Literature Review

What’s broken in American healthcare—and how to fix it | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Don Berwick; 7/8/26What if the greatest challenge facing American healthcare isn’t a lack of innovation—but a system that rewards the wrong incentives? In this compelling new episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership, Chris Comeaux sits down with Dr. Don Berwick—former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), co-founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and one of the most respected voices in healthcare quality—to discuss the forces shaping healthcare today and what leaders can do to change its future.

Straight from the source: DOJ, OIG, and CMS on fraud and abuse enforcement in 2026 and beyond Mondaq | Legal 500 | Intelligence; by Lorel Writh and Lisa Re; 7/7/26  The American Health Law Association (AHLA) Conference wrapped up today, and its closing general session brought together three federal enforcers: Kim Brandt, Deputy Administrator and COO of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); Susan Gillin, Assistant Inspector General for Legal Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Brenna Jenny, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Fraud Section. AHLA CEO David Cade moderated. Across the hour, the panel previewed how the three agencies intend to coordinate fraud and abuse enforcement in 2026 and beyond, emphasizing interagency collaboration, a shift from chasing improper payments to preventing them, and the connection between program integrity and affordability.

2025 Pediatric Facts and Figures Report now available National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 7/8/26 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) published the 2025 Pediatric Facts and Figures, a report that provides an overview of pediatric palliative care and hospice in the United States and presents the results of a national survey of providers. The survey that informed the report had a response rate of 56% and yielded 295 entries representing distinct pediatric programs. Responses represent all 50 states and Washington, DC, and the survey was active from May through August of 2024. The report takes a close look at topics like pediatric patient characteristics, location and access to care, reimbursement for care, provider characteristics, barriers and facilitators to care, and concurrent care.  [Download]

Dignity therapy: What matters most in end-of-life care? Medscape; by Irene Salvetti, MD; 7/7/26 ... Many patients, especially in advanced stages of illness, express the fear of no longer being themselves, of becoming a burden, or of losing their sense of meaning, role, and memory. In these experiences, suffering is not merely physical but also related to identity, relationships, and spirituality. The way patients perceive themselves as viewed by others is an important determinant of their sense of dignity. Dignity therapy was developed to give voice to this often-overlooked aspect of the experience of illness. ...  Harvey Max Chochinov introduced dignity therapy as a brief psychotherapeutic intervention for individuals with advanced or terminal illness, with the goal of preserving a sense of personal dignity during times of frailty, dependence, and the approach of death.

False Claims Act insights - how hospice fraud impacts legitimate providers  Husch Blackwell LLP; by Husch Blackwell LLP; 7/6/26 Host Jonathan Porter welcomes Bryan Nowicki, leader of Husch Blackwell’s hospice practice group and host of the Hospice Insights podcast, to discuss the recent wave of hospice fraud enforcement. With hospice fraud dominating headlines in recent months, Bryan shares insights on how massive fraud schemes are impacting the industry and why legitimate providers face collateral damage.

The day you plant the seed is not the same day you eat the fruit. ~ Ralph Smart

Addressing the emotional and psychologic toll of a cancer diagnosis Cancer Therapy Advisor; by Sabrina Martinez, MS and Jason L. Harris; 7/7/26 Patients with cancer experience distress not only from receiving a jarring diagnosis, but also a treatment regimen that can be difficult and debilitating, additional challenges to relationships that might be fraught already, significant financial stress, and the reality of death. Many also experience thoughts of fear of recurrence, stress, depression, anxiety, self-consciousness, and loneliness. The mental and emotional burden of cancer can be as difficult as enduring the disease itself. We spoke with oncologists and experts in psycho-oncology to get their perspectives on delivering “bad” news, working with loved ones and caregivers, resources for those involved in the patient’s cancer journey, and survivorship issues that should be addressed.

New GAO report on assisted living: Value, not federal oversight, should be takeaway, providers say McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 7/6/26 A new report about assisted living from the US Government Accountability Office reinforces the value of the setting and the appropriateness of regulation occurring at the state level, industry advocates told McKnight’s Senior Living on Monday. Senators who requested the report, however, said that the report “reveals [a] need for federal oversight." The seven Democrats on the Senate Special Committee on Aging in January 2024 asked the GAO to study the cost and scope of the provision of assisted living services to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries who live in assisted living communities, among other matters. The GAO publicly released its findings Thursday.

Croí Health’s “The 12” gala raises more than $700,000 for hospice and home healthcare MassNonprofitNews; Press Release; 7/6/26 Croí Health’s (formerly NVNA and Hospice) annual The 12 gala raised more than $700,000 to support hospice and home health care, the largest amount in the event’s 12-year history. Held on June 17th at the Pat Roche Hospice Home in Hingham, Croí welcomed hundreds of guests under a massive tent. The fundraiser unites community leaders, donors, and sponsors around a shared mission: ensuring no patient in need is turned away for financial reasons. Named for the Hospice Home’s original 12 private resident rooms, The 12 has become an annual tradition for South Shore philanthropists since its inception in 2015. Guests gather just steps away from the rooms where patients receive end-of-life care, making for a deeply reflective evening.

Young entrepreneurs raise $4,600 for Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont The Index-Journal; by Staff Writer; 7/2/26 What began in 2023 as two young boys wanting to make a difference has grown into a beloved community tradition benefiting Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont. At just 6 years old, brothers Pat and Wells hosted their first lemonade stand with a goal of raising $1,000. Thanks to the generosity of family, friends, and the community, they exceeded that goal by raising $1,200. Inspired by the outpouring of support, the boys set a $2,000 goal in 2024 and raised $2,500. In 2025, they aimed even higher with a goal of $3,000 and raised $4,082. This year, Pat and Wells welcomed a new team member to the fundraiser—their 3-year-old cousin Keaton ... With the support of family, friends, neighbors, and the community, the young entrepreneurs raised $4,600, making the 2026 event their most successful fundraiser to date. Over the past four years, the lemonade stand has raised a total of $12,382 for the nonprofit organization.

Three billion people on the face of the earth go to bed hungry every night, but four billion people go to bed every night hungry for a simple word of encouragement and recognition. ~ Cavett Robert

Core competencies for effective management in any industry Markmeets.com; by Web Desk; 7/6/26 The foundation of success in any sector often depends on strong managerial skills. While each industry may demand specific technical expertise, there is a core set of foundational skills that underpin effective management across all fields. ...

Saluting their own: veterans share sacred bond Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 7/6/26 This July, as we celebrate America’s independence, the bonds of military service between two veterans are stronger than ever. This powerful connection drives Hospice of the Valley’s Saluting Our Veterans program, which matches patients with volunteers who also served our country. Especially trained volunteers have completed more than 3,500 tribute visits since the program launched in 2011. For hospice patients like Bill, an Air Force veteran of the Korean War era, these visits bring a profound sense of peace. His volunteer, Tom Kasbeer, is a fellow veteran who visits frequently to talk about the olden days. When I salute him, it makes me feel proud to be a veteran, Tom says. It’s like I have a whole new friend in Mr. Bill.