Literature Review

Inside California’s hospice gold rush: the state’s IHSS program is losing between 20%-40% of its entire budget to fraudDeseret News; by Eva Terry; 4/14/26 An investigative report details large-scale hospice and in-home care fraud in California, where transnational criminal networks have billed the state for over $267 million in non-existent services. The state’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is estimated to be losing 20–40% of its entire budget to fraud, prompting Governor Newsom’s administration to revoke hundreds of hospice licenses and make arrests. Despite state actions, over 700 active hospices in Los Angeles alone have triggered multiple red flags for fraud.Guest Editor's Note, by Judi Lund Person: Today's biggest developing thread remains the rumored national moratorium on new hospice Medicare enrollment. Hospice News reported on April 13 that questions are circulating in the industry about whether CMS is preparing a nationwide enrollment freeze for hospice providers, following a public push by state associations urging the agency not to do so. That story, combined with the ongoing California fraud crackdown and the FY 2027 proposed rule's new SSVI scoring system, paints a picture of an hospice care under enormous regulatory pressure on multiple fronts. 

[Global] Compassionate communities in action: global stories of care, loss and connection Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK; edited by Emma Hodges and Manjula Patel; ebook published 1/1/26 Compassionate Communities in Action: Global Stories of Care, Loss and Connection brings together practical examples of compassionate cities and communities from around the world. Together they provide a practical road map, highlighting what has worked and what has been challenging, alongside reflections from the communities profiled. ... Demonstrating public health palliative care in practice, this guide is an essential read for people working in the field of palliative and end‑of‑life care, as well as academics, students, and policymakers with an interest in the area. ... The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Licence CC-BY-NC-ND. Editor's Note: This 334 page book is available for free download via the links above.

Strategies to promote the dissemination of psychosocial digital health resources for those affected by cancer: scoping review Supportive Care in Cancer; by Isabel Ronan and Olinda Santin; 4/15/26 Conclusion: This paper presents the first review consolidating research on psychosocial digital resource dissemination targeting those affected by cancer. ... When considering the dissemination of an online resource in the future, researchers should focus on creating co-designed digital interventions for caregivers and targeting more diverse populations using both traditional and digital dissemination materials.

Carve-in or carve-out? The future of hospice under Medicare Advantage | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Robin Hefferman; 4/15/26In Part One of this thought-provoking conversation, Chris Comeaux and Robin Heffernan, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Empassion, explore the evolving intersection of private equity, artificial intelligence, and end-of-life care—raising critical questions about accountability, quality, and the future of hospice under Medicare Advantage. As the healthcare system shifts toward value-based models, the discussion challenges long-held assumptions about whether hospice should remain “carved out” or be fully integrated into payer responsibility.

The leadership bottleneck: why you’re slowing your team down Forbes; by Daisy Auger-Dominguez; 4/13/26 ... Two weeks into a new leadership role, a manager came to me with a familiar question: “I need help handling a performance issue with someone on my team.” It was a reasonable ask. Over the course of my career as a Chief People Officer, I’ve helped countless new and seasoned managers navigate that conversation. ... This time, I asked something different: “What would help you make this a better decision?” The manager paused. “Honestly? I’m not sure.” That moment told me something important, not about the manager, but about the system around them.

[United Kingdom] Marathon run 'a gift', says mum with terminal cancer BBC; by Charlotte Coles and Seb Sargent; 4/12/26 A woman with a rare terminal cancer is set to fulfil a "wild goal" when she runs the London Marathon in aid of a national cancer support charity. Sarah Demirtges, from Adderbury, Oxfordshire, was diagnosed with adrenal cancer in 2020 and is currently undergoing palliative treatment. The 47-year-old said she would be running to prove "to anyone affected by cancer that you can't be held back by things." The mum-of-two has raised more than £15,000 to date for Maggie's, to give "a little something back" to the charity she said has helped her.

Sew Blessed honors Vietnam veteran with patriotic quilt The Herald, Roanoke Rapids, NC; 4/13/26 April 9 was a special Sew Blessed day for the quilt makers as they thanked Russell Crotts, a local U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, for his military service and presented him with a patriotic quilt. ... Crotts spoke to the group about some critical events during his military service, how they affected him and how eventually those events led him to the training of Flo, his service dog. ... This past year, as a veteran pet support volunteer with Liberty Hospice, Russ and Flo have traveled multiple counties, visited 27 hospice patients, and provided an opportunity for a unique connection of comfort between Flo and Liberty Hospice patients.

Sunset Hospice Cottage sets fundraising record for endowment The Worthington Daily Globe, Worthington, MN; 4/14/26 From tie-dyed hair bands to hippie wigs, form-fitting attire to round-rimmed shades, attendees at the 24th annual Sunset Hospice Cottage Banquet went all out with the 1970s-themed "Peace, Love and Compassion" fundraising event Saturday evening at the Worthington Event Center. ... When it was over, this year's banquet raised a record-setting amount for the cottage's endowment. On Monday afternoon, Murphy said they were still adding up the numbers. Murphy said the more than 500 people in attendance were bonded during what was both a joyous and emotional evening. ... "It didn't matter about religion and politics and ages and status. Nothing mattered but being there for Sunset Hospice Cottage. I wish the world would find that peace." 

Accreditation: moving forward during the moratorium HME News - Business News for Home Medical Equipment Providers; by Sandra Canally; 4/13/26 ... Hospice contracts: Hospice providers are required to contract only with accredited DMEPOS suppliers to equip terminally ill patients whether at the hospice facility, in a nursing home or at home. The supply opportunities closely mirror those in skilled nursing, with enteral nutrition, mobility aids and respiratory equipment all in demand. Hospice covers 100% of DME costs related to the terminal illness. [To DME companies:] Invoice the hospice organization directly, and they pay you. Medicare stays out of the transaction entirely.

If you get up early, work late, and pay your taxes, you will get ahead -- if you strike oil. ~ J. Paul Getty

The power of showing up: how families can support loved ones who are aging or ill Good Men Project; by Harvey Max Chochinov; 4/14/26 For many families, visiting a loved one who is aging or seriously ill can feel surprisingly hard. ... What if the problem is not that families have too little to offer, but that we misunderstand what truly helps? ... By emphasizing presence over fixing, dignity over distraction, and meaning over outcomes, it helps families:

The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything. ~Theodore Roosevelt