Literature Review

Hospice fundraiser exceeds expectations The Hawk Eye, Keokuk, IA; by John Gaines; 2/13/26 The SCC Men’s Basketball saw a large crowd in support of the Pack the Gym in Pink fundraiser for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice Monday night at Loren Walker Arena. The team had a big night with a 100-97 overtime win against Illinois Central College and the fundraiser also saw big numbers. The event raised $11,600. “That’s going to be a banner year for us,” said Trina Tucker Hospice volunteer coordinator. ...  There were 84 silent auction baskets, [along with] raffles, colorful pink swag, and people gave a free will donation to attend the game to add to the total money raised.

Florida’s hospice system works because standards matter | Opinion News-Press; by Jaysen Roa; 2/13/26 Key Points

Labor & employment lawyers, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, file suit against Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, for underpayment of employees' wages Benzinga, Sacramento, CA; by PRNewswire; 2/12/26 The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice violated the California Labor Code. The Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, a class action lawsuit, Case No. 25CV029700, is currently pending in the Sacramento County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

Spread love: A community art project giving back to hospice MV Times, Martha's Vineyard, MA; by The Martha's Vineyard Times; 2/11/26 Local artist M-C Lamarre has launched Spread Love, a participatory community art project benefiting Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV). Inspired by Valentine’s Day and collective grief, Lamarre invited Island community members to decorate baseball-card-sized blanks with drawings and messages of love. The completed cards are sold through art-vending machines placed around the Island, with all proceeds donated to HPCMV.

Oregon lawmakers consider tightening hospice oversight over fraud, abuse concerns The Lund Report; by Lynne Terry; 2/10/26For the second year in a row, Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill designed to tighten state oversight of the hospice industry, which has been rife with fraud and abuse. Senate Bill 1575 aims to block new hospices from Oregon that have committed fraud or neglected patients in other states. It would require the Oregon Health Authority to review the past history of companies seeking to operate new hospices, ensure they have enough financing to serve patients for about a year and run criminal background checks on the proposed administrator, medical director and any owners with more than a 5% stake in the company.Editor's Note: Dr. Cordt Kassner--owner/publisher of this newsletter and owner/data expert for Hospice Analytics, was interviewed for this article. His data provides insight on Oregon's hospice provider growth, for-profits and non-profits, and comparisons with nearby states.

Community supports Hospice East despite winter weather The Winchester Sun, Winchester, KY;  by John Chaney; 2/8/26 Despite a fresh layer of snow from the night before, a steady stream of supporters filled the Winchester Elks Lodge #2816 on Saturday, February 7, 2026, for its monthly charity breakfast fundraiser benefiting Hospice East. ... The Elks Lodge hosts various buffet breakfasts on the first Saturday of each month from September through March, with all proceeds going to a selected local charity. ...  “Hospice does so much good for grieving families and it’s a great organization to give back to,” Johnson said of this month’s recipient. ... Approximately 15 volunteers helped prepare and serve the meal, working toward the lodge’s typical goal of raising about $3,500 per event.Editor's Note: These kinds of community fundraisers raise more than money. They raise memories. Sharing a meal together evokes meaningful around the tables, among those preparing and serving food, and instill a sense of both receiving and giving. While dollar amounts are smaller than large galas, "meaning" amounts are immeasurable.

CommonSpirit Health at Home’s ‘aggressive’ hospice growth strategy for 2026 and beyond Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 2/10/26 Continuing its de novo- and joint venture-based blueprint for growth, home health and hospice provider CommonSpirit Health at Home is also setting plans in motion to engage patients further upstream for earlier hospice enrollment, when appropriate. CommonSpirit Health at Home is the home-based care arm of the nonprofit health system CommonSpirit Health, which operates more than 2,200 care sites across 24 states. Hospice News caught up with CommonSpirit Health at Home CEO Trisha Crissman at the Home Care 100 conference in Scottsdale, Arizona to discuss CommonSpirit Health at Home’s strategic plans for 2026, as well as the top trends and market forces shaping the hospice community.

Croí Health receives $2.5 million from Alan McKim to support hospice care MassNonprofit News; Press Release; 2/10/26 As part of a longstanding commitment to Croí Health, Alan McKim is donating $2.5 million to Voices: The Campaign for Patient Care Access to support hospice care. ... The Voices campaign addresses the vital need to expand care. Amidst an unprecedented national healthcare crisis, support for community-based healthcare organizations has never been more critical. “I am honored to stand with Croí Health as they continue to set ambitious goals to expand access to patient care,” said McKim, founder of Clean Harbors. In year three of the campaign, Croí Health has raised $16.3 million of a $20 million goal already raised in its third year. This $2.5 million donation is the largest campaign gift to date.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care unveils Advanced Cardiac Care Program Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 2/9/26 Florida-based Community Hospice & Palliative Care has launched an Advanced Cardiac Care Program to serve patients and families wrestling with heart disease. The hospice, an affiliate of Alivia Care, designed the program in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation. It will provide a suite of services specifically designed for patients with cardiac conditions.

HPH Hospice unveils revamped Lecanto facility: Changes include adding PACE program later this year Paxton Media Group; by Nancy Kennedy; 2/7/26 Despite the rumors, the HPH Citrus Hospice House in Lecanto did not close and is not closing. In fact, they are very much providing care for their patients and expanding services with a remodel of their Lecanto [Florida] facility. ... On Jan. 29 and 30, the HPH Hospice had an open house for community partners to unveil the changes — new flooring and paint, a reconfiguration of offices and work stations, new HVAC system, new furniture and state-of-the-art equipment. ... One of the newest additions, which is expected to start in the fall, is the Hope PACE Center. One side of the facility will be dedicated to inpatient hospice care and the other side will be the PACE program — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.

Elara Caring secures new strategic investment from Ares and DaVita Elara Caring News; Press Release; 2/2/26 Elara Caring (Elara), a leading national provider of skilled home health, hospice, behavioral health, and personal care services, today announced that it has entered into an agreement for a strategic investment from Ares’ Private Equity Group (Ares) and DaVita. The investment is intended to expand access to personalized, clinically advanced care at home for patients with complex and acute needs. Elara will continue to operate as a wholly independent company led by CEO Ananth Mohan and the current management team. 

Former HR worker wins over $5M in jury award for retaliation HR Dive; by Emilie Shumway; 2/3/26 A Utah jury awarded a former HR benefits generalist $5 million on Jan. 29, finding that a preponderance of evidence showed her employer, Bristol Hospice, retaliated against her by firing her after she complained about her supervisor’s behavior (Graham v. Bristol Hospice Holdings, Inc.). According to a lawsuit filed in 2021, the plaintiff complained that her supervisor, a payroll director, subjected her to a hostile work environment. The vice president of HR allegedly investigated her complaint and dismissed it, determining the “behavior was a one-time issue, not a general behavioral concern.” But the behavior continued, per legal documents. 

Stop losing customers: Why your retention strategy needs AI nowBusinessWorld; by Sheila Salamanca; 1/6/26Here’s a question that keeps executives up at night: Why are customers leaving, and what can we do about it? If you’re watching customers slip away despite your best efforts, you’re not alone. In subscription-based businesses — think streaming services, software, telecom — losing just 5% more customers can slash profits by 25% or more. The math is brutal. But the solution isn’t acquiring more customers. It’s keeping the ones you have. This isn’t just common sense; it’s now backed by AI... Companies like Verizon and Vodafone have already figured this out. They’re using neural networks, sophisticated AI systems inspired by how our brains work, to predict which customers are about to leave, and how to intervene before it’s too late.Publisher's note: This interesting article recently came across my desk. Hospice's focus retention strategies on staff, not patients. This article might help with both.