Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News.”
Golfers and community raise over $181k for Otterbein Hospice
10/20/26 at 03:10 AMGolfers and community raise over $181k for Otterbein HospiceWDTN Dayton, OH; by LeAnne Marie McPherson; 10/18/26 Over $181,000 was recently raised to support Otterbein Hospice at the 2026 annual Dilgard Open in Centerville. The Sept. 21 event was held at the Golf Club at Yankee Trace. Organizers said it brought together golfers, sponsors and community members. Otterbein Hospice cares for people and their families as they navigate the final chapter of life. In 2025, officials said Otterbein Hospice served over 500 people and over 1,000 family members across 26 counties.
5 ‘new norms’ in hospice care
10/20/26 at 03:00 AM5 ‘new norms’ in hospice careHospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/15/26Hospices with strong quality metrics and low care delivery costs could have a fighting chance of withstanding regulatory and operational headwinds on the horizon. While some hospices are turning to palliative care for improved patient reach and outcomes, others are branching into value-based agreements. These trends were outlined in recent analysis on the home health and hospice industries from the law firm Holland & Knight LLP.
The workforce crisis healthcare leaders can’t afford to ignore | part two
10/20/26 at 02:00 AMThe workforce crisis healthcare leaders can’t afford to ignore | part two Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Ron Hetrick; 10/16/26 The greatest threat to your organization’s future may be having too few people to deliver the care you promise. In Part Two of The Workforce Crisis Healthcare Leaders Can’t Afford to Ignore, Chris Comeaux welcomes back Ron Hetrick to explore how healthcare leaders can prepare for a future shaped by an aging population, growing care needs, and a shrinking pipeline of workers. Hetrick moves from demographic warning signs to practical leadership decisions: redesigning difficult jobs, building training pipelines, creating workplaces people want to stay in, and evaluating expansion through the lens of available talent. He also explores how private home care could intensify competition for caregivers ...
Friends Fore Hospice golf tournament raises $97,000 for compassionate care
10/19/26 at 03:15 AMFriends Fore Hospice golf tournament raises $97,000 for compassionate careCarolina Caring [NC] press release; by Jason Meyer, Cassidy Hahn; 10/15/26Carolina Caring Foundation’s 24th Annual Friends Fore Hospice Golf Tournament saw another successful year, bringing in over $97,000 to support patients and families in need of Carolina Caring’s serious illness care services.
Aspirus Health to close Woodruff hospice care facility
10/19/26 at 03:10 AMAspirus Health to close Woodruff hospice care facilityWJFW [NBC12, WI]; 10/15/26Aspirus Health is closing a Woodruff hospice care facility. In an email to WJFW, Aspirus said "based on the changing needs of the Northwoods community,, Aspirus Health will sunset hospice care at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff and transition hospice care to homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other appropriate community settings." The Seasons of Life Hospice House was an eight-bed hospice house but it will be transitioning to hospice care to homes and nursing homes and shuttering the Woodruff location. A closing date has not been finalized yet. [The Aspirus Health press release is: Seasons of Life hospice care transitioning to home and community settings: Change will preserve compassionate hospice services while extending support across the Northwoods.]
What hospice buyers are looking for in 2026
10/19/26 at 03:05 AMWhat hospice buyers are looking for in 2026 Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/16/26Hospice buyers in the M&A market in 2026 are looking for strong regulatory compliance, solid cash flow and effective leadership as they hunt for deals. Hospice M&A has seen an uptick in late 2025 and to date in 2026 after a three-year slump in deal activity. The M&A advisory firm The Braff Group projects that 44 transactions will take place in 2026, senior managing director Mark Kulik previously told Hospice News.
Home-based medical care users more likely to enroll in hospice, study finds
10/19/26 at 03:00 AMHome-based medical care users more likely to enroll in hospice, study findsMcKnights Long-Term Care News; by Suzy Frisch; 10/16/26Home-based medical care (HBMC) — longitudinal medical care provided in a patient’s home, led by physicians or advanced practice providers — has demonstrated its value reducing hospital admissions, emergency department visits and hospital length of stays. Now, according to a new study, it plays a role in hospice uptake and reducing extremes in hospice stays. A new study in Health Affairs Scholar, “Closing the Hospice Gap: The Value of Home-Based Medical Care,” found that HBMC users had greater odds of enrolling in hospice compared to nonusers. HBMC patients enrolled in hospice also experienced fewer ultra-short hospice stays of less than three days and prolonged stays of more than 180 days. These findings could open doors for HBMC to play a wider role in connecting people with hospice services.
[Tanzania] Partnership in practice: How Tanzanian and United States leaders are advancing palliative care
10/16/26 at 03:25 AMPartnership in practice: How Tanzanian and United States leaders are advancing palliative careeHospice; 10/15/26A two-decade partnership between Global Partners in Care (GPIC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) shows how sustained, reciprocal learning can expand access to palliative care and inspire new models of community-based support in both Tanzania and the United States. GPIC (formerly the Foundation of Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa – FHSSA) and ELCT have worked together to advance palliative care in Tanzania and the United States. In Tanzania, the partnership has expanded services for orphans and vulnerable children, those with life-threatening illnesses, and populations affected by HIV/AIDS. In the United States, lessons from Tanzanian partners have strengthened community-based approaches to palliative care.
Palm Beach caretaker accused of stealing more than $10K from elderly woman
10/16/26 at 03:20 AMPalm Beach caretaker accused of stealing more than $10K from elderly womanWPBF; by Vanessa Laurent; 10/14/26A longtime live-in caretaker is facing felony charges after police said she stole thousands of dollars from an elderly Palm Beach woman with dementia, including through checks allegedly made out to herself.Publisher's note: While not specifically about hospice, this is an important reminder about caring for vulnerable patients.
HopeWest Gala raises funds for Delta County families experiencing aging, serious illness, and grief
10/16/26 at 03:15 AMHopeWest Gala raises funds for Delta County families experiencing aging, serious illness, and griefDelta County Independent [CO]; by HopeWest; 10/13/26This year’s HopeWest Gala, themed “A Night of Romantic Renaissance,” transformed the Bill Heddles Recreation Center on Sept. 19 into a world of fiery dragons and faraway castles. The sold-out event raised more than $77,000 to support HopeWest programs and services throughout Delta County. 323 guests gathered in support of the HopeWest mission to profoundly change the way the community experiences aging, serious illness and grief, one family at a time.
SOS Y1 A31 – How many hospices are there in the USA???
10/16/26 at 03:10 AMSOS Y1 A31 – How many hospices are there in the USA???Substack; by Joan Teno; 9/21/26This analysis asks how many hospices listed in federal data appear to be functioning, “real” hospice programs. Although 6,669 hospices were listed in the August 2026 refresh, many lacked patient experience data, had very small numbers of deaths, or were not shown in PECOS as able to bill Medicare. The biggest concern is the large group of unrated hospices with fewer than 50 deaths, especially because many are for-profit and concentrated in a few states such as California and Texas. Using several screening rules, the estimate of likely real hospices may be substantially lower than the total number listed, potentially closer to 3,600–5,200 depending one of my 3 proposed rules. Overall, the findings suggest that public hospice listings may include many programs that are inactive, questionable, or no longer able to participate meaningfully in Medicare.
At life’s end, needs change and hospice responds knowingly
10/16/26 at 03:05 AMAt life’s end, needs change and hospice responds knowinglyUW Medicine [WA]; by Colleen Steelquist; 10/14/26Q&A: A hospice nurse explains how end-of-life care can help patients and families trade intervention for comfort and connection. Fifty years ago, most Americans with terminal illnesses died in hospitals, often receiving hard-hitting treatments that they might have avoided had they truly understood their prognosis. Today, that portion is under a third. The rise of hospice care, which Medicare began covering in the early 1980s, is largely responsible for this sea change. Centered explicitly on pain control and quality of life, hospice offers patients and families permission to stop aggressive interventions, to focus on comfort over cure, and sometimes to be at home... [Amrit Singh, a hospice nurse care coordinator at Harborview Medical Center] explained the benefits of hospice care in a Q&A...
Wings of Hope joins NorthStar Care Community
10/16/26 at 03:00 AMWings of Hope joins NorthStar Care CommunityNorthStar Care Community press release; 10/15/26NorthStar Care Community is anchored by its founding members – Arbor Hospice, Centrica Care Navigators, Hospice of Michigan, and now includes the newly affiliated member Wings of Hope.
How unexpected health crises can affect retirement savings and long-term wealth
10/15/26 at 03:05 AMHow unexpected health crises can affect retirement savings and long-term wealthThe Clinton Courier [MS]; 10/13/26Retirement planning usually focuses on building enough savings to support a comfortable life after leaving the workforce... Yet even a carefully prepared financial plan can face serious challenges when an unexpected health crisis occurs. A sudden injury, serious illness, or medical emergency can change a household’s financial priorities almost overnight. Money intended for retirement may need to cover hospital bills, rehabilitation, medications, or ordinary living expenses during a period without income. For some families, these costs create financial pressure that continues long after the immediate medical situation improves.Publisher's note: Should hospices include financial discussions with patients and/or families as part of holistic care? Why or why not? If so, how...?
Former CMS employee: War on home care fraud yields 30 percent collateral damage
10/15/26 at 03:00 AMFormer CMS employee: War on home care fraud yields 30 percent collateral damageMcKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 10/13/26The recent uptick in fraud audits, denials and revocations may seem unusual, but it is not particularly new. One former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services employee said he has seen it before — in the late 1990s... [Michael McGowan, a former CMS Region IX OASIS automation coordinator] sees the current environment as the aftermath of Operation Restore Trust. While the federal government is claiming success in response to rampant fraud, McGowan believes it is just turning over the apple cart, bruising a lot of decent apples in the process. “There are gross amounts of provider fraud and there are gross amounts of collateral damage,” he said. “They do not have the ability to truly tell the difference. What they’ve done is gone after a bunch of small players. It looks really good to say, ‘Oh, we’ve just closed 500 agencies.’ Well, I know damn good and well you did not do it right. My CMS experience in the 20 years I’ve been doing this work shows me that there’s at least 30% collateral damage. That’s the norm. And they go crowing about their success while these people’s life work has been vaporized.”
LifeTouch Health data breach exposes Social Security numbers and health records
10/14/26 at 03:05 AMLifeTouch Health data breach exposes Social Security numbers and health recordsData Breach Rights; 10/13/26Arkansas Hospice Inc., operating as LifeTouch Health, notified the Vermont Attorney General in October 2026 of a data breach exposing Social Security numbers, government ID numbers, financial account data, and health records. The number of people affected has not been publicly disclosed. Affected individuals should place a credit freeze and monitor both credit reports and insurance statements closely.
Empassion CEO: MA Can Help with Hospice Program Integrity
10/14/26 at 03:00 AMEmpassion CEO: MA Can Help with Hospice Program Integrity Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/13/26Structures like Medicare Advantage (MA) can help improve hospice program integrity and reduce the health care spend, according to Robin Heffernan, CEO of Empassion Health. Empassion Health operates in 45 states... Hospice News sat down with Heffernan to discuss past program integrity issues within the home health benefit, how MA may have helped and what this means for hospices.
West Palm Beach man accused of beating hospice patient, strangling second woman
10/13/26 at 03:10 AMWest Palm Beach man accused of beating hospice patient, strangling second womanHoodline; by Livi Miller; 10/9/26A West Palm Beach man is being held without bond after deputies say he forced his way into a home near North Federal Highway and attacked two women, including an at-home hospice patient suffering from terminal cancer. Mandy Bolobanic was arrested Thursday and now faces an array of felony charges including home invasion robbery, elder abuse, battery by strangulation and witness tampering.
Dartmouth Health unveils new home-based care initiative
10/13/26 at 03:05 AMDartmouth Health unveils new home-based care initiativeHospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/9/26Dartmouth Health is launching a suite of home-based care services in partnership with Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. The program is branded as Dartmouth Health at Home. Supported by a $20 million philanthropic gift, Dartmouth Health at Home aims to transform rural healthcare by expanding access to care, improving patient outcomes, and facilitating the safe and effective transition of care from hospitals and ambulatory settings to patients’ homes, while supporting patients and their families throughout the process. The program will include home-based primary care and palliative care. “One of the things that is revolutionary about Dartmouth Health at Home is bringing a range of coordinated services to patients in their homes rather than patients coming to one of our facilities for services,” said Dr. Nathan Goldstein, chair of the Department of Medicine at Dartmouth Health and co-CEO of Dartmouth Health at Home.
What leaders should say when they don’t have all the answers
10/13/26 at 03:00 AMWhat leaders should say when they don’t have all the answersDarden Report; by Seb Murray; 10/8/26“What brings a leader down is their reluctance to communicate,” says UVA Darden Professor June West. “Research shows that in the absence of communication, employees create it, and the grapevine becomes very active.” ... For Professor June West, who has spent almost 30 years teaching leadership communication at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, the lesson from the Warsh debate is a simple one: Uncertainty calls for more communication, not less.
Staying with patients and your people
10/12/26 at 03:20 AMStaying with patients and your peopleForbes; by Monica Cutia; 10/9/26Monica Cutia, BSN, RN, PHN, COS-C, VP of Clinical Operations, HealthView Home Healthcare, Hospice & Palliative Care... What Leaders Can Do. If you run a service organization, there are a few things I’ve found useful.
Hospice waits on a court order when no family can speak for you
10/12/26 at 03:15 AMHospice waits on a court order when no family can speak for youThe Podcast by KevinMD; 10/8/26A man is dying. He cannot speak, and no one in his life can say what he would have wanted. Kirsten Engel is a palliative medicine physician, and Medha Tripathi is a health writer and incoming Fulbright research scholar. This episode is based on their article “Guardianship and hospice care fail dying patients,” published on KevinMD. They explain what happens when a patient has no family and no health care proxy, and a court appoints a guardian who has never met them. A move to comfort measures then needs a court date that can take weeks, while the hospital works in hours and days.Publisher's note: How often do hospices serve patients with no family and/or health care proxy? What challenges do you face? What solutions are available?
BJC HealthCare to build 1st dedicated hospice house in St. Louis
10/12/26 at 03:10 AMBJC HealthCare to build 1st dedicated hospice house in St. LouisBecker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 10/7/26St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare plans to open the first dedicated hospice house in the city on its Barnes-Jewish Hospital campus. Evelyn’s House will be a 12-bed hospice house that builds on the system’s original model, which launched in 2017... Construction is expected to begin in 2027, and the facility is expected to open in 2028.
How investing in AI can help home care head off Medicare denials, suspensions
10/12/26 at 03:05 AMHow investing in AI can help home care head off Medicare denials, suspensions McKnights Home Care; by John Roszkowski; 10/9/26As government regulators are increasingly using artificial intelligence to identify irregular billing patterns to detect potential fraud and health insurance companies use AI to justify claims denials, home care providers often find themselves at a major disadvantage. Providers need to proactively invest in the right AI technology to address compliance gaps or risk the possibility of regulatory audits, claims denials, or even worse, possible suspension or revocation from the Medicare program.
The future of care at home demands a new narrative
10/12/26 at 03:00 AMThe future of care at home demands a new narrativeHomeCare; by Jennifer Sheets; 10/6/26No one disputes that fraud, waste and abuse have no place in Medicare or Medicaid. Our community has been clear and consistent on that point. But there’s a difference between rooting out bad actors and treating an entire sector as suspect until proven otherwise. Right now, we are drifting toward the latter.