Literature Review

Top news stories from 2025, and predictions for 2026 by Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner | Part 1 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 1/14/26 This episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership brings together a year-in-review and a forward-looking conversation, as Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner reflect on the most important healthcare and Hospice stories from 2025 and share their predictions for what lies ahead in 2026. In Part One, Chris and Cordt review key headlines from late 2025, connecting policy shifts, technology trends, workforce realities, and financial pressures to the everyday leadership decisions facing hospice and healthcare organizations.  Rather than reacting to news in isolation, the discussion focuses on how these forces intersect at the front lines of care.

Sangre de Cristo Community Care expands rural healthcare with HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley affiliation Small Business World Journal, Glenwood Springs, CO; Press Release; 1/12/26 Sangre de Cristo Community Care has announced that HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley, based in Glenwood Springs, will become an affiliate. This affiliation marks an important step in strengthening healthcare access in rural Colorado and reflects Sangre’s and HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley’s deep commitment to ensuring compassionate care to rural communities. By joining forces, the two nonprofit organizations will now collectively cover 28,000 square miles across the state, expanding Sangre's existing 22,000 square miles of service and providing HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley with Sangre's infrastructure and resources.

[United Kingdom] One in five hospice beds closed, report warns in end of life care crisis Express - Health and Social Affairs; by Lucy Johnston; 1/10/26 Almost one in five hospice beds in England is now closed or standing empty, despite growing demand for end-of-life care, a study by Oxford University researchers has found. The analysis exposes a deepening funding crisis in the hospice sector - which its authors have described as “a national scandal.” ... [Oxford University professors describe that] ... increasing numbers of frail and elderly patients are dying “in pain, alone, often hungry and dehydrated,” while others are being admitted to hospital in emergency situations, adding pressure to already stretched NHS services.

What to expect in US healthcare in 2026 and beyond McKinsey & Company; by Neha Patel and Shubham Singhal with Ankit Jain; 1/12/26The healthcare industry faces successive waves of challenging trends, with glimmers of opportunity in select segments. US healthcare system continues to face considerable financial strain, although there are pockets of opportunity. ... Payers and providers have borne the brunt of the decline to date and will continue to feel financial pressure in the immediate future. ... Meanwhile, providers could experience an increase in uncompensated care and loss of reimbursement. ... Post-acute care is positioned for stronger performance over the next several years, with continued growth in home health and hospice but stagnation in skilled nursing facilities. ...

Alliance joins Dr. Oz, CMS leadership, to strengthen program integrity in home health and hospice National Alliance for Care at Home; Press Release; 1/9/26 On January 9, the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) continued its collaboration with CMS by attending a listening session in Los Angeles, CA, with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Kim Brandt, Deputy Administrator Chief Operating Officer, and Director of the Center for Program Integrity for CMS, and Chris Klomp, Deputy Administrator for CMS and Director of the Center for Medicare, to discuss fraud, waste, and abuse in home health and hospice. ... View the full letter for a detailed list of recommendations. 

Lawsuit against Baxter Health by former Hospice board members dismissed KTLO - Mountain Lakes Broadcasting Corporation, Mountain Home, AR; by Staff; 1/6/26 The nearly 2 month legal dispute between now former members of the board of the Hospice of the Ozarks and Baxter Health, CEO Ron Peterson and newly appointed board members came to an end Monday with the dismissal of the lawsuit and resignations of the original 11 member board. ... The original suit was filed on November 21, 2025 and sought to restrain 14 newly appointed board members by Baxter Health from taking any actions on behalf of Hospice or from voting at any Hospice board meeting. The lawsuit alleged the action to appoint the new board members taken recently by the hospital was fraudulent and done to seize control and power from the then current 11 member Hospice board.

Home-based care type II workplace violence nurse provider experience a literature review Home Healthcare Now; by LaDawna Goering DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, BC-ADM, CDP and Tracy Ashby, MLIS; Jan/Feb 2026 Home-based healthcare workers are at risk of violence from patients or visitors, known as Type II workplace violence (WPV). A review of studies from 2014 to 2024 found that WPV in home care is often underreported, and current training programs are not tailored for home settings. This leaves workers vulnerable to physical and psychological harm. The review suggests the need for specialized training for home care providers, focusing on patient screening, situational awareness, and de-escalation techniques. Future efforts should aim to create specific WPV prevention and reporting protocols to enhance safety and accountability in home healthcare.

Dying with dignity - personal perspective: The sacred ending we don’t talk about enough. Psychology Today; by Cynthia Chen-Joea DO, MPH, FAAFP, DABOM; 12/24/25 In the U.S., we spend enormous amounts of energy keeping people alive, curing, fixing, and prolonging life at all costs. What we rarely talk about is how people die. And more importantly, how poorly our system supports them when the end is clearly approaching. ... [Background story about her dad's Parkinson's and eventual death] ... Then came our request for hospice. After an evaluation, we were told he didn’t “qualify” because he had gained some weight and his albumin levels were “too high.” An arbitrary checklist, based on labs values, prevented him from getting into hospice. [Keep reading] So we tried for palliative care instead. I made call after call, only to be bounced between departments, many unclear on the difference between hospice and palliative care, ... Even as a physician, I was stunned by how many barriers we encountered simply trying to do the most humane thing: to advocate for dignity, comfort, and respect at the end of my father’s life.

Precision Radiation Oncology Rhode Island and HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care announce Collaborative partnership Today in Business, Providence, RI; Press Release; 12/30/25 Precision Radiation Oncology Rhode Island (PRORI) ... along with HopeHealth, provider of palliative care and hospice services, are proud to announce a new collaborative partnership, aimed at improving quality of life and Precision outcomes for patients undergoing cancer care, beginning January 2026. This collaboration brings together two organizations with complementary missions: delivering state-of-the-art cancer treatment while ensuring compassionate, patient-centered support throughout every stage of the patient’s cancer journey. By working closely together, in a synergistic manner, PRORI and HopeHealth will provide a seamless continuum of cancer care that addresses not only the clinical aspects of cancer treatment, but also the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of patients, their families and caregivers.

Hospice reaffirms commitment to care amid new state lawThe Post-Journal, Jamestown, NY; Press Release; 12/31/25 As New York state moves toward the implementation of Medical Aid in Dying legislation, Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC) is reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting individuals and families facing terminal illness with dignity, respect, and compassion. In a recently issued press release, CHPC notes that “... While end-of-life options in New York State are evolving, our mission remains the same: to provide expert care, comfort, and emotional support to those confronting serious illness and loss.” Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care does not participate in the provision or administration of Medical Aid in Dying medications. ... As the Medical Aid in Dying law moves forward, CHPC recognizes the importance of clear, compassionate guidance. It has developed educational materials to help patients and families understand the new law and how it intersects with hospice care. For those who choose to explore Medical Aid in Dying, we will continue to offer support, information, and, where appropriate under law and policy, connections to outside providers.

UVM hospice team holds “Honk and Wave” protest over contract negotiations NBC 5, Burlington, VT; by Yunier Martinez; 12/21/25 Nurses and supporters held a “Honk and Wave” protest Saturday along Shelburne Road to build community support for the hospice union’s ongoing contract negotiations. "We want the community to know the value of the work we do," says nurse practitioner Lindsay Gerdeman. ... A spokesperson for the hospital released the following statement: "... We value our hospice team and understand that negotiating for a first contract will take time. ..." Negotiations are set to resume in January.

The future of the hospice physician: HOPE, staffing & technology Maxwell TEC; podcast by Tom Maxwell with Dr. Andrew Mayo and Dr. Tiffany Richter; 12/15/25... In this episode, Tom sits down with two of the most respected clinical leaders in the country: Dr. Andrew Mayo (Chief Medical Officer, St. Croix Hospice) and Dr. Tiffany Richter (Chief Medical Officer, Agape Care Group). They break down the debate between full-time vs. contracted physicians, the "hybrid" model that is winning, and the heartbreaking regulatory gaps preventing dialysis patients from accessing hospice care. Plus, they share deeply personal stories that remind us why we do this work.