Literature Review

CMS’ emergency request seeks Home Health Review Choice Demonstration expansion to California LeadingAge; Press Release; 11/2/26 Stating that “public harm is reasonably likely to occur if normal, non-emergency clearance procedures are followed,” the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) via an October 30, 2026 filing to the Federal Register requested an emergency information collection request (ICR) revision for the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for Home Health Services specifically to expand RCD to California. The agency’s request, scheduled for a November 2 publication, follows years of LeadingAge advocacy for stronger oversight of home health services in California, many of which are linked to fraudulent hospice agencies.

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Ills of Medi­care Advant­age plans are becom­ing clearer and clearer PressReader | The Boston Globe; by Renee McInnes; 11/3/26 As a pro­vider of home care and hos­pice care, we identify with the struggles of Sarah Iselin, chief exec­ut­ive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mas­sachu­setts (“Blue Cross elim­in­ates sev­eral Medi­care Advant­age plans, affect­ing 20,000 seni­ors”). Health care lead­ers in every sec­tor are cop­ing with the chal­lenges of our failed sys­tem. But it must be made expli­cit that Medi­care Advant­age is a ter­rible product for patients — as it is now, appar­ently, for the bot­tom line of the state’s largest insurer. A total of $275 mil­lion in losses with these plans in 2024 and 2025 is a remark­able num­ber for Blue Cross to report. However, I would remind the health care com­munity that the home care and hos­pice space is being gut­ted, and the ulti­mate loser in this equa­tion is our patients.

Alderwood of Davidson County invites local faith communities to observe Hospice Sabbath in November Alderwood of Davidson County; 11/1/26 Throughout November, in recognition of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, Alderwood of Davidson County is inviting local faith communities of all denominations to observe Hospice Sabbath. Hospice Sabbath is a special, designated time of remembrance, reflection, and education that brings faith congregations together to honor loved ones who have passed, support individuals and families facing serious illness, and recognize the tireless dedication of caregivers and healthcare professionals. The observance also aims to increase broader community awareness of hospice and palliative care options. 

Hospice nurse executive: Leaders’ ‘tough balance’ on improving health equity, sustainability Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 11/3/26 Today’s hospice leaders are balancing several competing demands in the battle of sustainability, according to Altonia Garrett, a registered nurse. ... Hospice News recently sat down with Garrett to discuss the most significant challenges at both clinical and business leadership levels. ... Improving diversity and inclusion in hospice leadership requires more than acknowledging the problem or making a commitment to representation. We must start by looking at how people get into leadership in the first place. It is not enough to say we want more diversity. We must examine how we recruit, develop, mentor, sponsor and promote people, and whether everyone has a fair opportunity to advance. That means investing in people who may not have access to traditional professional networks and giving emerging leaders meaningful opportunities to demonstrate what they can do.

Build, buy, or partner: choosing the right path to strategic growth Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Gloria Brooks; 11/2/26 For much of hospice's history, leaders benefited from a reimbursement environment that afforded both time and financial flexibility.  As a result, when organizations identified a need, the default response was often to build it themselves.  Whether launching palliative care programs, expanding community bereavement services, creating pediatric hospice offerings, or developing other mission-driven initiatives, organizations often had the resources necessary to design, staff, and sustain these programs internally. Today's reality is different.  Margin pressure, workforce challenges, increasing regulatory complexity, and evolving community needs require a greater level of strategic discipline than ever before.  

Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Morton Hospital establishes new palliative care consulting program Provider Business News (PBN), Taunton, MA; by Mica Kanner-Mascolo; 11/1/26 Morton Hospital has opened a new palliative care program, marking the first of its kind within Brown University Health’s Massachusetts-based hospitals. The new program is an inpatient consultation service expansion for patients receiving care at Morton Hospital, offering services such as symptom management, support with complex medical decision-making, functional decline, and goals-of-care discussions, the hospital announced on Oct. 23.

Archbold Hospice hosts 20th annual Camp HEAL Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Thomasville, Archibold, GA; by Staff; 11/2/26 Archbold Hospice hosted the 20th edition of Camp HEAL, an annual bereavement day camp for children, earlier this month at Camp Pineywoods in Thomas County. Camp HEAL (Healing and Encouragement After Loss) helps children ages 6 to 12 learn to cope with the loss of a loved one by providing a safe, fun environment where they can express themselves and meet others facing a similar situation. “Activities at camp focused on play, balanced with discussions of loss and activities geared toward remembrance of loved ones,” shared Linda Conti, Bereavement Coordinator at Archbold Hospice. “Campers enjoyed activities like hay rides, archery, journaling, pet therapy, and interactions with animals from Chehaw Park and Zoo.”

Providence, Compassus complete home care joint venture in Oregon Becker's Hospital Review; by Andrew Cass; 11/2/26 Renton, Wash.-based Providence and Brentwood, Tenn.-based Compassus have completed the final phase of their home-based care joint venture, which brings Providence’s Oregon home health, hospice and palliative care operations under Compassus management. The joint venture operates as Providence at Home with Compassus. In Oregon, it includes 17 programs: nine home health, six hospice and two palliative care, according to a Nov. 1 news release shared with Becker’s. ... The Oregon Health Authority approved the Oregon portion with conditions in May. Those conditions require the joint venture to invest $30 million in Oregon home health and hospice operations over five years. The joint venture must also continue Providence Home Health & Hospice’s community benefit programs in the state.

NPHI marks the start of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month with a message of “Care You Can Trust” National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 11/1/26 As National Hospice and Palliative Care Month gets underway, the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is calling attention to the essential role hospice and palliative care play in America’s healthcare system and the importance of ensuring every patient and family has access to care they can trust. Under this year’s national theme, “Care You Can Trust,” NPHI is highlighting the providers who deliver compassionate, high-quality care and encouraging greater public awareness of what patients and families should expect when facing serious illness.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month: Air ambulance specialist offers perspective on end-of-life transportation support Cision PRWeb, Albuquerque, NM; Press Release by AirCare1; 11/1/26 ... Air transport allows a medically stable hospice patient to travel long distances to be near family, either at home or in a facility closer to loved ones. ... Patient wishes sometimes include a change of place. A medical flight for a hospice patient can transport them from a hospital to their home in another state, avoiding the strain of a long drive or a commercial flight. Departure happens only once the patient is stable, so the trip becomes a planned step in care. Families weighing an air ambulance for end-of-life transport should make an informed decision before choosing a provider. The type of air transport matters. Jets handle long-range trips, while helicopters suit shorter distances, so they must weigh up the type of transport. An air ambulance should also carry the equipment needed to act as an intensive care unit in flight, helping patients receive appropriate care while in transport.