Learn to Effectively Manage Chronic Pain, and Fulfill DEA Training Requirement

The opioid epidemic is affecting communities across the country, leading to a widespread fear of prescribing. As a result, many patients with serious illness are unable to access safe and appropriate pain management, leading to unnecessary suffering for people with chronic pain. CAPC’s clinical training unit, https://www.google.com/url?q=https://capc.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D438990d4379c361205e1e1560%26id%3D951a3b0917%26e%3D9d8f583a7d&source=gmail&ust=1728478051252000&usg=AOvVaw3-QhEfc2ejnYfPsqDdS4a_">Chronic Pain Strategies for Patients with Serious Illness, provides a comprehensive approach to managing chronic pain in patients living with serious illness. 

For more information and to register for the training, Click Here

PCLC Training → Enroll Your Team in Customized Training and Mentoring

Palliative Care Leadership Centers™ (PCLC) offer tailored training and year-long mentoring for your team, aimed at fostering program growth, enhancing cost-effectiveness, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Upon completing the training, Jan Jahner, BSN, and her team expressed their appreciation."The most unique part of the training was the personalized attention our team received. They were able to offer us tailored guidance, and the mentoring helped us sustain our momentum after training." Discover more testimonials about the impact of the PCLC experience.

Contact one of our palliative care centers of excellence to discuss virtual and in-person training options for programs of every setting, stage, and size. Space is limited. You must be a team of two or more to attend.

Locations

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center →
Richmond, VA

Bluegrass Care Navigators →
Lexington, KY

University of Virginia Health System (UVA) →
Charlottesville, VA

Presbyterian Healthcare Services →
Albuquerque, NM

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) →
San Francisco, CA

Northwell Health →
Manhasset, NY

University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center (UAB) →
Birmingham, AL

U.S. Supreme Court Says Government Can Dismiss Whistleblower Lawsuits

Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.

Whistleblowers have brought many qui tam law suits against providers based on the False Claims Act. Enforcers love them! Now the U.S. Supreme Court has decided, in United States ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources [No. 21-1052 (U.S. June 16, 2023)], that the Government may dismiss such suits over the objections of persons or relators who filed them. This case is important to providers because it may make it more difficult for whistleblowers to continue their qui tam lawsuits.

The False Claims Act authorizes private parties, known as relators, to sue on the Government’s behalf. These suits, so-called qui tam actions or whistleblower suits, are brought in the name of the Government. If suits lead to recoveries, relators may receive up to thirty percent of monies recovered.  

Read Full Article

Elizabeth Hogue, Esq. Articles

Maine Legislature honors Down East Hospice Volunteers 40 years of Compassionate Care

On October 13, Representative Anne Perry and Senator Marianne Moore presented Down East Hospice Volunteers Executive Director Barb Barnett and Board President Paul Strickland with a Legislative Sentiment. This Sentiment is signed by President of the Senate Troy Jackson, Secretary of the Senate Darek Grant, Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau and Clerk of the House Robert Hunt. It was introduced by Representative Perry and cosponsored by Senator Moore.

“Given this fourteenth day of September, 2021 at the State Capitol Augusta, Maine

Court Upholds Vaccine Mandate Again

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Janet.

Patients’ Right to Freedom of Choice of Providers: Complaint by Provider against Hospital Substantiated by State Surveyors

CMS Posts Memorandum on Nursing Shortage: CMS states that findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics continue to forecast a shortage of nurses through 2024 with a job growth rate that is faster than the average. In remote instances, a hospice provider may find that a shortage of nurses creates a temporary impact on its ability to provide nursing services to patients and as a result may create an access to care concern for hospice beneficiaries.

To read full article, click here

Maine Hospice Council Receives Grant Funding for Trauma-Informed Care for Veterans on Hospice Initiative

Augusta, ME – The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care (MHC) has received one of 13 grants to work in partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s “We Honor Veterans Program” (NHPCO/WHV) and the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The goal is to increase awareness of PTSD, Moral Injury and Suicide and the subsequent impact on end of life and palliative care. This will be accomplished in partnership with community organizations, and our long-time partners at Togus VA Medical Center (TVAMC).

Great News! The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care has been awarded grant funding from NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans Program and Department of Veterans Affairs  for Trauma-Informed Care for Veterans on Hospice Initiative.

To read full press release, click here!

The Maine Hospice Council is partnering with Maine Veterans Hospital, mental health organizations, and state hospice volunteer programs to create educational trainings to be implemented statewide.

Keep watch for your opportunity to participate in one of these educational trainings!

Dear MaineHealth patient,

As the world-wide coronavirus outbreak continues to dominate our news each day, we know this may be a source of growing concern for you and your family.

MaineHealth and its family of health care providers across Maine and Carroll County, N.H., stand ready as a resource for the communities we serve. We want to assure you that keeping our patients, families and staff safe and well is our top priority during this time.

To that end, we want to share with you, in question and answer format, some important information about COVID-19 and how we can all work together to minimize its impact in our communities.

November 8, 2019

On November 7, 2019, Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 2807, a bipartisan bill entitled the Hospice Care Improvement Act of 2019, specifically written to address the concerns identified by the HHS Office of Inspector General about hospice survey deficiencies and patient harm. NHPCO supports many of the policies in the bill as it closely tracks NHPCO’s recommended Hospice Program Integrity Initiatives. Thank you to the Legislative, Regulatory, and Quality Committees for their work on vetting and approving many of the program integrity measures that were included in this legislation. NHPCO will continue to engage with the sponsors of the legislation and hope to further refine the legislation to include enhanced access to hospice.

Summary of CMS Final Rule

Final Rule on Discharge Planning, Interoperability and Patient Preferences

Summary at a Glance

On September 30, CMS published a final rule which:

LDL1313 (Death with Dignity Act)

The Maine Hospice Council has been listed as one consulting entity for the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the major substantive rulemaking process and as part of its broader data collection and analysis of trends and practices.

To read the full Executive Order, please click the link below.

Govenor Mills Executive Order

Congratulations!

Maine is #1 in Hospice Utilization Growth!

Spotlight on Seniors Interview with Kandyce Powell, ED of the Maine Hospice Council