Literature Review

CMS proposes community-based palliative care benefit Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/1/26 The U.S Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed coverage of community-based palliative care through the Medicare home health benefit. CMS included the palliative benefit in its 2027 proposed home health rule. ... The agency emphasized that palliative care under the home health benefit would be separate from hospice care and could support patients earlier in the course of serious illness.

Sunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!

VNA Hops for Hospice brings community together in support of compassionate care GreatNews.Life, Valparaiso, IN; by Maxwell Barath; 6/29/26 On Saturday, June 27, more than 250 guests and over 60 dedicated volunteers gathered at the Porter County Expo Center for VNA Hospice NWI’s sixth annual Hops for Hospice, an afternoon celebrating local craft beverages, delicious food, live music, and a shared commitment to compassionate hospice care. The Expo Center was filled with energy as attendees sampled offerings from dozens of regional breweries, wineries, and beverage vendors while enjoying live performances by Bryan Elliott and Duke Tumatoe, whose music provided the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon of community, conversation, and giving back.

Burke County hospice provider responds to national concerns over hospice industry The Paper, Morganton, NC; by Allen VanNoppen; 5/16/26 As questions continue nationwide about hospice oversight and Medicare abuse, leaders at Burke County’s AMOREM say nonprofit hospice providers offer a different model centered on community care rather than profits. AMOREM emphasized the distinction between nonprofit and for-profit hospice organizations, arguing that ownership structure directly affects patient care and family experience at the end of life, the nonprofit’s leaders said. The statement comes amid increased national attention on reports of misuse of the Medicare Hospice Benefit in some parts of the country. 

What do UK hospice websites communicate about the meaning of palliative care? BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Lucy Williams, Charlotte Browne, Paul Perkins, and Vanessa Taylor; 6/30/26Objectives: Hospice websites are an important source of information for the public. This study examined whether information communicated about palliative care aligned with WHO and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) definitions of palliative care. ... Conclusions: Key information was often missing, and opportunities to educate the public and address misconceptions are being lost. Hospice websites need reviewing and content updating to help improve public understanding of palliative care. Editor's Note: What does your website communicate? What information does it omit, and why? In a time of heightened scrutiny and rampant fraud, examine your website for strengths, gaps, and opportunities to educate and support the public with integrity, authenticity, and empowered choice.

At Hospice Austin’s summer camp, kids find joy together after experiencing loss KUT 90.5, Austin, TX; by Olivia Aldridge; 6/29/26 On a Friday in mid-June, middle school-aged kids lined up for their shot at a summer camp rite of passage: the infamous high ropes course at John Knox Ranch in Fischer, Texas. The ranch hosts Camp Brave Heart, Hospice Austin’s annual camp for kids and teens who have experienced loss. 13-year-old Alisa bravely stepped up to the challenge first. Soon enough, she was strapped into a harness, inching along ropes strung 30 feet in the air. “You are rocking this!” the counselor belaying her from the ground yelled as Alisa neared the end of the course. “Take a second — you want to look at the view?”

Remembrance Walk brings grieving families together The Alamosa Citizen, Alamosa, CO; by The Citizen; 6/29/26 A Friday morning breeze came in handy at San Luis Valley’s inaugural Remembrance Walk at Blanca Vista Park. A quiet 1.5-mile Pelican Trail became a place for shared memories, tears, and community healing. Organized by Hospice del Valle, the June 26 event brought together community members from across the Valley, each taking a lap around the lake for someone no longer able to walk beside them. ... Lori Taylor and her family were at the park to celebrate her mother, Judy, who passed away in December. Even though her mother was in hospice care for a single day, Taylor said the nonprofit’s grief support groups made a massive difference for her family.

Improving trauma-informed end-of-life support for indigenous populations Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 6/29/26 The end of life can come with significant challenges for underserved and under-resourced patient populations, including indigenous tribal communities. Hospices seeking to improve quality and disparities need a trauma-informed care delivery approach, as well as greater cultural staffing diversity and education. Culturally inclusive recruitment and retention policies can help hospices to bridge wide gaps of unmet needs among terminally ill patients and their families, according to Dr. Sophina Manheimer Calderon, CMO, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Health System in Baraga, Michigan. Calderon is from the Navajo Nation in Arizona and previously worked within the tribal community’s health system to collaborate with local hospice and home health providers. Increasing diverse staff representation allows hospices to have a deeper understanding of the unique challenges a community faces ...

1776-1786: 250 Years - A History of CareHospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; for 6/10/26Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

The impact of educational interventions on nursing students' attitudes towards end-of-life care: a cross-sectional study Nursing Open; by Mayra Veronese and Cristiana Rago; 6/28/26 Aim: To evaluate nursing students' attitudes towards end-of-life care and assess the impact of an elective educational course on shaping these attitudes. Implications for the Profession: Although nursing students exhibited generally positive attitudes towards end-of-life care, theoretical instruction alone proved insufficient to significantly enhance their preparedness for palliative care practice. These findings have direct implications for nursing education and clinical care quality: integrating comprehensive, experiential palliative care education throughout nursing curricula, ...

Big Bend Hospice announces grand opening of second Oak Tree Treasures location in Tallahassee Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL; Press Release; 6/29/26 Big Bend Hospice celebrated the grand opening of its second Oak Tree Treasures resale shop on Friday, June 26, welcoming a crowd of supporters, volunteers, donors and community leaders to mark the milestone. The celebration drew such an enthusiastic response ... Located at 3802 N. Monroe St., the new store expands Oak Tree Treasures’ mission of turning everyday shopping and donations into meaningful support for hospice patients and families across the Big Bend.

Medicare pushes end-of-life discussions in hospitalsAXIOS; by Maya Goldman; 6/29/26The Trump administration wants to formalize the process for recording whether Medicare patients want to be kept alive if they become incapacitated. Why it matters: Health providers have been required to ask about living wills and other "advance directives" since the early 1990s. But the questions are often skipped - or become a box-check in the admissions process. Only about a third of U.S. adults have documented their end-of-life care wishes. More consultations could reduce costly life-extending treatments that patients don't really want.Driving the news: The administration is proposing that hospitals begin reporting adult patients' preferences for end-of-life care in electronic health records starting in 2028.