CMS originally anticipated selecting 30 Medicare-certified hospices for the project but given the overwhelming interest from the U.S. hospice community, the list of MCCM demonstration sites grew to the current 141.
One of the biggest problems with hospice is that people will not avail themselves of the service because they are not ready to give up hope for a cure. The average length of stay in a hospice remains shorter than it should be, to the detriment of hospice care recipients.
From the agencies point of view, the most intense patient needs are at the beginning of service and the end of life. If these two come very close together, the agency doesn't have the time to establish the rapport that becomes so crucial for the family as the end nears. CMS is also looking to address this with a U shaped payment model.
Hospice remains the highest quality and lowest cost way to approach end-of-live issues. Any program that increases hospice usage and length of stay is a step in the right direction.
Hospice remains the highest quality and lowest cost way to approach end-of-live issues. Any program that increases hospice usage and length of stay is a step in the right direction.
No comments:
Post a Comment