2302, allows children to receive palliative care concurrently with curative treatment. Hospice remains an optional benefit under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) provision requires Medicaid and CHIP operating as Medicaid expansions to provide all medically necessary services, including hospice care. Further Information is available at http://thehill.com/images/stories/blogs/hospice.pdf
Medical Societies Issue Tip Sheet for Prescribing Controlled Substances
The American Geriatrics Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and the American Medical Directors Association have developed a tip sheet for "Prescribing controlled substances in long-term care," to help physicians and other prescribers meet Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations for prescribing these medications to residents. The societies created the tip sheet in response to recent enforcement actions by the DEA. Further Information http://www.americangeriatrics.org/files/documents/tip_sheet_fly.pdf
PAL-MED CONNECT
Partners with Briefings in Palliative, Hospice, and Pain Medicine & Management Briefings in Palliative, Hospice, and Pain Medicine & Management, the e-newsletter companion to Journal of Palliative Medicine published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is pleased to announce a collaboration with The Institute for Palliative Medicine's
Foundation Launches PainSAFE
The American Pain Foundation has created the PainSAFE (Pain, Safety & Access For Everyone) educational campaign for consumers and healthcare professionals and launched a web site with evidence-based information and practice-based tools designed to decrease the risks associated with various pain treatments. Modules include treatment with opioids and implantable pain therapies. The organization will update the site as scientific and policy research evolves: http://www.painfoundation.org/painsafe/
CMS Issues Claims Processing Revisions
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued new claims processing instructions for services provided in patients' homes, (CR) #: 6947. Providers must now enter the address of where the service was performed, including the zip code, for any claims processed for anesthesia services and every service payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on or after January 1, 2011. Separate CMS-1500 forms must be submitted for each place of service. https://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6947.pdf
White Paper Summarizes Health Reform
The law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP has released a free white paper summarizing how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 will affect long- term care and hospice providers. It reports that no earlier than October 1, 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary will revise the methodology used to determine pay rates for hospice and home care services, which may include adjustments related to resource intensity in providing care. Starting in 2011, a hospice physician or nurse practitioner must recertify hospice care only after a face-to-face visit with a patient. The reform legislation also includes a provision for a concurrent care demonstration project, open to 15 hospice programs, during which participating patients will receive all Medicare-covered services in addition to hospice care. A link to the paper is available at: http://www.vorys.com/publications-334.html
CAPC Palliative Care Leadership Centers: Intensive Training and Year-Long Mentoring
Palliative Care Leadership Centers (PCLC) are leading palliative care programs that provide customized, hands-on operational training—and year-long mentoring—for palliative care programs at every stage of development and growth. The PCLCs represent diverse settings including health systems, community-based hospitals, hospices, academic medical centers, cancer centers, children′s hospitals, VA and safety-net hospitals. Each offers a close, hands-on experience, as well as a 12-month mentoring follow-up to guide you through the challenges of program growth and sustainability. PCLC faculty are physician and nurse leaders in the field and experts in applying the most effective palliative care program models. You'll benefit from their deep experience, knowledge and mentoring in all matters of program development. There is a type of PCLC training to address the specific needs of each and every program – whether you're starting a program (PCLC Core), whether you're a pediatric palliative care program, or whether you're an active program up and running for at least one year (PCLC Custom and PCLC Consult).
For training sites and dates, and to learn more: www.capc.org
AAHPM Accepting Applications: Clinical Scholars Program
The AAHPM is now accepting applications from physicians for this one-week observership program at select HPM sites across the United States. The program is designed to provide a focused clinical experience in hospice and palliative medicine to physicians. For more information please visit www.aahpm.org/education/clinicaltraining.html.
Clinical Fellowships Available
The Center for Palliative Studies at San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care offers 10 one-year clinical fellowships leading to eligibility for certification by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, beginning July 1 each year. Two 2nd year research positions are available for physicians preparing for an academic career. Preferred candidates will BE or BC by an ABMS-recognized board. Combined training in Geriatrics, Hematology Oncology is possible. For more information, please contact Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, at cvongunten@sdhospice.org or 619-278-6225. San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care is a teaching and research affiliate of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.