From the Internal Revenue Service. WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers of a special new provision that will allow more people to easily deduct up to $300 in donations to qualifying charities this year. Following special tax law changes made earlier this year, cash donations of up to $300 made before December […]
The ABC’s of Medicare
Before we get to Part C, let’s take a look at one other Medicare supplemental option—Medicare Part D. This part is solely for prescription medications and plan holders pay a monthly premium along with copayments and often deductibles. You can buy a Part D plan through a private insurer if you have Plans A and […]
Honoring End-of-Life Wishes in Blended Families
It’s not uncommon these days for families to be a blend of more than one marriage and involve stepchildren, sometimes from more than one birth mother. This can make end-of-life discussions more important before an actual illness sets in, and also it can make it more fraught with emotions and differences of opinion. This makes […]
Providing Hospice and End-of-Life Care to the Homeless
Many of the illnesses and conditions that people face are many times worse for the homeless, who often lack access to medical care and whose conditions are typically worsened by their lack of permanent housing. In Washington state, hospice programs for the homeless were created to ensure that their last days are more comfortable and […]
Shortages in End-of-Life Care Doctors
Policy changes are key to the passage of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act to prevent a very real possibility of palliative care doctors in the next 25 years. An article in the June 2019 issue of HealthAffairs discussed the increasing need for palliative care doctors with an increasingly aged population in […]
Hospice Policy Brief Signifies the Value of Medicare’s First “Coordinated Care” Model
Policymakers and stakeholders seeking to learn more about Medicare benefits of hospice can do so in a new publication released by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in March 2019, titled Hospice: Leading Interdisciplinary Care. The final report, submitted by Dobson|DaVanzo to NHPCO, is a policy brief that explains why an integrated, person-centered […]
Ethical Wills: Leaving a Legacy of Life Lessons, Values & Hopes
You don’t need a lawyer for this kind of will. Unlike legal wills, ethical wills are not written by lawyers, but by you. They can include for the future, apologies to those you fear you may have hurt or gratitude to those you think you have not thanked enough. Traditionally, they were letters written by […]
End-of-Life Care Resources
Once given a terminal diagnosis, it can be emotionally overwhelming not knowing where to turn to for help and information. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has put together a comprehensive list of end-of-life care resources. Below are some organizations and websites offering support, education, information and guides to patients of all ages […]
Personal Websites for Hospice Patients and Families
Today, so many families are scattered across the world that when a family member becomes diagnosed with a terminal illness, it is difficult to keep everyone updated on the status of the patient. Patients often do not have the energy for many visits or phone calls while ill. Aside from this, caregivers don’t always have […]
Helping the Terminally Ill—Medicare Hospice and Benefits
We spend our lives investing in ourselves and building our future in multiple forms, from financial (setting up college savings for our families and retirement funds for us) to building healthy habits and taking care of our health (nutrition and exercise) – but there’s one thing we don’t prepare for unless we absolutely have to, […]