U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means - Full committee hearing on protecting patients and taxpayers: cracking down on Medicare fraud 
United State House Committee on Ways & Means, Chairman Jason Smith; content below is from the US House Committee Ways & Means website, with descriptions (below) by Judi Lund Person; 4/21/26 
The House Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Jason Smith (MO-08), held a hearing today [4/21] examining the prevalence of fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and efforts to combat fraud to protect patients and taxpayers. Readers have the opportunity to watch the full committee hearing on YouTube. Links are provided below.

Full Committee Hearing: April 21, 2026, 10:00AM ET

• YouTube video of the hearing: starts at the minute marker for 14 min 43 sec
• Advisory Notice

Each panelist provided written testimony, which can be downloaded below.

• Dr. Lynn Ianni, PhD - Medicare beneficiary and Medicare fraud victim; download testimony
• Dr. Ianni reported on her experience having her Medicare number stolen and enrolled in hospice without her knowledge. She received help in resolving the issue from the Senior Medicare Patrol in California.
• Ms. Sheila Clark - President and CEO, California Hospice and Palliative Care Association; download testimony
• In her testimony, Sheila stated that “hospice and home health fraud are not merely billing problems. They are beneficiary protection failures.” She went on to say that “home health and hospice fraud is not just a California problem, but rather a Medicare program integrity problem and a state-federal oversight problem.” 
• Mr. David Klebonis - Chief Operating Officer, Palm Beach ACO; download testimony
• Mr. Klebonis shared the experience of Medicare fraud and systemic schemes experienced in the ACO where he is the COO, including billing patterns, products that are clinically unnecessary, and the work of his ACO to identify and report suspected fraud.
• Mr. Christopher Deery - Director of Corporate and Financial Investigation, Independence Blue Cross; download testimony
• Mr. Deery is at a Blue Cross plan serving the Philadelphia area.  He described the work of his corporate and financial investigation unit using machine learning and data analytics to monitor claims and payment dashboards on a daily basis, and includes validation of billed services and confirming clinical appropriateness. 
• Ms. Kristi Martin - Principal, Highway 136 Consulting; download testimony
• Kristi worked at CMS for several years, particularly focused on making prescription drug prices more affordable. In her testimony, she focused on incentives in Part D that caused total Part D spending to increase at an annual growth rate of 5.5% between 2007 and 2018. She shared her concern about lowering prescription drug costs and encouraged the committee to consider an expansion of policies that benefit Medicare beneficiaries.
• The panelist presentations and questions from members of the Committee can be found on the YouTube video [start at the minute marker for14:43] and is worth viewing.

Hospice & Palliative Care Today thanks Judi Lund Person, Guest Editor, for her timely expertise in summarizing this complex information for your knowledge and use. Tomorrow, our newsletter issue will equip you with more detailed information that Judi has been compiling about these ongoing fraud cases.

Alliance statement on the Ways and Means Hearing examining fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare 
National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 4/21/26 
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) continues to support efforts by policymakers and regulators to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare program. On April 21, the House Committee on Ways and Means hosted a hearing titled “Protecting Patients and Taxpayers: Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud.” The harm experienced by victims of Medicare fraud cannot be overstated. Hospice care exists to provide dignity, comfort, and support at the end of life. When bad actors exploit this trusted system, they don’t just harm individual patients — they erode confidence in the Medicare hospice benefit as a whole. Receiving care at home is the preferred choice for care by many patients and families, and home health plays a vital role in providing skilled care that improves health outcomes and reduces hospitalizations.

Loren E. Parks Trust donates $300,000 to support EMS and hospice services 
Tillamook Headlight Herald, Tillamook, OR; Press Release; 4/20/26 
Adventist Health Tillamook announces two significant donations totaling $300,000 from the Loren E. Parks Trust, made possible through trustee Jerry Dove. ... A contribution of $100,000 will help offset the cost of a new ambulance, estimated to be over $500,000 dollars, an essential investment given the rugged terrain and high mileage demands unique to Tillamook County. In addition, the Trust has contributed $200,000 to support Adventist Health Hospice. 

Older adults and volunteerism: a vital social justice issue 
Nonprofit Quarterly; by Jan Masaoka; 4/20/26 
In this series, The Unexpected Value of Volunteers, author Jan Masaoka takes on the underappreciated topic of volunteerism and provides some unexpected ideas about the role that volunteers can play in building nonprofit reach, impact, and capacity. ... Indeed, senior volunteerism exposes a deep problem with how organizations and society at large view older adults. Seniors are routinely cast as people to be helped instead of people who help.
Editor's Note: This article names a quiet paradox especially relevant to hospice: older adults are often seen as recipients of care, yet they are essential to delivering it through volunteer service. When we treat volunteer roles as a Medicare requirement to fulfill, we risk missing the deeper truth. Older adult volunteers bring lived wisdom, presence, and purpose—helping us shape care in ways that truly matter.

Palliative care for immigrants with cancer in the United States: a roadmap to equitable care 
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Jessica Zhuo BAc, Cheryl Tolomeo BAc, Anissa Kurani BA, Meaghan Burke BAc, Stephanie Wang BAc, Alice Feng BAc, Yueao Zhang MDc, Edward Christopher Dee MD, Christopher T. Su MD, MPH; 4/8/26 
Across the United States, immigrants with cancer, especially those who are undocumented or from low-income backgrounds, encounter significant barriers to accessing quality palliative care. Despite cancer comprising over one-third of global palliative care needs, immigrant patients are often excluded from essential services due to lack of insurance, immigration status, limited English proficiency, and culturally discordant care models. ... This narrative review identifies both patient level and systemic barriers and offers a four-part roadmap to address them. 

End-of-life guidelines [in the ICU] emphasize unified care 
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, in "Clinical Voices April 2026"; 4/21/26 
New guidelines for end of life (EOL) care in the ICU call for clearer communication with families, stronger support for decision making and coordinated teamwork across disciplines to align treatments with what patients can realistically achieve and reduce suffering. “Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines on Adult End-of-Life Care in the ICU ,” in Critical Care Medicine, highlights the need for standardized processes, including identifying legal surrogates, using shared decision making tools and adopting protocolized withdrawal pathways. Additional priorities include early palliative care involvement, spiritual support and focused education to reduce conflict. Recommendations are summarized in three major areas:

• Communication ...
• Symptom Management ...
• Education ... 

Editor's Note: Examine the full guidelines,"Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines on Adult End-of-Life Care in the ICU."

Turning wishes into wonder - creating magic at home when dreams take a detour 
Hometown News, Treasure Coast, FL; by Mary Ann Ketcham; 4/19/26 
Thanks to Treasure Coast Hospice, the dream of becoming princesses recently came true for 11-year-old Olivia and her younger sister Valerie. Olivia, a patient being cared for by Treasure Coast Hospice’s Little Treasures program, and her family were scheduled to set sail on a Disney Princess Cruise when unforeseen circumstances arose, resulting in them having to cancel the opportunity. Music Therapist Liz Lung learned of the heartbreaking news and gathered her Treasure Coast Hospice colleagues together to develop a plan to create a Princess Party Experience that would bring smiles and laughter to Olivia and her sister. 

Top graduate nursing programs for 2026: US News 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 4/7/26 
U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 rankings of the nation’s best graduate nursing programs April 7, with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Emory University in Atlanta topping the lists for Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, respectively. The rankings are part of U.S. News‘ broader Best Graduate Schools rankings, which evaluate programs across disciplines including business, education, law, engineering, medicine and nursing using a combination of statistical indicators and peer assessments. ...

• The 10 top nursing schools for master’s degrees: ...
• The 10 best nursing schools for DNPs: ...

Nearly 40% of physicians report high moral distress, which significantly increases burnout 
Healio; by Josh Friedman; 4/21/26 
An AMA survey of more than 9,000 individuals showed nearly 40% of physicians report high levels of moral distress, yet most U.S. adults experience none at their occupation. Physicians who reported high levels of moral distress had a significantly higher likelihood of burnout symptoms and intent to leave the profession. “Physicians want to do what they believe is right for patients. That’s what we want all health care professionals to do, prioritize patient care,” Michael A. Tutty, PhD, MHA, group vice president of professional satisfaction and practice sustainability at AMA, told Healio. “Leaders need to think about how we can reduce or eliminate those ethical challenges that make it harder for physicians to provide high-quality patient care.”

What is a ‘green burial’? Plainfield Township is now offering them 
MLive, Palinfield Township, MI; by Danielle James; 4/14/26 
Plainfield Township will soon allow “green burials” in its cemetery located at 6205 Packer Drive NE. The alternative method of burial has been described by some as more natural and environmentally conscious. Township leaders said when approving it, they also had to weigh the potential for additional complications. At a March meeting, Plainfield Township Board members signed off on a resolution that amended the cemetery ordinance to allow for green burials. On April 13, the board approved designated areas in the cemetery where the burials could take place. The alternative burials will still require township approval on a case-by-case basis.
Editor's Note: We provide this in light of today's "Earth Day 2026" awareness and the growth of alternative burial processes. Several related articles we have posted include:

• A greener afterlife: Local cemetery champions natural burial 
• Award-winning documentary chronicles hospice nurse’s final 39 days 
• Grave decisions: Understanding attitudes and perceptions towards green burial — A review of literature
• When I go, I'm going green 

[United Kingdom] Tulip spectacle helping to prevent hospice cuts 
BBC News, Hillington, United Kingdom; by Zoe Applegate; 4/19/26 
A sprawling striped patchwork of tulips has reopened to the public, raising money for a hospice that says it could be forced to cut services and jobs without the funding. About 9.1 million of the bell-shaped blooms now carpet 20 acres (8ha) near Sandringham, Norfolk, and should raise £500,000 for Tapping House hospice in nearby Hillington. ... Tapping House's chief executive, Niki Ellis, said if the event did not take place the charity would have to consider closing services or reducing staff numbers. ... The hospice head said the ticketed showstopping display, which once doubled as Munchkinland in Hollywood blockbuster Wicked, was its major fundraiser and also represented the spirit of its services.

For Earth Day 2026: Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~ Albert Einstein