Literature Review

National Alliance for Care at Home responds to the FY 2026 Hospice Proposed Rule National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandira, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/11/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement [Fri 4/11] in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Hospice Wage Index proposed rule, which proposes payment and regulatory updates under the Medicare hospice benefit. The proposed 2.4% payment update fails to adequately address the mounting financial pressures facing hospices nationwide. With escalating operational costs driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising expenses for supplies and services, the proposed payment increase would threaten the ability of hospices to sustainably provide quality end-of-life care. “The proposed payment update for FY 2026 falls short of what is needed to sustain high-quality hospice care,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. “Without meaningful adjustments, hospices across the country will face serious challenges—jeopardizing access to care for terminally ill patients and placing added strain on families already facing the unimaginable. ..."

Lonely planet: How the world is fighting social isolation Medscape Medical News; by Deborah Brauser; 3/25/25 Loneliness/social isolation isn’t just a transient emotion or situation, it’s turned into a global crisis with serious public health consequences. In 2023, then–US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, sounded the alarm, declaring loneliness an epidemic and citing seminal research equating its harmful effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The numbers tell a stark story: Recent research has linked chronic loneliness to depression, dementia, and even early death.Editor's note: Pair this with our recent post, Risk factors for and health status of socially isolated adults.

Being a high-performer CEO isn’t enough. True leadership involves empathyFastCompany; by John Connors; 4/10/25This moment calls for executives who can balance strong analytical skills with emotional intelligence. The CEO’s role is evolving. Private equity is playing an increasingly influential role in shaping the expectations, performance, and tenure of CEOs. The financial environment is also changing, with influence increasingly moving from public markets to private capital... In this landscape, CEOs are increasingly being measured by their ability to generate financial returns. But true leadership requires hitting more than financial targets. The most effective leaders understand that long-term success depends on balancing financial acumen with empathetic leadership. Those who fail to adapt risk becoming transactional managers rather than transformational leaders. Understanding this shift and defining one’s leadership approach is more critical now than ever.

New Mexico passes nation’s first legislature-driven psilocybin access actPsychedelic Alpha; 4/8/25Yesterday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed SB 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, which will establish the third state-legal psilocybin access system in the US. In simple terms, the Act creates a framework through which patients with qualifying conditions can access and use non-synthetic psilocybin through consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Qualifying conditions, according to the bill, are ‘major treatment-resistant depression’, PTSD, substance use disorders and end-of-life care, as well as other conditions that the department might approve. While Oregon and Colorado’s state-legal psilocybin programs were the product of popular ballot measures, New Mexico’s is the first to be mandated by the state’s legislature.

Nathan Adelson Hospice finalizes affiliation with Chapters Health SystemChapters Health System press release; 4/10/25Chapters Health System, the nation's premier not-for-profit chronic illness care organization, has finalized an affiliation with Nathan Adelson Hospice, based in Las Vegas. This marks a significant milestone for the newly established Chapters Health West division and represents a powerful alignment of two mission-driven organizations — both recognized as 2025 Top Workplaces USA award recipients.

Defining palliative care quality in murky regulatory watersPalliative Care News; by Holly Vossel; 4/4/25The wide range of palliative care services available nationwide can present obstacles around consistent quality measurement. Calls are growing louder for a federally established set of standardized palliative guidelines.Notable mentions: Monisha Pujari, Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care; Yonah Klein, Unity Hospice and Palliative Care; Keith Everett, ProCare Hospice / TruHue consulting.

Medical Aid in Dying Annual ReportsJust released:

2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate announcementCMS press release; 4/7/25Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the CY 2026 Rate Announcement)... The final policies in the CY 2026 Rate Announcement are projected to result in an increase of 5.06%, or over $25 billion, in MA payments to plans in CY 2026.

Dr. Oz outlines vision for CMS: 8 notesBecker's Hospital Review; by Jakob Emerson; 4/10/25CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, said April 10 that his vision for the agency includes a commitment to President Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and modernizing Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA marketplace. Eight notes:

Opportunities and barriers to artificial intelligence adoption in palliative/hospice care for underrepresented groups: A technology acceptance model-based review Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Tuzhen Xu and Gloria M Rose; 4/2/25 Underrepresented groups (URGs) in the United States, including African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans, face significant barriers to accessing hospice and palliative care. ... Findings suggest that AI has the potential to improve decision-making, enhance timely palliative care referrals, and bridge language and cultural gaps. Artificial intelligence tools were found to improve predictive accuracy, support serious illness communication, and assist in addressing language barriers, thus promoting equitable care for URGs. However, barriers such as limited generalizability, biases in data, and challenges in infrastructure were noted, hindering the full adoption of AI in hospice settings. Artificial intelligence has transformative potential to improve hospice care for URGs by enhancing cultural sensitivity, improving communication, and enabling more timely interventions. However, to fully realize its potential, AI solutions must address data biases, infrastructure limitations, and cultural nuances. Future research should prioritize developing culturally competent AI tools that are transparent, explainable, and scalable to ensure equitable access to hospice and palliative care services for all populations. [Continue reading ...]

Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about dysphagia and adult swallowing interventions in serious illnessJournal of Palliative Medicine; Sanora Yonan, Taylor Wilde, Alexa Rogers, Kelly J Trumpatori, Kristie Calix, Christina Barnes, Terri Durkin, Eric Mecusker, Christopher A Jones, Caitlyn M Moore, Laura Chahda, Amanda Stead, Lisa A LaGorio, Paula Leslie; 3/25This article highlights the important role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in palliative care (PC), emphasizing their contribution to supporting people with eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties during serious illnesses and at the end of life. The recommendations underscore the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration among SLPs and other PC team members, the importance of patient and caregiver education, and the application of patient-centered, comfort-focused approaches to dysphagia intervention. Drawing on current research and expert insights, this article explores the use of SLP services in PC, as well as the challenges in supporting people with eating and drinking difficulties in advanced stages of illness, embedded with practical tips for clinicians.

2 key trends shaping the hospice workforce in 2025 Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/4/25 Hospice providers have unveiled two key themes that are impacting the ability to sustain and grow their workforce. Staffing shortages have long topped the concerns of hospice executives nationwide. Rising demand for hospice care has been outpacing the supply of clinical resources for several years running. Labor strains have also mounted among nonclinical and back-office administrative, billing and IT roles. ...

National Healthcare Decisions Week highlights the importance of Advance Care Planning JAX Chamber - Jacksonville News, Jacksonville, FL; 4/1/25 National Healthcare Decisions Week kicks off on April 14, 2025, with a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of advance healthcare decision-making. This initiative encourages individuals to take proactive steps in planning for their future healthcare needs. Through various events and resources, the week aims to promote thoughtful conversations about healthcare decisions and the completion of advance directives to ensure patients' wishes are known and respected. ... For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit http://nhdd.org.