Lack of Staff, Guidelines Build Hurdles for Hospice Bereavement Care Programs

Hospices encounter significant challenges in providing comprehensive support to bereaved families as a consequence of financial and staffing limitations. The industry-wide labor shortage further amplifies the existing underfunding of bereavement care. Dr. Dawn Gross, a respected palliative care physician at UCSF Health, underscores the critical issue of inadequate reimbursement, impeding hospices from effectively staffing grief care teams. These teams encompass essential professionals such as chaplains, social workers, psychologists, and therapists, who specialize in delivering bereavement services. Dr. Gross emphasizes the pressing need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the crucial ability to directly bill for these essential services.