Literature Review

NPHI opens 10th Annual Summit in Las Vegas, celebrating a decade of impact National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)m Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/29/25The 10th Annual Summit of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) officially kicks off this morning, April 29, at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. This milestone Summit, themed “A Decade of Impact,” brings together hospice and palliative care leaders from across the nation to celebrate ten years of remarkable achievements and to explore the innovative strategies that will drive the future of high-quality, community-based care. ... Key topics include advancing policy solutions to prevent fraud and abuse in hospice, harnessing artificial intelligence to improve care, exploring international hospice, elevating outreach and communications, and strengthening the quality and consistency of services across the board. During the summit, NPHI will also debut a newly developed Cancer Clinical Provider Guide—designed to help members deliver the highest standards of cancer care. ... “As we mark a decade of impact, this summit is not only a time to reflect on the extraordinary progress we’ve made, but an opportunity to be forward thinking and anticipating what comes next,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, NPHI CEO. [NPHI is a sponsor of our newsletter.]

Covenant Health transaction a growth engine for VITAS Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/28/25 Vitas Healthcare’s 2024 purchase of Covenant Health and Community Services is helping to drive the company’s growth. VITAS acquired Covenant last year for $85 million. The transaction included Covenant’s hospice assets and marked an important milestone for VITAS, including its entry into the assisted living space and in the Alabama market while expanding its geographic footprint across Florida. 

Health sector answers Trump's call for deregulation ideas Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 4/29/25 The Trump administration wants the healthcare industry to recommend rules and regulations to toss. Trade groups representing hospitals, health insurance companies and others have ideas. The White House, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other parts of the federal government are seeking suggestions to guide President Donald Trump's campaign to radically restructure and diminish the federal government. ... CMS included a request for information in Medicare payment rules the agency proposed this month. Comments are due June 10.

Professor teaches student physicians how to use art to connect with end-of-life patients Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Moultrie, GA; by Staff Reports; 4/23/25Richard Curtis of Thomasville teaches art classes at Thomas University, but he’s also an end-of-life doula who volunteers with patients through Archbold Hospice, integrating his artistic skills into his volunteer work. Earlier this month, Curtis showcased his blend of art, medical care, and human interaction during a session of the Medical Humanities course at PCOM South Georgia. Led by faculty member Thomas Last, PhD, the course aims to help student physicians transcend the science of medicine. “The Medical Humanities course supports students’ growth into humanistic, socially conscious physicians by providing reflective opportunities and meaningful experiences that deepen their understanding of diverse patient perspectives,” Dr. Last said.Editor's note: Do you dismiss this? Does it seem too "out there"? For stronger context, Sandra Bertman, PhD, FT pioneered Arts Medicine with medical students and other healthcare clinicians. For most of her career, Bertman was Professor of Humanities in Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Graduate School of Nursing, where she founded and directed the Program of Medical Humanities and Arts in Healthcare. (More personally, I've been blessed to know Sandra as my colleague and friend.) Dr. Bertman was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Social Justice (2018). Her primary publications include ...

CMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and TablesCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); by CMS; 4/22/25On April 22, 2025, CMS released the HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and connected tables. Providers can use v1.01 for HOPE planning, as this is considered final before HOPE implementation. Also note that earlier this month, the final HOPE data specs have also been released, helping software developers to finalize their HOPE software for testing in the coming months.

Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements Federal Register - The Daily Journal of the United States Government; by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); 4/30/25This document has a comment period that ends in 61 days: June 30, 2025, This proposed rule would update the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. This rule also proposes changes to the admission to hospice regulations and the hospice face-to-face attestation requirements under the certification of terminal illness regulations. This proposed rule also includes a technical correction to the regulatory text and provides updates to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program requirements. Finally, this proposed rule solicits comments regarding requests for information surrounding future measure concepts for Hospice Quality Reporting Program.

How can hospice and palliative care providers address elder abuse?AAHPM Quarterly; by Larry Beresford; Fall 2024In June of [2024], the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), a professional member organization representing established nonprofit hospice and palliative care providers, issued a white paper and resource guide called “Breaking the Silence: Addressing Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse and Neglect.” This release launched a campaign aimed at bringing greater attention to the widespread, underappreciated, and underreported epidemic of elder abuse—in all of its forms but for hospice and palliative care patients in particular. The launch was held in conjunction with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, created at the United Nations and observed around the world. Collaborating on NPHI’s project is the NO MORE Foundation, which is dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence through allied organizations, international chapters, and grassroots activities. “Breaking the Silence” includes resources on elder abuse and insights into its prevalence and the various forms it takes while encouraging providers to screen for and respond to suspected abuse.

Hospice celebrated National Volunteer Week 2025

How do we encourage and advance the quality of hospice care in America?AAHPM Quarterly; by Larry Beresford; Spring 2025While the majority of hospice agencies work hard to provide good care, stories about those that fail to live up to their ethical or legal obligations have appeared in prominent journalistic settings in recent years. But if we dig deeper into quality, we see lots of questions about what quality hospice care really means. What kinds of messages should hospices be delivering to their various publics about quality and about choosing the provider that will meet their particular needs?Notable mentions: Judi Lund Person, Holly Yang, Rebecca Yamarik, Alan Kaplan, Martina Meier, Martha Twaddle, Joseph Shega, John Mulder, Edward Martin, Jennifer Kennedy.

HHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds MSN; by Mary Helen Gillespie; 4/22/25 The Trump administration is proposing federal budget cuts to Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and seven additional elder health care safety net programs that assist older Americans. ... SHIP programs have been under the umbrella of the Health and Human Services agency Administration for Community Living. The pre-decisional budget lists funds for seven other ACL programs that would be eliminated are:

National Volunteer Week: April 20-26, 2025 Hospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; 4/18/25 We hope you have been preparing ways to celebrate your volunteers! The root word for volunteer--"vol"--means "will," "wish," as in of one's own volition. One's own free will. Your volunteers can surely choose to give their time to a world of other meaningful missions. And they choose your hospice. Each time they simply show up. This week, intentionally "will" and "wish" something special for your faithful volunteers, and your employees who lead them. 

“It’s an homage”: Noah Wyle quietly sneaked in a tribute in one of the best episodes of ‘The Pitt’ FandomWire; by Arian Cruz; 4/18/25 In the fourth episode of The Pitt titled 10:00 A.M., Noah Wyle’s Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch monitored Mr. Spencer during his final hours while dealing with his own thoughts about the death of his beloved mentor, Dr. Adamson. He remembers the advice he received from him and shared it with the children of the dying patient as they waited for their father to pass. The phrases ‘I love you,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘I forgive you,’ and ‘Please forgive me’ are words that need to be heard when someone is at the end of their life. Wyle revealed that he took these lessons from palliative care physician and author Ira Byock when he was writing the screenplay. Wyle said these short phrases are profound and hold deep meanings beyond their simplicity. He made sure to weave them in on the show while taking inspiration from his own mother for the emotional scenes. He shared via USA Today: "A very similar event had played out with my mother and her brother when saying goodbye to my grandfather. After she shared this with me, I just said ‘Thank you,’ went right back to my typewriter and wrote the scene. It’s an homage to my mother, my uncle and my grandfather.Editor's and Publisher's note: And we thank you, Dr. Ira Byock, for your profound, immeasurable influence for so many of us--professionally with those we serve, and personally with our own families and friends.

Social Media Watch 4/18/25