CMS releases guidance to surveyors on hospice, home health moratoria 
LeadingAge; Press Release; 6/2/26 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance to surveyors regarding the home health and hospice moratoria which took effect May 13, 2026. While much of the information is consistent with the previous FAQs released by CMS, the memo does note that if a presidential disaster is declared, the moratoria will be lifted. Additionally, the memo makes clear that during the moratorium, accreditation from an approved accrediting body cannot serve as the basis for Medicare participation.

Hospice advocates push back on CMS’ proposed program integrity scoring system 
McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 6/3/26 
In recent comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospice advocates criticized the new scoring system, the Service and Spending Variation Index, or SSVI, that CMS put forth in its fiscal year 2027 hospice proposed rule in April to curb fraud in the sector. They cited a flawed methodology underlying the scores and called for CMS to take down two years of publicly posted data. ...
The National Alliance for Care at Home pointed to inaccurate scoring in publicly posted data. “This data could cause substantial reputational harm to hospices for mistakes made by CMS in file construction and assigning scores,” Jennifer Sheets, CEO said.
LeadingAge said the nonhospice spending measure “lacks transparency, disregards the influence of size and scale, includes questionable data, and is entirely inactionable for hospices.” Such a measure could target the wrong providers, LeadingAge argued. 
Editor's Note: Explore details from The Alliance, LeadingAge, and NPHI.

• National Alliance for Care at Home voices concerns to CMS in response to the FY 2027 Hospice Proposed Rule
• LeadingAge comments on FY27 Hospice Wage Index Proposed Rule
• NPHI submits comments on FY 2027 Hospice Proposed Rule

Community Hospice and Health Services invests in behavioral health 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/3/26 
California-based Community Hospice and Health Services is extending its mission to improve quality of life into the behavioral health space. In addition to the nonprofit’s bereavement care program, five years ago it established Hope Counseling Mental Health Services, to provide talk therapy to individuals from the community in need of additional support. Licensed clinical social workers and a marriage and family therapist staff the center, according to Monica Ojcius, director of strategic development at Community Hospice. “We formalized a mild to moderate outpatient mental health program. We did that because folks heard about our services for people experiencing grief and bereavement after hospice,” Ojcius told Hospice News.

Trellis Supportive Care supports CMS efforts to strengthen hospice oversight 
The Stokes News, Winston Salem, NC; by Ann Gauthreaux; 6/3/25 
[Background information about the CMS Hospice six-month moratorium] “Hospice care should always represent dignity, compassion, and trust,” said Dr. Mike Lalor, CEO of Trellis Supportive Care. “Actions that address bad actors in our industry are necessary to preserve the integrity of hospice and ensure that patients receive the quality care they deserve.” Trellis Supportive Care wants to reassure patients, families, referral partners, and the broader community that this moratorium does not impact its services or operations. The organization continues to provide hospice, palliative, and supportive care throughout the region without interruption.

Hospice enrollments from the Emergency Department feature short admissions and high-acuity hospice care 
Health Affairs; by Helen P. Knight, Kourosh Ravvaz, Alexander Fiksdal, Lin Shen, Isaac S. Chua, Claire K. Ankuda, Haiden A. Huskamp, Hojjat Salmasian, Joan M. Teno, and David W. Bates; 6/1/26 
... In this sample, 4.3 percent of initial enrollments in hospice originated from the ED. ED-to-hospice admissions featured short lengths-of-stay (21.7 percent were two days or less) and high rates of general inpatient level of care at the time of enrollment (23.6 percent). The 10 percent of hospice agencies with the highest proportion of ED-to-hospice enrollments were less often for-profit than agencies ranked below the fiftieth percentile in respect to proportion of ED-to-hospice enrollments. 

Leading with purpose creates a vision for the future of oncology nursing 
Oncology Nursing Society - ONS; by Ryne Wilson, DNP, RN, OCN; 6/1/26
Momentum is not accidental; it is built through courageous decisions and shared purpose. As ONS moves forward to advancing oncology nursing excellence across clinical practice, policy, and scientific discovery, we are guided by our 2026–2028 Strategic Plan.

Medicare warns seniors of fraudulent offers for "free" medical equipment and hospice services
WBIW.com, Indiana; 6/3/26 
Federal health officials are urging older Americans to stay vigilant against a surge in healthcare scams targeting Medicare beneficiaries with promises of "free" medical supplies and services. ...

• The Target: Your Medicare Number ...
• The Hidden Danger of Hospice Scams ... 
• Strict New Measures Implemented ... 
• How to Protect Yourself and Report Fraud ...

West Coast fraud and AI: DOJ expands healthcare fraud enforcement into technology-driven markets 
JDSupra | Proskauer Health Care Law Brief; by Devin Cohen, Lara Feder, Matthew Westbrook; 6/3/26 
On April 30, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the creation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a coordinated enforcement initiative focused on healthcare fraud in Arizona, Nevada, and Northern California. ... DOJ’s announcement also reflects the government’s growing focus on technology-enabled healthcare fraud risks. ... In its announcement, DOJ specifically highlights recent prosecutions involving digital health executives and healthcare technology-related fraud schemes in Northern California and Arizona.

Pennant expands senior living presence with Pleasant Hill, California community 
NEWSnet, Eagle, ID; by Pennant Group, Inc.; 6/3/26 
The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG), the parent company of the Pennant group of affiliated home health, hospice, home care and senior living companies, today announced that it assumed operations of a senior living community in Pleasant Hill, California, known as Memory Care of Contra Costa, on Monday, June 1. This acquisition marks Pennant’s first senior living expansion into California since becoming an independent publicly traded company in 2019. Memory Care of Contra Costa is a 46-unit memory care community serving seniors in the Pleasant Hill area. 

Interim HealthCare celebrates 60th anniversary, relaunches strategic franchise expansion, and recognizes 24 months of corporate momentum 
BusinessWire, Sunrise, FL; Press Release; 6/2/26 
Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading network of home healthcare and staffing services that span the care continuum, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month. The company is recognized as the nation’s first home-based care franchise opportunity and is marking this milestone by recognizing the strength of its franchise partners, all locally owned and operated, so patients, clients, families, and employees stay connected to their communities. ... Interim HealthCare successfully completed several milestones leading up to this important point in the brand’s history: ...

Executive Personnel Changes - 6/5/26

• Richmond County Hospice in Rockingham, NC announced the creation of a new department within the organization. The Development Department was launched on February 1, with Jessica Mims appointed to lead this initiative.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.