Empower Oversight widens state fraud queries to New York Hospice Regulator 
Empower Oversight Whistleblowers & Research, Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/1/26 
Empower Oversight has filed a public records request with New York’s Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, the state agency responsible for regulating the hospice industry, as part of its broader investigation into fraud involving federal taxpayer funds. The request seeks documents that shed light on potential systemic failures in hospice oversight, and on how the agency has identified, responded to, or declined to act on known fraud indicators. ... For a copy of the letter click here.

A new light for Community Hospice 
The Daily Independent, Ashland, KY; by Staff; 5/1/26 
Ashland Community Hospice announced Thursday it has rebranded, with a focus on a new logo. The new design is meant to reflect the organization’s deep roots in the community and its continued commitment to compassionate, high-quality care. Community Hospice CEO Rod Hieneman said the rebrand is not a reinvention, but an evolution. ... Hieneman said, “Our goal was to honor our legacy while introducing a more modern, approachable look that reflects who we are today and where we are going. With new projects on the horizon, this transition is coming at just the right time.”

Teeing it up for Hospice of the Valley 
Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 5/3/26 
Hospice of the Valley’s 2026 Pro‑Am Golf Tournament, presented by Cigna Healthcare, brought together 27 fabulous threesomes and 27 talented pros at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale for an unforgettable day on the course. Under picture‑perfect skies, the 28th annual event on April 2 netted more than $45,000 for the nonprofit’s charity care programs. Since launching the tournament in 1998, volunteer chairman Jay Hoselton has helped raise more than $1.1 million to ensure patients and families in need receive excellent care, regardless of their financial circumstances. 

Hospice of Wichita Falls partners to protect against hospice fraud 
KFDX/KJTL News, TexomasHomePage.com, Wichita Falls, TX; by Angel Owens; 5/1/26 
As concerns over hospice fraud continue to grow across Texas and the nation, Hospice of Wichita Falls is taking a strong and public stance against unethical practices that threaten patients and undermine trust in end-of-life care. The nonprofit organization is reaffirming its commitment to compassionate, ethical hospice services while partnering with state and national organizations to strengthen accountability across the industry. For over four decades, the organization has served the Wichita Falls community as a nonprofit, community-based provider dedicated to supporting patients and families through one of life’s most vulnerable and sacred seasons.

End-of-life doctors reveal 5 common fears people face in their final moments 
SavingAdvice.com; by Amanda Blankenship; 5/3/26  
Most people avoid thinking about death, but doctors who work in hospice and palliative care say the same fears come up again and again. ... Research shows that death anxiety is common, with many people experiencing fear tied to the process of dying, not just death itself. ... here are five of the most common fears [identified by these doctors] among people facing their final moments.

1. Fear of Pain and Physical Suffering ...
2. Fear of Losing Control or Dignity ...
3. Fear of Being a Burden to Loved Ones ...
4. Fear of Dying Alone ...
5. Fear of the Unknown ...

Editor's Note: Calling all leaders: set aside your professional roles. Lean into your own mortality—your own fears. Which of these are yours? Now step back into leadership. How might attending to these universal fears reshape the care your organization provides?

CMS posts information on hospice election notification pilot: Crushing fraud, waste, & abuse
CMS.gov; 5/1/26 
On April 30, 2026, CMS announced that they had expanded the Hospice Election Notification pilot from Nevada into California.  During the pilot, when a hospice provider files a Notice of Election, a notification letter is immediately sent to the beneficiary to make sure they know they have been enrolled in hospice. If they did not enroll, they are instructed to call 1-800-MEDICARE who can help with overturning the election. Since the start of the pilot in Nevada in May 2025, more than 25,000 letters have been issued.  A copy of the letter being sent to beneficiaries in these states is available here.

MedPAC comment on CMS’s proposed rule on hospice for FY 2027 
MedPAC - Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Washington, DC; letter from Michael E. Chernew, Ph.D., Chair, Betty Rambur, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Vice Chair, and Paul B. Masi, M.P.P., Executive Director--to--Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA, CMS; 4/20/26 
... Our comments focus on two issues: CMS’s request for information on construction of a hospice-specific wage index, and hospice service and spending variation index.

• Construction of a hospice-specific wage index: Since 1998, CMS has used general acute care hospital wage data to develop the hospice wage index. ...
• Comment ...
• Hospice service and spending variation index:  In the proposed rule, CMS describes a new measure it has constructed—the hospice service and spending variation index (SSVI). ...
• Comment ...
• Conclusion: ... If you have any questions regarding our comments, please do not hesitate to contact Paul B. Masi, MedPAC’s Executive Director, at 202-220-3700

Local students stitch comfort, compassion, and dignity for hospice patients 
Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT; Press Release; 5/4/26 
A small group of students in a dedicated class at Mount Anthony Union High School have spent recent weeks carefully crafting handmade catheter bag covers and adult bibs for patients served by VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR). Each stitch tells a story — not just of skill learned, but of empathy in action. For hospice patients, small details can make an immeasurable difference. Everyday medical necessities, like catheter bags, can feel clinical and impersonal. These thoughtfully designed covers soften that experience, offering privacy, warmth, and a sense of normalcy. 

Home health & hospice M&A in 2026: Why the market has reset and what buyers want now 
JD Supra; by Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Jason Bring, Matthew Brohm, Jennifer Downs Burgar; 5/1/26 
This five-part series examines current trends in home health and hospice M&A as the sector enters 2026, including valuation discipline, compliance and clinical risk, the role of artificial intelligence, and how deal structure and preparation are affecting transaction outcomes. Part 1 focuses on the current market environment and the factors driving buyer selectivity.
Key Takeaways

• The home health and hospice M&A market has moved away from peak-era valuation levels ...
• Deal activity increased in late 2025 ...
• Valuation is increasingly tied to verifiable performance ...

BrightSpring aims for organic growth following Amedisys location acquisitions 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/1/26 
After a banner first quarter, BrightSpring Health Services (Nasdaq: BTSG) is focused on performance improvement and continued organic growth. The company’s hospice operations are housed within its home health care business, part of its provider services segment. BrightSpring expects rising demand for those services to bolster its growth opportunity in both the near future and the long term, according to CEO Jon Rousseau. ... The average daily census for its home health business, inclusive of hospice, in Q1 rose 52% to 46,056 from 30,241 in the prior year’s quarter. 

Wish granted: Man in hospice attends his 80th Kentucky Derby in a row
WLKY-32 CBS News, Louisville, KY; by Addie Meiners; 5/4/26 
An 89-year-old Louisville native living in hospice care was able to fulfill one final wish this weekend—attending his 80th Kentucky Derby in a row. Bob Weihe marked the milestone Saturday at the 152nd Run for the Roses. Despite being in hospice, his lifelong tradition was made possible for another year after a story about his situation gained attention. ... 
Editor's Note: Even though weather was cold and the sun did not "shine bright" for the Derby this story warms the heart. 

The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart; the most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace. ~ Carlos Santana 
Happy Cinco de Mayo!