Literature Review

Lehigh Valley Health Network to drop UnitedHealthcare over reimbursement Becker's Payer Issues; by Andrew Cass; 10/29/25 Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network said it is planning to terminate its contract with UnitedHealthcare unless the payer works with the health system to remedy reimbursement issues. Without a resolution, LVHN will go out of network with UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans on Jan. 25, 2026 and commercial plans on April 25, 2026, according to an Oct. 27 news release from the health system. 

The Valerie Fund pledges $3.5 million to establish new pediatric pain and palliative care program at Hackensack Meridian Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital News Wise, Hackensack, NJ; by Hackensack Meridian Health; 11/3/25 Hackensack Meridian Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital today announced a transformative, 5-year, $3.5 million commitment from The Valerie Fund to significantly expand its Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program. The landmark donation will establish The Valerie Fund Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, located at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ, ... This new partnership will allow the hospital to care for more people annually, growing from approximately 1,750 to 3,500 patient visits. 

The hidden beliefs that hold leaders back Harvard Business Review; by Muriel M. Wilkins; 11/4/25 High-performing leaders often face internal limiting beliefs that hinder their effectiveness and career growth. Identifying and reframing these hidden blockers can unlock greater leadership potential and improve team and organizational outcomes. Common limiting beliefs include the need to be involved in every detail, an urgency for immediate results, a belief in always being right, a fear of making mistakes, expectations that others should perform like oneself, an inability to say no, and feelings of not belonging. Overcoming these blockers involves recognizing and naming the limiting belief, understanding its origins and impact, and reframing it into a more productive belief.

Don’t kick your bucket list, UT Arlington study says Texas Standard; by Laura Rice and Kaye Knoll; 11/3/25 You’re likely familiar with the concept of a bucket list: a list of things you want to do before you die, or “kick the bucket.” It’s a reminder to make every day count, and make your dreams come true. When it comes to those final days, though, it turns out that dreams can make dying a little less of a downer. According to a new study from the University of Texas at Arlington, making and fulfilling a bucket list as part of end-of-life care can help reduce anxiety and depression, provide hope to struggling patients and give families a chance to bond one last time. 

[India and worldwide] IAPC’s infographic of the month: ‘Preparing palliative care teams for a humanitarian crisis.’ ehospice; by IAPC and PallCHASE; 11/1/25 The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) and the Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies (PallCHASE) have collaborated to bring out a ‘Special Series’ of infographics focusing on palliative care in humanitarian situations. This collaboration reflects the joint vision of both organisations to promote palliative care awareness and education across the world. The 4th infographic from this special series focuses on the concept of ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’

Alive Hospice founders mark 50 years by reflecting on how their first patient molded themThe Tennessean; by Brad Schmitt; 11/2/25 ... The third hospice program in the world launched in Nashville in 1974 with coffee and doughnuts. One of its cofounders, Vanderbilt psychiatrist David Barton, felt the hospitals could be institutionally apathetic toward terminally ill patients. "There was a bit of aversion to being constantly around people whose lives are ending," Barton said. So, after studying about dying and reading about hospice care facilities that had opened in London and Connecticut, he bought refreshments and invited eight people to his West Meade home. ... Barton pitched the idea to those eight, who included a few other doctors, a neighbor with cancer, his rabbi, and his wife, who by that point had become a clinical social worker. At meeting's end, he had pledges of support. Within a year, they had raised $57.

7 women now charged in $100M Fort Bend hospice fraud scheme Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX; by John Wayne Ferguson; 11/3/25 Four more people have been charged in connection with a Fort Bend County Medicare scam, meaning seven are now accused of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the government by charging the health care fund for hospice care for patients who weren't actually dying. Hattie Banks, Lydia Obere, Cheryl Brooks and Ena Cowart were indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 8. All four were charged with healthcare fraud and two felony conspiracy charges related to the fraud and a plan to receive kickbacks. Banks, Obere and Brooks were also accused of receiving kickbacks.

[United Kingdom] Petition to save hospice beds going to Number 10 BBC News; Phil Shepka; 11/3/25 Families and MPs campaigning for beds to be saved at a hospice are to hand a petition with more than 15,000 signatures to Number 10 Downing Street. Nine inpatient beds at the Cambridge-based Arthur Rank Hospice are expected to close after the trust that operates nearby Addenbrooke's Hospital removed funding. ... Among those planning to attend Downing Street trip include those whose loved ones were cared for by the hospice. The funding cuts, announced last month, amount to £829,000 a year and will reduce the hospice's inpatient unit bed capacity from 21 to 12. 

9 hospital, health system CEO exits in 7 days Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 10/30/25 Becker’s has reported on nine hospital and health system CEO exits, from retirements to resignations, since Oct. 23. Three leaders announced retirement plans, while three others are moving organizations. 

Dignity in the final chapter: Delaware’s End of Life Options Law and what it means for clients and counsel DelawareToday; by Zelvin Law; 11/1/25 With the passage of House Bill 140—the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law—Delaware becomes the latest jurisdiction to empower terminally ill adults with the legal right to end their lives on their own terms, in a manner that is medically supported, ethically structured, and rooted in autonomy. Signed into law on May 20, 2025, HB 140 places Delaware at the forefront of the East Coast in authorizing medical aid in dying. ... HB 140 includes significant protections and responsibilities for both patients and providers. [A list of key requirements follows.]

“We See the Whole You”: NPHI celebrates National Hospice and Palliative Care Month National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 11/1/25 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, proudly celebrates National Hospice and Palliative Care Month this November by recognizing the impact of care delivered by nonprofit hospice and healthcare providers across the nation. This year’s national theme, “We See the Whole You,” honors the professionals and organizations who care for people as individuals — each with their own stories, values, and hopes — while supporting families through life’s most meaningful and challenging moments. The theme underscores NPHI’s commitment to care that puts people over profits, ensuring every person is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.

Health Talk: National Care at Home Month Rutland Herald, Rutland, VT; by Nicole Moran; 11/1/25 Throughout the month of November, VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) will join organizations across the nation in recognizing and celebrating National Care at Home Month.Editor's Note: This article demonstrates great community outreach and education through local new outlets and national observances. For more visit our post, "November 2025 Healthcare Observances," and our ongoing Healthcare Observances webpage for additional dates.

Disney delivers Halloween magic to children’s hospitals The Walt Disney Company; Press Release; 10/31/25 ... For years, Disney has joined with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to deliver not-so-scary Halloween cheer to children’s hospitals. Since 2021, Disney’s donations have reached over 80,000 pediatric patients, according to Starlight. ... These visits are a part of Disney’s wider efforts this Halloween to bring joy to kids facing critical illnesses. Last weekend, for the first time ever, Disney, Make-A-Wish, MrBeast, and YouTube hosted some of the world’s top creators at Disneyland Resort to grant wishes for 40 Make-A-Wish kids at the ultimate Halloween experience. ... At Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver, Canada, Disney paid a special visit to the kids there, bringing along costumes, stuffies, and books, and half of those items were shared with the Hospice center’s Abbotsford location.