The Alliance and the Research Institute for Home Care release 2025 Hospice Chartbook 
National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 2/19/26 
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and The Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) are excited to announce the release of the 2025 Hospice Chartbook. Highlighting the vital role that hospice plays in caring for an aging demographic, the Chartbook provides a look at the patients being served in hospice, who they are demographically and clinically, and more.  Now in its second year, the 2025 Hospice Chartbook, co-sponsored by the Alliance, provides an overview of national patient and workforce data with an emphasis on state-specific information and trends, including key data on hospice patients and providers, Medicare spending on hospice, and more. 

Hospice spending, care quality scores by state 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 2/18/26 
California and Nevada hospice providers had the lowest care-quality scores despite spending the most per beneficiary to provide care between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to CMS data released Feb. 18. Rhode Island and West Virginia had the highest hospice care quality scores during the data collection period. CMS’ Hospice Quality Reporting Program includes data submitted directly by hospice providers, from Medicare hospice claims, and from the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Here are the hospice care quality scores and per-beneficiary spending amounts by state between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to CMS: ...

Valentine’s week at Connecticut Hospice 
The Connecticut Hospice, Branford, CT; email and webpage; 2/18/26 
Valentine’s Week at Connecticut Hospice was filled with meaningful moments and gentle reflections of the love that surrounds our patients and families every day. We began the week with a touching donation of hand-painted rocks from our dedicated volunteer, Maureen. ...The week of Valentine’s Day holds special meaning for her, as it marks the anniversary of her father’s passing. These small but powerful tokens were placed at our front desk for visitors to choose from before or after spending time with their loved ones. [Continue reading and see photos of  more meaningful gifts through the week.]

‘Mass layoffs’ at PeaceHealth include hospice staff 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/18/26 
PeaceHealth has announced the elimination of 94 positions across its facilities in Washington state, effective on April 12, 2026. The impacted locations include the PeaceHealth Whatcom Hospice House and medical, surgical and cancer centers, among other facilities. PeaceHealth recently submitted a statement to the Washington Employment Security Department, which included a formal notice of workforce reduction that included “mass layoffs” as defined under state regulations. State requirements stipulate that businesses must provide 60 days notice prior to these types of layoffs under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. 

‘It’s a collaborative effort’: Northern Light Medical Transport paramedics providing hospice support
WABI-5, Bangor, ME; by Alyssa Thurlow; 2/19/26 
... Paramedics can help patients across Maine with a variety of needs, but some are embracing a slower-paced role, focused on assisting those who are at the end of life. “Patients have access to care 24/7, and part of that coverage for after-hours is now coming through the community paramedicine program,” said hospice educator Allie Rohrer, RN. ... “It’s not with lights and sirens. It’s very low key. It’s driving there in a car, and then it’s talking through the issues,” said paramedic Ed Moreshead. ... Northern Light’s community paramedics are contracted with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice. Families in need of assistance call the triage number, and a hospice nurse and on-call physician can respond if needed.

Cindy Mensik on hospice care: When to shift focus? 
Investors Hangout; by Lucas Young; 2/17/26 
Families in Texas City, TX, are facing a critical decision as loved ones enter the later stages of life. A recent article featuring insights from hospice care expert Cindy Mensik outlines when it’s time to pivot from aggressive treatment methods to hospice care. The reality is stark: this shift isn’t about surrendering; it’s about prioritizing comfort and quality of life during challenging times.

• Recognizing Signs: When to Transition to Hospice ...
• The Role of Support Services in Hospice Care ...
• A Candid Look at Community Awareness ...

Why Alivia Care is getting invested in ACO models 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 2/19/26 
The senior care provider Alivia Care is going all in on high-needs Accountable Care Organization models in 2026. This includes participation in the final year of the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) model that the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is currently testing. Following that, the hospice, home health, PACE and palliative care provider plans to engage in the center’s new Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) model. ... [Descriptions by Alivia Care CEO Susan Ponder Stansel ...]

14th Annual healthcare fraud & abuse review 2025 
JD Supra; by Theresa Androff, Cody Anthony, Denise Barnes, Michael Bassham, Angela Bergman, Justin Brown, Nathan Brown, J. Taylor Chenery, Hannah Choate, Matthew Curley, John Eason, Charlotte Elam, Emily Ann Farmer, Lindsey Brown Fetzer, Emily Fountain, Lauren Gaffney, Scott Gallisdorfer, Anna Grizzle, Becca Guthrie, Stephanie Higdon, Brian Irving, Stewart Kameen, Travis Lloyd, Andrés Martinez, Garrah Carter-Mason, William Mathias, Jennifer Michael, Jack Nelson, Benjamin Peterson, Brianna Powell, Lisa Rivera, Brian Roark, Molly Ruberg, Taylor Sample, Reagan Schmidt, Ben Schrader, Danielle Sloane, Hannah Webber; 2/17/26 
Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to bring you our 14th annual Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Review in which we cover significant civil and criminal enforcement issues for healthcare providers. Please see full publication below for more information. ...

South Bay family mistakenly told 92-year-old relative had died at healthcare facility
Fox-2 KTVU, Los Gatos, CA; by KTVU Staff; 2/18/26 

• A South Bay family was mistakenly told their 92-year-old mother, Maryellen Capodiece, had died at a Los Gatos care facility, only to find her alive and watching TV when they rushed to her room.
• Vasona Creek Healthcare Center said its hospice partner, Direct Hospice Care, mistakenly notified the wrong family after another patient’s death and is reviewing protocols to prevent a similar error.
• The California Department of Public Health is investigating the incident.

... "I was just in shock," Nancy Dennis [the daughter] said. "And my father, I won’t forget the screams when I called him to tell him she had died. They’d been married for 74 years. And now to think I’ll have to put him through this all again, it’s heartbreaking to me."

Editor's Note: Read this story from two perspectives. First, the healthcare professional—where in the rush of busy systems and handoffs, a “simple” verification error can occur, yet carry enormous consequences. Second, the patient and family—where a mistaken death notification shatters trust, inflicts real emotional trauma, and reverberates beyond one household into the broader community. In hospice care we often say, “We don’t have do-overs.” That truth carries more weight than we can imagine, shaping a family’s memories and emotions for years to come.

New ‘care home’ for seniors aims to bring alternative to home health care 
WCAX-3 CBS, East Middlebury, VT; by Laura Ullman; 2/18/26 
Vermont has a housing crisis for seniors trying to age in place. A nonprofit in Addison County is hoping to pioneer a new model to meet the needs of Vermont’s aging demographic. “Addison County Home Health looked for about a year and a half to find a space, ...” said Deb Wesley, the CEO of Addison County Home Health & Hospice. ... “Our goal is to provide a home for eight individuals who really are medically frail, are really unable to live at home alone, or require some increased assistance for their care,” Wesley said. ... Addison County Home Health & Hospice is hoping to open this care home in late spring.

Artificial intelligence-powered predictive tools to improve end-of-life decision-making: mini-review 
British Medical Journal (BMJ) Supportive & Palliative Care; by Abdullah Alabbasi, Muhanad Alzahrani, Faris Sultan and Mohammed Sayes; 2/18/26 
Results: ... Preliminary qualitative work indicates that AI-generated summaries may assist communication among healthcare teams, though concerns persist regarding transparency, bias and over-reliance on algorithms.
Conclusions: AI-driven prognostic models show promise in improving risk identification and facilitating earlier engagement with palliative care. Nonetheless, the current evidence base is preliminary. Future research should include prospective trials and strengthened ethical frameworks to ensure that the integration of AI-based prognostic tools into end-of-life decision-making is both safe and equitable. 

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. ~ Wayne Gretzky, International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame