Governor Justice has proclaimed that November is Palliative Care Awareness Month. The majority of West Virginians do not know what palliative care is. Palliative care is very different from hospice. Whereas there is a special Medicare Hospice Benefit with strict Read more…
“We are here to assist all individuals who need hospice services:” Hughes, MC & Vernon, E: We are here to assist all individuals who need hospice services: hospices’ perspectives on improving access and inclusion for racial/ethnic minorities. Gerontology and Geriatric Read more…
On March 23rd, 2020, Governor Justice announced that West Virginians should stay at home after the first sign of COVID-19 community spread. This is the best way to prevent further spread and protects our most vulnerable elderly West Virginians and Read more…
Medicare has developed a helpful list of questions to help consumers who are trying to decide between different hospices. Some of the key questions to ask include:- What services and treatments will be covered by my insurance? What happens if Read more…
This April, Senator Shelley Moore Capito reintroduced the Rural Access to Hospice Act S.1190, which will allow Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to receive payments for serving hospice patients. This bill is vitally important to West Read more…
West Virginia hospices’ consumer satisfaction scores ranked 6th in the nation last year. This is because all WV hospices work hard to ensure that each patient and family receives excellent care. The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPs) Read more…
My friends and I often share stories about taking care of our mothers. Caregiving can take a great toll on any family. Thankfully AARP recognizes this and advocates for caregivers. AARP also provides resources that are extremely helpful. There are Read more…
I have recently been spending lots of time on the phone and writing emails to make sure all of my mother’s care is arranged. There are so many people to contact and much of her care is fragmented and Read more…
On March 8th, the WV Legislature passed SB 537 and this bill now awaits Governor Justice’s signature. The Hospice Council thanks all legislators who worked hard to get the bill passed. There was bipartisan support for this bill and the Read more…
West Virginia hospices all engage in community outreach to ensure people know about hospice and when to refer. However, the data continue to show that people are less likely to access hospice if they live in a rural area and Read more…