Literature Review

Assessing PA student interest in hospice and palliative medicineThe American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Ryan Baldeo, Rachael Broder; 4/26While hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) is a critical and growing field, Physician Associates (PAs) are underrepresented. This study sought to assess PA student interest in HPM and identify strategies to increase engagement with the Physician Associates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (PAHPM) organization. The survey assessed attitudes toward HPM and identified barriers to organizational involvement. Lack of awareness was the primary barrier to involvement (75.8%). Students expressed interest in educational resources (63.6%), job opportunities (57.6%), and mentorship (51.5%). Most respondents (81.8%) do not currently follow PAHPM on social media, but 72.7% indicated they would follow an Instagram account.

The professional guest: Ethical challenges in home-based end-of-life care among interprofessional teamsNursing Ethics; Inbal Halevi Hochwald, Gila Yakov, Moran Weiss, Liron Inchi, Inbal Mayan, Ron Sabar; 4/26Home-based end-of-life palliative care presents unique ethical challenges that differ fundamentally from those in institutional settings. Healthcare professionals navigate the complex role of being both clinical experts and guests in patients' domestic environments, operating in a context where professional authority is continuously negotiated rather than institutionally established. Home-based palliative care places professionals at the intersection of clinical responsibility and domestic sovereignty, a position for which existing frameworks offer insufficient guidance. Addressing these structural and relational challenges requires both individual-level preparation, including training in ethical decision-making in low-control environments, and systemic policy reform.

... if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. ~Roald Dahl

Locally owned and operated hospice center opens in downtown New Iberia, LA The Daily Iberian, New Iberia, LA; by Corey Vaughn; 5/12/26 It’s always a scary decision to leave your job and start your own business, but New Iberia native Tyler Robicheaux said it’s an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Robicheaux officially opened the doors to Foundations Hospice last year after being given the opportunity, alongside silent partners, to take his years of hospice care experience to the next level. ... One of the best parts of being the owner of his own hospice business has been implementing his vision for good care from the ground up. “You get to build it from the ground up: the good and not so good,” he said. 

Don’t guess with health: Samaritan helps families identify the best care level for their aging loved one citybiz | New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh | Non-Profit; by Samaritan; 5/11/26When a loved one’s health begins to decline, families often face one of the most difficult questions in caregiving: What kind of care do they really need? Is it time for home-based primary care? Would palliative medicine improve quality of life while still seeking treatment? Or is hospice the most appropriate next step? ... With a full continuum of services—from primary care to end-of-life care—Samaritan helps families navigate complex healthcare decisions with compassion, expertise, and clarity. ... Editor's Note: Excellent descriptions for "choosing the right level of care" with simple, clear information and "navigation" services.

Official Federal Register document with "Announcement of Nationwide Temporary Moratorium on Enrollment of Hospices" Federal Register National Archives; 5/14/26 [On Thursday, 5/14/26,] This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 2026-05-15 and available online at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-09718, and on https://govinfo.gov.

SOS Hospice: Let’s ask ChatGPT to select a hospice programSubstack post; by Joan Teno; 5/11/26In this essay, I asked ChatGPT to identify the “best” hospice in Rhode Island and then examines the logic and data sources behind the answer. The analysis highlights how AI rankings can rely on non-validated or imputed measures and may overlook important Medicare Care Compare context. Comparing ChatGPT’s top picks with the author’s own assessment illustrates how different metrics can point to very different conclusions. Bottom line: AI can be a useful starting point for questions about quality, but patients and families should treat hospice rankings with caution and verify claims using transparent, validated measures.

Executive Personnel Changes - 5/15/26

Free webinar today by CHAP, 3-4pm ET: The National Hospice and Home Health Enrollment Moratorium | what we know so far Community Health Accreditation Partner; webinar will be presented by Kim Skehan, Jennifer Kennedy, and Teresa Harbour; posted 5/14/26 with webinar 5/15/26 Join CHAP and Kim Skehan for a timely discussion focused on what we currently know, what remains unclear, and how providers should be thinking about readiness, compliance, and next steps. Anyone can view and join online. During the webinar, we will cover:

Hospice fraud is becoming a political flashpoint. Why? National Public Radio WAMU; by Michelle Harven; 5/11/26 The state of California recently charged 21 people with hospice fraud, accusing them of costing the state $267 million. These types of schemes start with criminals opening up shell companies, signing recipients up without their knowledge, and then billing Medi-Cal for nonexistent services. This can have a serious effect on a senior’s ability to find care in the future. And it’s not just a state matter. The push to uncover this kind of fraud has become a political battle ... We sit down and talk about why we’re seeing this kind of fraud happen, who it harms, and why it’s become a political flashpoint.