NPHI execs: quality is hospices’ differentiator 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/28/26 
True quality care transcends government-required metrics and is key to shaping the future of hospice care. This is according to Tom Koutsoumpas, founder and CEO of the National Partnership for Healthcare & Hospice Innovation (NPHI), and Carole Fisher, the organization’s president. While factors like regulatory compliance are crucial to quality, they don’t tell the whole story, Koutsoumpas and Fisher told Hospice News at NPHI’s Annual Summit in Chicago. “Quality is our differentiator. In addition to all the scores, certainly patient and family satisfaction is a huge part of it, making sure that we continue to put the patient and family in the center. ...” Koutsoumpas said. “Do we create an atmosphere of trust? That’s a quality issue."

Opinion: Restoring trust in hospice begins with ending Medicare fraud 
The Hill, Washington, DC; Opinion Contributor, Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home; 4/28/26 
... While losing someone you love is excruciating, many families — including my own — feel a sense of relief by the comfort and improved quality of life that hospice offers. As a mother, nurse, and full-time caregiver for my own mom during her end-of-life journey, I am forever grateful for the providers who supported our family during our most difficult moments. So, when I hear instances of malicious hospice fraud, I am outraged — not just for the taxpayer who becomes the victim of waste, but ultimately for the individuals who could be deprived of this important care option because of the harmful actions of others. ... A recent study revealed that, understandably, older adults consider trustworthiness as extremely or very important when choosing a provider. It’s not lost on hospice professionals that trust is essential to our relationships with patients. We must give them every reason to believe in us — and most providers do by delivering compliant, patient-centered, and clinically appropriate care to patients with complex needs. 

[For the public] How to protect yourself from hospice fraud 
CalMatters; by Lynn La; 4/29/26 
... What does hospice fraud entail and how can you protect yourself? ... To avoid being scammed:

• Medicare Care Compare provides quality scores and a phone directory for legitimate hospice providers. 
• Safeguard personal information including your Medicare ID number and Social Security number.
• Doublecheck Medicare summary notices and explanation of benefits to ensure accuracy.
• If you think you’re a victim of fraud, call the state’s Senior Medicare Patrol line, a federally-funded helpline that can help you disenroll from services you did not request.

Editor's Note: Additionally, examine the National Hospice Locator for information with quality scores, designed for use by the public.

Butterfly Release brings solace after loss 
Pahrump Valley Times; by Robin Hebrock; 4/29/26 
Butterflies carry many meanings and their symbolism of both transformation and hope is something that Nathan Adelson Hospice draws inspiration from each year as it hosts its annual Celebration of Life – Live Butterfly Release. A chance for community members to come together in honor of the husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, siblings and friends who are no longer in this world, the 2026 Pahrump Live Butterfly Release took place on Sunday, April 19 at the Calvada Eye. ... In addition to their patients who have passed, Nathan Adelson officials were also honoring three of their own, Dr. William Craig, Stan Cuaresma and Vivian McCuneo. 

Derby Brunch helps support hospice organization 
The Owenton News-Herald, Owen County, KY; by Staff Reports; 4/28/26 
The Owen County Friends of Hospice’s annual Derby Brunch on April 25 helped raise money for Bluegrass Care Navigators to support hospice and grief services the region, the organization announced. The organization serves in Owen, Franklin, Woodford and Anderson counties. Since its inception 11 years ago, this fundraising event has raised more than $75,000.

Unity receives $10,000 grant from the Door County Community Foundation 
The Chamber Manitowoc County, De Pere, WI; Press Release; 4/28/26 
Unity is pleased to announce $10,000 in funding from The Door County Community Foundation on behalf of Bargains Unlimited Charitable Fund and Growing Older Fund to cover costs related to Unity’s palliative program, Supportive Care Management (SCM). As identified through Discuss Door County and reported in the 2023 American Community Survey Demographic and Housing Estimates, Door County is one of the oldest counties in Wisconsin, with 41% of residents age 60 or older and projections approaching 50% by 2030. 

Kansas veteran dies in hospice weeks after KWCH story on cancer fight, push for health benefits 
KWCH-12 News, Wichita, KS; by Matt Heilman and KWCH Staff; 4/28/26 
A Kansas veteran whose story 12 News shared last month following the initial denial of her VA health benefits amid her cancer battle died Monday night in hospice care, her husband confirmed. Lorraina Robles, who served in the Air National Guard, most recently in Africa, fought stage 3 cervical cancer for over a year. Adding to the difficulty, her VA benefits for cancer treatment and other health benefits were denied following her return from deployment. 

Virtual reality for serious illness: connecting, healing, and inducing awe | part one 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Kathleen Benton and Teri Yarbrow; 4/29/26 
What if, even in the most limiting and uncertain moments of serious illness, a person could still experience freedom, movement, beauty, and a renewed sense of meaning? In this episode, Kathleen Benton and Virtual Reality (VR innovator Teri Yarbrow reveal how virtual reality is reshaping Hospice and Palliative Care by restoring something often lost in modern medicine—human experience.  As care becomes increasingly clinical and documentation-driven, VR creates space for patients to reconnect with meaning, beauty, and identity beyond their diagnosis.

OHSU grapples with falling rank on patient safety measures 
OPB, Oregon Health & Science University; by Amelia Templeton; 4/27/26 
[The context begins with an "abrupt firing" of the CEO for OHSU Health. The excerpt below is further into the article, with relevance for hospice providers and your partnerships with hospitals.] 
Mortality — the number of observed patient deaths versus the number expected — was the other major contributing factor to OHSU slipping in Vizient’s ranks. Edwards shared several caveats with the board as to why she believes OHSU is performing better than its ranking indicates, particularly on the mortality score. For example, some patient deaths may have been counted differently by Vizient due to the closure of a hospice program. That could account for up to a third of the change in OHSU’s mortality grade, she said. And an internal review of the mortality data suggested that some OHSU patients’ medical charts weren’t accurately capturing how sick or complex they were.

20 high-performing healthcare web designs that get results 
just digital; 4/29/26 
As healthcare continues its digital shift, an optimized web presence is no longer optional it’s the digital front door to your health system or practice. With search queries frequently driving direct engagement and appointments across healthcare verticals, your site’s usability and clarity are non-negotiable. [Scroll down to "Top 20 Healthcare Website Designs" for identified websites with descriptions.]

• Mayo Clinic: ... colorful images, a tidy interface, and current content ...
• Vidant Health: ... contrasting colors that tie everything together ... vibrant CTA button ...
• Centura Health ... functional ... simple and transparent ... easy navigation bar ...
• Cleveland Clinic ... mobile-friendly and desktop-friendly interface ... interactive details ...
• Rest Assured: ... accessibility design elements that meet the WCAG 2.0 AA standard of accessibility compliance
• [Continue reading]

Mercy film starts dialogue on end-of-life care and dignity in dying 
The News Mill; 4/21/26 
Director Mitul Patel revealed that his film ‘Mercy’ draws inspiration from actor Paresh Rawal’s account of his mother’s prolonged illness and coma, shared during an interview. This real-life story shaped the film’s exploration of end-of-life decisions and moral conflict. Patel told ANI, “As a writer, I look for conflicts in stories. I couldn’t find a bigger conflict than this where a son has to face this choice of letting go of his mother. ... “It will be better when we talk about mortality openly. End of life care, dignity in dying. We will start a conversation about all this. This is the goal of the movie.”

The truth of the matter is: healthcare leaders make decisions that either build trust or destroy it, that help heal or harm the communities we've committed to serve. It is a great responsibility, but also a great opportunity to heal healthcare from the inside out. ~ Rachel Sossoman, President and CEO of Mercy Urgent Care
Editor's Note: In today's "Headline" articles, CEOs at both NPHI and The Alliance echo a shared truth: trust. Without it, care unravels. With it, compassion can take root and grow—through serious illness, at the end of life, and into bereavement.