Literature Review

If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down. ~Toni Morrison

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.

[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.

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. 

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.

NPHI statement on “Protecting Patients and Taxpayers: Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud” hearingNational 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.

Unity raises nearly $95,000 during Give Big Green Bay 2026 The Chamber of Manitowoc County; Press Release; 4/20/26 Unity is celebrating the impact of this year’s Give BIG Green Bay campaign, which generated $94,786 in support of compassionate end-of-life care and grief support services across Northeast Wisconsin. During the 24-hour giving event, 362 donors contributed $78,435 directly to Unity, with an additional $16,786 in matching funds and incentives through Give BIG Green Bay, hosted by the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. 

Hospice Fraud Briefing: one page summaryLund Person & Associates Hospice Consulting; by Judi Lund Person; 4/16/26 Download this one-page, detailed summary of Top Cases, Total Losses, and Dominant Schemes from April 2025-2026.

South Surrey hospice thrift shop getting crafty with fundraising Europe Says; 4/21/26A new initiative launching at the Peace Arch Hospice Thrift Store in time for Mother’s Day will showcase the heartfelt talents of volunteers, staff and patrons to help boost funds raised at the shop in support of hospice programs and services. Handmade with Love was inspired by a volunteer who offered up “beautiful” aprons she’d made, suggesting the store could sell them as possible gifts for the occasion. ... The idea sparked excitement, and a flurry of conversation and brainstorming that followed quickly transformed it. ... Robbins said another positive of the initiative is the opportunity it creates for crafty folks who want to support hospice but are physically unable to volunteer at the store or give cash donations. ... With a story behind each piece, it is “a reflection of the care, creativity, and connection that defines our hospice community,” a news release states.

How a pickleball injury highlights fraud in California's hospice industry ArcaMax; by Richard Winton; 4/21/26 Lynn Ianni didn't learn she was apparently dying in a Los Angeles County hospice care facility until her Medicare claim for a pickleball injury was rejected. "At first we laughed because it was an obvious clerical error," the Seattle-based psychotherapist recalled before a congressional committee Tuesday, where she was providing testimony about her months-long experience in 2024 with fraud in the hospice industry. "It wasn't just frustrating, it was terrifying." Ianni appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill at a hearing that revealed details about fake claims and stolen doctors' identities. She was a victim of California hospice scammers. 

VITAS® Healthcare breaks ground on new inpatient hospice center in Port St. Lucie's Tradition community PR Newswire, Port St. Luci, FL; Press Release; 4/22/26 As Florida's aging population continues to grow, increasing demand for inpatient hospice care, VITAS Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, broke ground this week on a new inpatient hospice center in Port St. Lucie. Expected to open in 2027, the new 14,000-square-foot facility will expand access to comfort-focused inpatient hospice care for individuals whose symptoms can no longer be managed at home, ensuring more families can receive expert care close to Florida's Treasure Coast.