Medicare could have saved $255.1 Million related to hospice services for certain new hospice enrollees 
United States Government HHS-Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Report number: A-06-22-09003; issued on 6/18/2026, posted on 6/23/26 

• Highlights
• Full Report
• Description below in Guest Editor's Note

Guest Editor's Note, Judi Lund Person: Some years ago, the OIG conducted a national hospice audit with a random selection of 100 hospice claims from a large number of hospices for FFY 2021 (October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021). The criteria for the random sample was new hospice enrollees in the initial certification period.  Those excluded from the sample were new enrollees who had inpatient or emergency claims during the 18 months prior to the enrollee’s start of hospice care and who were still alive 180 days after starting hospice care. In the 100 claim review, 24 claims found the terminal prognosis was not supported by documentation. In addition, 7 claims provided no supporting documentation, 7 had missing elements of the election statement, 3 had no election statement, 5 had no certification of terminal illness (CTI) and 2 were missing elements of the CTI. The OIG recommends that “CMS work with the hospice MACs to consider this high-risk area in their hospice eligibility reviews and possibly develop pre- or postpayment review procedures for new hospice enrollees who did not have inpatient or emergency room claims 18 months prior to starting hospice care.” CMS concurred. 

Interim HealthCare celebrates Midlands ribbon cutting and expanded continuum of care 
MidlandsBiz, Columbia, SC; Press Release; 6/22/26 
Interim HealthCare of the Midlands recently celebrated its ribbon cutting and open house, marking a milestone in the organization’s continued investment across South Carolina. Since expanding into the Midlands in 2021, Interim HealthCare has built relationships with patients, families, referral partners, and community providers throughout the region. The celebration marked the growth of services that allow more families to receive support from a team they know and trust. The event drew a strong turnout of community partners, local leaders, referral sources, and Interim HealthCare team members.  

Walking with Purpose fundraiser: hospice volunteer shares story of 520-mile journey 
WBUP/WJMN, Marquette, MI; by Rebecca Bartelme; 6/23/26 
A volunteer with Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice gives back to hospice patients and their families in a unique way. Bart Carroll set out on a 520-mile journey along the Camino de Santiago in Spain, turning every step into support for hospice patients and families. Now, he’s back to share stories, reflections, and the powerful impact of walking with purpose ... "All the funds that Bart has raised from the walks goes to support our Patient Care Fund," said Jennifer Voegtline, CEO, Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice. 

Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store celebrates grand opening in Chiefland 
Levy Citizen, Chiefland, FL; by Antoinette Meyer; 6/22/26 
The new Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store in Chiefland welcomed hundreds of visitors during its grand opening celebration June 19 and 20, marking the beginning of a new community-focused retail location that supports Haven Hospice programs and services. The two-day event kicked off Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in partnership with the Chiefland Area Chamber of Commerce ... Saturday’s grand opening celebration continued with local retail and food vendors ... According to Haven Hospice Director of Retail Operations Clay Dzioba, the event drew strong support from across the tri-county area.

Family caregivers' perspectives on challenges and support needs in hospital-based palliative care for persons living with dementia 
Baylor Medicine | Texas Medical Center Documents ; by Jung Kwak, Anita Chary, Sarah Stayer, Kwaku Duah Oppong, Sumin Yoon, Snehal Patel, and Elizabeth A Kvale; originally pub 11/17/25, reposted online 6/23/26
Palliative care needs of hospitalized persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their family caregivers remain poorly understood. ... Thematic analysis of interviews revealed three themes: the value of palliative care in navigating end-of-life uncertainty in dementia, uncoordinated and reactive care during hospitalization, and lack of guidance for post-hospital transitions. While caregivers valued palliative care for emotional and decision-making support, findings underscore the need for earlier integration and improved coordination across hospital teams to better support families.

Grief experiences among LGBTQ+ populations: a scoping review 
BMC Palliative Care; by Tamara Rodríguez Pérez, Cristo Manuel Marrero González, Alfonso Miguel García Hernández; 6/23/26 
Objective: To explore research published between 2021 and 2026 on grief and bereavement-related experiences among LGBTQ+ adults in healthcare and palliative care settings, identifying the main topics addressed and knowledge gaps relevant to clinical practice.
Results: ... Four main themes were identified: minority stress, complexities of disclosure, disenfranchised grief, and gaps in professional training. Critical gaps included underrepresentation of transgender people, a scarcity of quantitative data, an absence of intersectional perspectives, and concentration in Western contexts.

DOJ uncovers $6.5 billion healthcare fraud and charges record 455 defendants 
Washington Examiner; podcast by Kaelan Deese; 6/23/26 
A nationwide healthcare fraud crackdown resulted in charges against 455 defendants accused of schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in fraudulent claims, marking what federal officials on Tuesday described as the largest coordinated healthcare fraud enforcement action in Justice Department history. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz announced the operation, which spanned 57 federal districts across 41 states and territories and included charges against 90 licensed medical professionals.

California hospice providers laud state’s newly proposed emergency regulations
McKnights Home Care; by Suzy Frisch; 6/22/26 
The California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA) has praised proposed emergency regulations for hospices issued June 1 that aim to provide more oversight of operators and establish stronger guardrails against scammers. “This is a significant moment for hospice in California,” CHAPCA President and CEO Sheila Clark said in a statement. “CHAPCA welcomes the California Department of Public Health’s proposed emergency regulations for hospice agencies, which we have long called for.” 

Disability advocates challenge Illinois ‘aid-in-dying’ law 
llinois Public Media | NPR | PBS; by Brian Mackey; 6/23/26 
Illinois aid-in-dying law is set to take effect in September. It’s meant to give terminally ill patients a medical way to end their lives. But opponents call it “assisted suicide,” and they’ve joined with disability advocates trying to block the law in court. We’ll hear from people on both sides of that debate. [This article provides links to multiple sources, addressing "both sides of that debate."]

A smarter approach to fraud means better care at home 
The Hill | Opinion; by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Jennifer Sheets; 6/23/26 
.. Home health and hospice providers meet people where they are — both physically and through wraparound support — caring for them in their homes at the end of life or during critical healing and recovery periods when trust is paramount. ... Fraudulent operators do not simply steal taxpayer dollars; they harm real people, exploit vulnerable individuals, undermine legitimate providers, and erode confidence in critical healthcare services that families depend on every day. Combatting fraud, waste and abuse in healthcare must remain a national priority. That is why I am glad to partner with the National Alliance for Care at Home on the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, designed to strengthen program integrity in home health and hospice while protecting access to care for patients who depend on these services, and reducing burden for legitimate providers.

1917-1926: 250 Years - A History of Care
Hospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; for 6/24/26
Read details and explore source links

• World War I – Battlefield medicine reshapes American care
  
  
• 1918 Spanish flu pandemic in America – Mass suffering and the call to comfort
  
  
• Automobiles, telephones, and the shrinking distance to the bedside

I think women have a unique talent for being able to see the forest and the trees at the same time. ~ Bozoma Saint John