Literature Review

Official statement from NPHI on recent hospice fraud media coverage and ongoing federal enforcement efforts National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); Press Release; 3/20/26 ... NPHI is actively engaged with federal leaders to advance targeted solutions that root out bad actors while safeguarding the integrity of the hospice benefit. It is important to underscore that these issues are not representative of the majority of hospice providers, who are focused every day on delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients and families. Official Statement by Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI: "... It’s important to be clear — this is not a failure of the hospice model of care. It is the result of a subset of providers exploiting the healthcare system, and that must stop. ..."Carole Fisher, President of NPHI, added: "“At its core, hospice care is about trust — trust from patients and families during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. That’s why NPHI is committed to supporting decisive action to address bad actors, while continuing to uphold and protect the high standards that define this field.”

AMGA calls for total-cost-of-care model for end-of-life care Healthcare Innovation; by David Raths; 3/20/26 Among the recommendations of a value-based care task force of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) is that CMS should establish a total-cost-of-care model for end-of-life care. AMGA  is a trade association representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in its member organizations. Editor's Note: Download the AMGA's 44-page Task Force Recommendations. It details these six foundational pillars they identified:

Alliance submits comment letter on the Department of Education’s notice of proposed rulemaking, ‘Reimagining and Improving Student Education’ (RISE) National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 3/3/26 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) has submitted a response to The Department of Education’s proposed rule, titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE).  While the Alliance appreciates the Department’s aim of promoting fiscally responsible spending, the comment letter expresses concern that the proposed rule’s narrow definition of professional degree, and the resulting exclusion of nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and social work advanced degree programs, would have a unintended consequence for the healthcare workforce and the millions of Americans who depend on care delivered in the home.

The Alliance and the Research Institute for Home Care release 2025 Hospice Chartbook National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 2/19/26 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and The Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) are excited to announce the release of the 2025 Hospice Chartbook. Highlighting the vital role that hospice plays in caring for an aging demographic, the Chartbook provides a look at the patients being served in hospice, who they are demographically and clinically, and more.  Now in its second year, the 2025 Hospice Chartbook, co-sponsored by the Alliance, provides an overview of national patient and workforce data with an emphasis on state-specific information and trends, including key data on hospice patients and providers, Medicare spending on hospice, and more. 

MedPAC signals need to bolster Medicare physician payments AMA - American Medical Association; by Tanya Albert Henry; 1/27/26 Influential body backs added 0.5% Medicare pay update but backtracks on linking doctor payment to practice-cost inflation. ... The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted in January to address inadequate payment for Medicare physician services under current law, once again underscoring a longstanding policy failure that is widely recognized but remains unresolved. MedPAC voted to recommend an additional 0.5% update on top of the updates specified in current law—0.25% and 0.75%—and will forward that recommendation to Congress. 

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day theme suggestions 2026 World Hospice and Palliative Care Association (WHPCA); 1/26/26 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) is celebrated and marked each year on the second Saturday of October. [This] year, it will be on 10 October 2026. Each year, the WHPCA team gives a lot of thought to the theme, which is used the world over to advocate for better palliative care services for people living with palliative care needs. The WHPCA invites you to share suggestions for the theme for the coming year, 2026. ... If your suggestion is selected, we can share your name and picture on our digital platforms, giving you a shout-out for your brilliant contribution.

New AMA survey spotlights top priorities, challenges in 2026 HCN - HealthCare News, Chicago, IL; by HCN Staff; 1/9/26 Physician organizations are preparing for a dynamic state legislative landscape this year with health policy changes poised to reshape coverage, oversight, care delivery, and public health across the health system, according to a new survey released by the American Medical Assoc. (AMA). The AMA’s survey of 64 medical societies, including all 50 state medical societies and the District of Columbia, spotlights the leading healthcare priorities and challenges set to define state-level legislative action in 2026. Top issues include scope of practice, Medicaid policy pressures, and physician workforce challenges.

NPHI welcomes CMS leaders Dr. Mehmet Oz, Kimberly Brandt, and Chris Klomp for on-the-ground listening tour at Nathan Adelson HospiceNational Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innnovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 1/9/26 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) welcomed leadership from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday to Nathan Adelson Hospice, Las Vegas, as part of an on-the-ground listening tour focused on hospice program integrity and the real-world challenges facing patients, families, and nonprofit providers. As part of the visit, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of CMS, Kimberly Brandt, CMS Chief Operating Officer, and Chris Klomp, Director of the Center for Medicare met with hospice clinicians, staff, community stakeholders, and NPHI leadership to hear local patient and provider stories that illustrate broader national concerns related to fraud, waste, and abuse in hospice care.

25 years of progress: ELNEC and AACN transforming palliative nursing education Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing - JHPN / HPNA; by Cassandra Godzik, PhD, APRN, CNE, Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, Robert Rosseter, MBA, MS, FAAN, Pamela Malloy, MN, RN, FPCN,Jennifer DiBenedetto, PhD, APRN, Polly Mazanec, PhD, AOCN, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN; 12/25 In the year 2000, leaders with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing joined with Dr. Betty Ferrell and her colleagues at City of Hope to address gaps in how nurses are educated to care for patients at the end-of-life and their families. ... To date, more than 1.7 million nurses have been educated with the ELNEC curriculum, and more than 1200 undergraduate and 440 graduate schools of nursing offer ELNEC training in palliative end-of-life care. The remarkable academic-practice partnership at the heart of ELNEC has dramatically changed nursing care for patients with serious illnesses and their families in the United States and globally. ... Editor's Note: As ELNEC celebrates its 25th anniversary, we honor a leadership legacy that has transformed nursing education and elevated end-of-life care worldwide. What began as a visionary collaboration between AACN and Dr. Betty Ferrell at City of Hope has become a global standard—preparing nurses for clinical excellence, compassionate presence, and interdisciplinary care. With deep appreciation, we celebrate Dr. Betty Ferrell, ELNEC, AACN, City of Hope, and the leaders who continue to champion this vital work forward.

Alliance ready to go ‘full bore’ on legislative strategy if CMS Rule falls short Home Health News; by Morgan Gonzales; 11/24/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is prepared to take a "full bore" approach to its legislative strategy if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule falls short. This includes scrutinizing CMS's methodologies and implementation plans once the final rule is issued. The Alliance is ready to push the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025 if the final rule includes a massive cut to the home health Medicare rate. ... The Alliance's docket for the new year includes pushing for key deregulations, most top of mind: the 80/20 rule.

National Alliance CEO Steve Landers on hospices’ top policy priorities Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/6/25Medicare advantage and telehealth are key hospice policy priorities for the National Alliance for Care at Home. On the home health front, the organization is also embroiled in efforts to stave off proposed payment and Medicaid cuts. The Alliance came into being last year with the merger between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Hospice News spoke with Alliance CEO Dr. Steven Landers about how the two legacy organizations are integrating, the hospice public policy landscape and how providers can get involved at a grass roots level.

[India and worldwide] IAPC’s infographic of the month: ‘Preparing palliative care teams for a humanitarian crisis.’ ehospice; by IAPC and PallCHASE; 11/1/25 The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) and the Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies (PallCHASE) have collaborated to bring out a ‘Special Series’ of infographics focusing on palliative care in humanitarian situations. This collaboration reflects the joint vision of both organisations to promote palliative care awareness and education across the world. The 4th infographic from this special series focuses on the concept of ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’