Literature Review

Data breaches announced by gastroenterology practice and hospice companies The HIPAA Journal; by Steve Alder; 9/24/26 Data breaches have been announced by Gastroenterology & Hepatology of Central New York, Three Oaks Hospice, and Doctor’s Choice Home Care.

Out-of-state group buys former east-side hospice property Business Record; by Kathy A. Bolten; 9/23/26 An out-of-state substance abuse treatment company has acquired property on Des Moines’ east side that previously housed a hospice facility and administrative offices for EveryStep and Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, Polk County real estate records show. WellBrook Recovery, doing business as 3000 Easton Blvd Propco LLC, paid Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa just over $5 million for the 9.3-acre parcel at 3000 Easton Blvd., records show. The nearly 5,000-square-foot, one-story facility originally operated as Bright Kavanagh House, which opened in 2007 and cost about $6 million to build. At the time, the 24-bed facility was the largest hospice in Iowa.

Hospice of South Texas dedicates new building The Schulenburg Sticker, Schulenburg, Fayette County, TX; by News Staff; 9/22/26 Hospice of South Texas celebrated an exciting milestone with the dedication and blessing of a new support services building on the campus of the Dornburg Center of Compassion in Victoria on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Officiating were area pastor and board president Herb Beyer and Bishop Brendan Cahill of the Catholic Diocese of Victoria.

4 in 5 doctors now work for ‘corporate entities’ as autonomy erodes Forbes; by Bruce Japsen; 9/8/26 Corporate entities now employ 82% of U.S. physicians, a trend eroding doctor autonomy, according to a new Physicians Advocacy Institute report. The survey reveals nearly half of doctors feel pressured to prioritize patient volume over optimal care. Furthermore, 63% encounter corporate barriers to out-of-network referrals, and 59% feel compelled to keep patients within their health system. PAI's CEO, Kelly Kenney, asserts that corporate owners' primary allegiance is to profits, not patients, directly restricting physicians' ability to ensure the best care.

Hospice of Humboldt expands in-home palliative care with $250K match Archynewsy; by D. Natalie Singh; 9/23/26Hospice of Humboldt has launched a $500,000 campaign to expand its Home-Based Palliative Care program, bolstered by a $250,000 matching gift from the owners of Premier Financial Group, according to reports from the Lost Coast Outpost. The program, which delivers medical care, symptom management, and care coordination directly to patients’ homes, currently serves 70 patients and families but sits at full capacity with a six- to eight-week waitlist.

Rehearsing the end Reader; by Ali Hickerson; 9/23/26 I'm covering all my bases,” says Rob, wearing a Cubs shirt, on the grounds of Rosehill Cemetery on July 18. After a doctor told him to get “his things in order” following his diagnosis of incurable bone marrow cancer last year, he began working with the Chicago Death Doula Collective, one of several resources he’s turned to for support. He’s one of the nine people picnicking at Rosehill on a Saturday afternoon, as part of a cemetery picnic series the Chicago Death Doula Collective has hosted there monthly this summer. ... Rob says he needed a community like Bianchi’s to deal with the reality of his cancer, ... After spending so much time in the cancer ward, Rob longed to hear stories of the people sitting around him—to humanize the topic, “laugh, cry, or make jokes about it,” and reflect on the preciousness of time.

AI can’t replace this: the leadership advantage that’s more human than ever | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth; 9/23/26 In Part One, Chris Comeaux welcomes Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth, founder and CEO of Hollingsworth Consulting and author of The Compassion Advantage: How Top Leaders Build More Humanizing Workplaces, for a timely conversation about compassion, vulnerability, and what it means to lead well in an increasingly AI-driven world. Andrea argues that while AI can solve problems, organize information, and simulate empathy, it cannot genuinely suffer with another person—and therefore cannot offer true compassion.  For healthcare and hospice leaders working alongside people experiencing stress, grief, uncertainty, and change, that distinction matters. 

Establishing an AI policy: a comprehensive white paper for life sciences teamsSakara Digital; by Amie Harpe; 9/21/26Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a niche technology to a foundational element of business operations across all sectors. ... This white paper provides a comprehensive, narrative-driven guide for business and compliance leaders ...  Special attention is given to the unique regulatory, ethical, and operational considerations in life sciences and healthcare, with tangible guidance for governance, validation, training, monitoring, and audit strategies.

We've officially reached that time of year where it's sweater weather in the morning, but by midday you die of heatstroke.

Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard gives late nurses a final tribute Democrat and Chronicle; by Mike Murphy; 9/21/26 As Ruth Benjamin was getting ready to retire after more than 50 years in nursing, two of her colleagues passed away. ... Nursing is a calling and a way of life, Benjamin said by way of explanation, and many like her and her colleague gave everything they had to their profession. ... After some research, Benjamin founded the Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard, which celebrates its third anniversary in October. The all-volunteer honor guard ensures that late nurses are recognized, in a similar way that honor guards pay tribute to late military or first responders. ... The service is free.Editor's Note: Though this article is behind a paywall, you can learn more about this inspirational Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard from their website.

CMS cracks down on fraud, waste, and abuse in the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace® CMS Newsroom; Press Release; 9/22/26 As part of the ongoing efforts of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud to crush fraud in the healthcare system and protect taxpayer dollars, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking aggressive, sweeping actions within the Federal Marketplace — canceling approximately 315,000 unauthorized enrollments covering more than 760,000 individuals, which is expected to result in a return of roughly $2.2 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies.  

CMS continues to evaluate impact of moratorium, agency tells Alliance McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 9/14/26 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to evaluate the impact of the home health and hospice moratorium, it told the National Alliance for Care at Home Monday [9/14]. “CMS continues to evaluate the impact of the moratoriums, including their effects on patient access to care and on the fiscal integrity of the federal healthcare programs,” the agency said in a statement to the Alliance. ... While CMS officials told members of the Alliance in July they would provide 60 days notice, the statement said it “is under no obligation to provide 60 days’ advance notice of its intentions regarding the moratoriums, and no such notice should be assumed or expected.”

Labor Day auction raises more than $1 million Hospice & Community Care, Lancaster, PA; online letter to their sponsors, volunteers, and community; retrieved from the internet 9/22/26 Thanks to your incredible generosity, we are proud to share that more than $1 million was raised to support hospice and palliative care, bereavement services, and grief support programs for the thousands of patients and families served by Hospice & Community Care each year. This remarkable achievement reflects the compassion and commitment of our community. Because of you, we can continue our mission of helping patients and families live better with serious illness through end of life. From all of us at Hospice & Community Care, thank you for making a difference.