NPHI statement on “Protecting Patients and Taxpayers: Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud” hearing
National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/22/26 
The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) supports the continued focus by Congress and the Administration on addressing fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicare hospice benefit. NPHI’s policy team, led by Ethan McChesney and joined by Quin Lyons, attended the House Ways & Means Full Committee hearing titled “Protecting Patients and Taxpayers: Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud,” on April 21, reinforcing NPHI’s active engagement on this issue. ... “Fraud in hospice is not a theoretical concern – it is happening in real time, and patients and families are paying the price,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder and CEO of NPHI. “We are seeing entire markets impacted by actors who have no connection to the communities they claim to serve. These fraudulent actors must be rooted out of the system — at once."

An open letter on stopping fraud before it starts 
Community Health Accreditation Partners (CHAP); by Teresa Harbour and Nathan J. DeGodt; 4/22/26 
Recent testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee underscored a truth that many in healthcare have long understood. Preventing fraud requires stopping bad actors before they enter the system. We agree. At CHAP, that principle has guided our decisions for decades. Accreditation integrity is maintained at the front end of the process through disciplined, patient‑centered safeguards. ... CHAP did not accredit any hospice or home health organizations operating from the notorious Friar Street address highlighted in recent media coverage and congressional hearing. ... Before any organization advances in our accreditation process, CHAP conducts address validation and ownership verification. These steps are designed to surface red flags early, including multiple agencies operating from a single location, overlapping leadership, or staffing structures. When those reviews raised concerns related to applications at the Friar Street address, CHAP did not move forward.

Mary Chan legacy fuels record fundraising at hospice race 
The Standard Newspaper, Kingman, AZ; by Allen Scott; 4/22/26 
The 21st annual Mary Chan “Race for Hospice” drew roughly 200 runners and walkers to downtown Kingman on Sunday, where participants once again faced the steep and unforgiving Andy Devine Avenue/Route 66 hill leading up to the El Trovatore Motel. The challenging climb has become a defining feature of both the 5K and 10K courses. The race honors Mary Chan, whose Chinese-American family has lived in the Kingman area for six generations, beginning with work on the railroad. Chan has been involved with the fundraiser since its inception in 2005.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice names Lee Ellison executive director 
Township Journal, Newton, MA; Press Release; 4/23/26 
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has named Lee Ellison as its new executive director, effective immediately, the organization announced. Ellison brings more than 30 years of leadership experience, including nearly a decade with the hospice organization. She most recently served as director of marketing and media/business development, where officials said she played a key role in expanding programs, strengthening community partnerships and increasing donor engagement.

Palliative care market: expanding healthcare focus on quality of life 
BriefingWire.com; Press Release; 4/23/26 
Palliative Care Market is witnessing steady global growth due to the rising prevalence of chronic and life-limiting diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory illnesses, and neurodegenerative conditions. ... Technological advancements, such as telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, are further reshaping the palliative care landscape. These innovations allow healthcare providers to deliver continuous care to patients in remote or underserved areas, improving accessibility and reducing hospital dependency. Integration of digital health platforms is also enhancing coordination between multidisciplinary care teams, ensuring better patient outcomes.

Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures - Annual Report 
Alzheimer's Association; Press Release; 4/22/26 
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures (PDF), an annual report released by the Alzheimer's Association, reveals the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation's health care system. Download the following:

• Full 2026 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures: statistical resource for U.S. data related to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. (146 pages)
• The accompanying special report, Brain Health in America: Understanding and Supporting Lifelong Cognitive Health (PDF), offers new insight into how Americans understand, prioritize and act on the desire to sustain brain health across their lives.  (48 pages)
• Infographic: 2026 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures (1 page)

Chapters Health System launches new pediatric program 
PR Newswire, Temple Terrace, FL; Press Release; 4/23/26 
Chapters Health System announced the launch of Chapters Kids, a system‑wide pediatric hospice and palliative care program. Chapters Kids will expand resources for pediatric patients and families throughout the Chapters Health System service area and unite existing pediatric programs from several affiliates. "The launch of Chapters Kids is another critical step forward as we work toward fulfilling our mission of taking care of patients, or taking care of those who do," said Andrew Molosky, President and CEO, Chapters Health System.

New research shows earlier hospice election could save Medicare over $1 billion annually 
National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 4/23/26 
A new analysis commissioned by the Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) reveals that if Medicare beneficiaries elected hospice care just five days earlier, the program could save between $1.19 billion and $1.5 billion annually.  The analysis, conducted by ATI Advisory, demonstrates how modest, clinically appropriate changes in hospice timing could generate significant Medicare savings while improving patient outcomes. These findings are particularly relevant as Medicare spending on hospice services increases by nearly 10% annually, and overall enrollment of Medicare beneficiaries using hospice continues to grow.

Healthcare trends & transactions Q1 2026 
JD Supra; by David Cox, Ali Gallagher, Injee Hong, Tatjana Paterno, Cynthia Reisz, Marc Rigsby, Morgan Tandy, David Wilson; 4/23/26 
The first quarter of 2026 was characterized by steady healthcare mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal flow across a broad range of sectors, reflecting a maturing market in which consolidation, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and cross-sector partnerships have emerged as defining themes. 

• Physician Practice Management ...
• Clinical Research Organizations ...
• Ambulatory Surgery Centers ...
• Hospitals & Health Systems ...
• Home Health, Hospice Care & Personal Care Services ...
• Digital Health & Health Information Technology ...
• Behavioral Health ...
• Managed Care & Value-Based Care ...
• Pharma Services, Pharmacy & Pharmacy Benefit Managers ...

A musical about hospice? Yes, and it actually works 
Baltimore Fishbowl, Baltimore, MD; by Aliza Worthington; 4/21/26 
... The hospice experience may not initially evoke thoughts of “musical theater,” but if music expresses that which cannot be put into words, the subject matter put to music makes a lot of sense. Benjamin Kintisch is a trained cantor and former chaplain from Columbia, Maryland. He created “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” from real hospice patient stories over more than a decade, turning those conversations into songs. ... It is a 2025 Maryland State Arts Council Creativity Grant recipient. “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” is set in “Hopeful Hospice” – the final home for a group of hospice patients. The audience is witness to private conversations between the patients and their chaplain, a rabbi, transformed into song. Each patient’s story invites reflection on one’s own life, relationships, and memories.

[United Kingdom] Moonlight walk raises £280k for hospice service 
BBC News; by Shannen Headley; 4/23/26 
Volunteers raised more than £280,000 for a Warwickshire hospice service by taking part in a moonlight walk through Warwick. More than 1,750 people came together to support The Myton Hospices by walking 5km and 10km routes through the grounds of Warwick Castle. The hospice thanked everyone who took part on Friday 17 April - including Harry Potter and Game of Thrones actor David Bradley who opened the event. The money will go towards continuing to provide specialist care free to people living with life-limiting illnesses.

To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people's trash. ~ Bill Nye