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Barriers To Medicare Hospice Utilization: A Qualitative Study Of Maine's Medicare Hospice Providers, Judith B. Tupper Dhed, Ches, Cpps

Disability & Aging

This report, prepared for the Maine Hospice Council and funded by the Carpenter Foundation, presents findings of a qualitative study of barriers to hospice utilization. This study includes the perspectives of all 26 Medicare certified hospice providers in Maine. Significant findings of the qualitative study include: A continuing need to educate the general public about hospice and the Medicare benefit. Maine health care providers have low referral rates to the hospice programs and often misunderstand the regulations and guidelines of the hospice benefit. The referral process to hospice programs is based on fragile systems of communication, fraught with potential miscues, …

A Review Of The Literature On End-Of-Life Care: Setting A Research Agenda For Maine, Julie T. Fralich Mba, Jennifer D. Lenardson Mhs, Hillary Skillings

Disability & Aging

In 2002, Last Acts, a national campaign of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, issued a report assessing the states on access to end-of-life care and policies supporting its provision. Quite striking for the hospice providers and other stakeholders of Maine, the state ranked second to last in hospice use among persons over age 65 in their last year of life. Although anecdotal and unpublished data suggest that hospice use is on the rise in Maine, concerns about the low use rate remains a concern to those interested in end-of-life care in the State.

In order to better understand the factors …

Use Of The §1915 (C) Federal Waiver Application: The Experience Of Eight States, Maureen Booth Mrp, Ma, Julie T. Fralich Mba, Hilary Skillings

Disability & Aging

Research staff at the Muskie School of Public Service, USM were requested to evaluate the effectiveness of the revised HCBS waiver application process from the perspective of states. This report summarizes the purpose, scope, approach and findings of the evaluation. The evaluation was designed to provide qualitative information on states' experience using the new HCBS waiver application for initial and renewal waiver applications. The evaluation examined four major issues:

Clarity/Consistency

: Are the waiver application components (Application, Technical Guide, Review Criteria) clearly understood and do they promote consistent interpretation?

Relevancy/Adequacy

:Do the application components address the range of waivers and …

Caring For People With Alzheimer's Disease Or Dementia In Maine, Stuart Bratesman Mpp, Julie T. Fralich Mba, Catherine Mcguire Bs, Louise Olsen, Romaine Turyn

Disability & Aging

It is clear that caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is a growing public health issue. Alzheimer’s is a progressively deteriorating disease that can last anywhere from 1 to 15 years. Families are the primary caregivers and will continue to need support to manage the care of their loved ones, to coordinate services within the long term care system and to maintain their own health and well-being.