Literature Review

Florida’s rigid drug policy leaves cancer patients in pain | Column Tampa Bay Times, Tampa, FL; by Deborah Schofield; 2/11/26 Michelle was newly and suddenly diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She had pain every day. And in Florida, that made her suspicious. Despite a terminal diagnosis, ... [when] a prescription for Percocet was finally written, the reality of Florida's system came sharply into focus. Nine pharmacies - major national chains including CVS and Walgreens - told us they did not have the medication and could not say when they would. Nine. ... Eventually, hospice became involved. Only then did Michelle receive more consistent pain control. Yet even hospice was not immune to the system's failures. ... If Florida wants to lead on opioid policy, it must also lead on humanity. That means explicit protections for cancer and hospice patients, clearer regulatory distinctions between acute pain and end-of-life care, and accountability across pharmacy supply chains.

Governor Hochul signs Medical Aid in Dying Act into New York state law New York State - Governor Kathy Hochul, Albany, NY; Press Release; 2/6/26 Governor Hochul today signed legislation S.138/A.136 that will allow medical aid in dying to be available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. This historic bill signing comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the sponsors of the bill, advocacy organizations, and everyday New Yorkers ... The bill, as passed by the Legislature originally included a number of protections in order to ensure that no patient was coerced into choosing medical aid in dying and that no health care professional or religiously affiliated health facility would be forced to offer medical aid in dying. The Governor worked with the Legislature to include additional guardrails that will make sure people won’t be taken advantage of, while still ensuring terminally ill New Yorkers have the choice to die comfortably and on their own terms, including: [continue reading] ...

What Salem-area lawmakers are prioritizing for the 2026 session Salem Reporter, Salem, OR; by Rachel Alexander and Hailey Cook; 2/4/26 ... Oregon’s month-long legislative session got underway on Monday, Feb.2. The fast-paced short session occurs in even years. ... Hospice care oversight: SB 1575 would add protections for patients in hospice care. The new rules would include requiring a background check for business owners, ensuring agencies have the financial resources to care for patients and pausing the issuance of new hospice licenses until the state rules are implemented.  Patterson said the change was at the request of the Oregon Hospice and Palliative Care Association. “In other states there has been a lot of fraud and abuse, and we want to prevent that from happening here in Oregon,” she said. 

Congress passes spending bill, extends telehealth flexibilities American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC); by Renee Dustman; 2/4/26 ... Congress has extended the expiration dates for certain telehealth flexibilities from Jan. 30, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027 (unless otherwise stated), as follows: ...

O&I Subcommittee holds hearing on ongoing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid programs Energy & Commerce - Chairman Brett Guthrie, Washington, DC; Press Release; 2/3/26 Today [2/3], Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led a hearing titled Common Schemes, Real Harm: Examining Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. ... Watch the full hearing here. [Key excerpts:] ... Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “Auditors found 112 hospice providers operating out of a single physical address. 112...holy cow. As a result, hospice agencies in LA County alone likely overbilled Medicare by $105 million in just one year. […] It looks like it’s a problem in a lot of different places. 

Protecting patients at the end of life: Why CON still matters / part one, with Tim Rogers and Paul A. Ledford Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast/video hosted by Chris Comeaux with Time Rogers and Paul A. Ledford; 1/28/26 Certificate of Need (CON) laws remain one of the most debated—and misunderstood—regulatory frameworks in healthcare.  In this in-depth conversation, Chris Comeaux is joined by two of the nation’s most respected Hospice association leaders: Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and Tim Rogers, President & CEO of the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina.

How does palliative care work under Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Law? WorkersCompensation.com; 1/25/26 What does it take for an injured worker in Rhode Island to receive palliative care? State regulations spell out the steps ... "Palliative care" means the first 12 visits for medical services provided by a physician licensed by the State after maximum medical improvement has been attained. ... Additional palliative care beyond the 12 visits after the employee reaches maximum medical improvement, is conditioned on the authorization of the claim administrator (insurer, self-insured employer, third party administrator) upon the request of the employee’s treating physician (Medical Provider).

Washington House Committee advances bill allowing medical marijuana use for terminal patients in care facilities The Marijuana Herald; by Anthony Martinelli; 1/21/26 Legislation to require certain health care facilities in Washington to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana was just given approval by the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. The bipartisan measure, House Bill 2152, is sponsored by State Representatives Shelley Kloba (D) and Skyler Rude (R). Committee approval moves the proposal closer to consideration by the full House during the 2026 legislative session, which begins in January. As written, the bill would require licensed hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers to adopt policies allowing the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients with terminal conditions beginning January 1, 2027. 

Proposed budget bill extends telehealth, hospital at home flexibilities again healthleaders; by Eric Wicklundh; 1/21/26 According to news reports Tuesday out of Washington DC, the bill, part of a package being prepared for a vote to fund government agencies and avoid a potential shutdown, would extend the telehealth flexibilities through 2027 and the AHCaH program through 2030. It would also boost this year's funding for community health centers to $6.4 billion and enable Medicare coverage for multi-cancer early detection screening tests.

New IL law requires annual report on prison hospice care WAND News, Springfield, IL; by Mike Miletich; 1/15/26 A new law requires Illinois to report data on hospice care available for prisoners. Supporters say the law will bring dignity, transparency and compassion to people dying within the state's correctional facilities. More than 1,000 prisoners are 65 or older, and a growing number of those people need end-of-life care and support services. The Illinois Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison-by-prison basis. 

Solomon Center’s groundbreaking palliative care law and policy initiative drives nationwide reforms Yale Law School; Press Release; 1/15/26 The Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School has established the country’s first comprehensive interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to palliative medical care, law, and policy — a pathbreaking effort that is already shaping reforms for patients of all ages. ... The work is supported by a first-of-its kind open-access research platform for palliative care policy across the states, developed by the Center, and in collaboration with partners at Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Public Health, Yale School of Nursing, and Mount Sinai’s nationally renowned Center to Advance Palliative Care.

[Updates] New York expected to enact medical aid in dying law in 2026 Nixon Peabody; Press Release; 12/29/25 Explore key amendments and compliance steps in the amended bill, which is expected to take effect in 2026. What’s the impact?

New York Gov. Hochul vetos bill banning for-profit hospices Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/23/25 New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has vetoed legislation that would have effectively banned new for-profit hospices in the state. The New York State Assembly passed the bill earlier this month and submitted it to the governor’s office. It would have prohibited the establishment of for-profit hospices in New York state and forbid current for-profit operators from increasing capacity. Currently only two for-profit hospices operate in New York state. Hochul previously vetoed similar legislation in 2022, citing low hospice utilization in the Empire State.