Literature Review

U.S. hospice market size to reach $45.3 billion by 2033 Grand View Research; April 2026 The U.S. hospice market size is estimated to reach USD 45.3 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. 

Derby Brunch helps support hospice organization The Owenton News-Herald, Owen County, KY; by Staff Reports; 4/28/26 The Owen County Friends of Hospice’s annual Derby Brunch on April 25 helped raise money for Bluegrass Care Navigators to support hospice and grief services the region, the organization announced. The organization serves in Owen, Franklin, Woodford and Anderson counties. Since its inception 11 years ago, this fundraising event has raised more than $75,000.

We spoke to over 30 CEOs and business leaders. Here’s what worries them most CNBC; by Lee Ying Shan; 4/27/26 Business leaders are confronting a new operating reality: one where war, inflation, AI and supply chain shocks are no longer exceptional events, but part of the baseline. CNBC spoke to more than 30 CEOs, business executives and industry leaders at the annual Converge Live event in Singapore last week. Across sectors — banking, energy, shipping, technology and manufacturing — a clear theme emerged: uncertainty is no longer episodic. It is structural.

VITAS banks on length of stay, referral mix management Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/27/26 VITAS Healthcare has been working to balance admission numbers from different settings and manage length of stay to prevent further payment cap liabilities after a rough go in the last months of 2025. Starting late last year VITAS began emphasizing hospital-based referrals in its admissions processes, which typically result in shorter length-of-stay patients. As of the fourth quarter of 2025, which marked the start of Fiscal Year 2026, the company has virtually eliminated that cap liability in Florida. This trend has continued into 2026, according to VITAS CEO Joel Wherley.

Iowa City Hospice hosts Walk for Dignity KCRG-9 ABC News, Iowa City, IA; by Lacey Reeves; 4/26/26 People in Iowa City walked through Willow Creek Park on Saturday in memory of loved ones who died after receiving hospice care. Iowa City Hospice hosts a Walk for Dignity every year to raise money to provide free end-of-life care to people who need it. ... “We give over $250,000 a year in unreimbursed hospice care to people in our community who don’t have insurance, because we believe that if you’re dying, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for your health care,” said Sara Krieger, CEO of Iowa City Hospice. ... As the families walked, they passed by memory lane with yard signs with photos of people who have died.

Tom Koutsoumpas: California’s hospice fraud crisis demands action Redlands Daily Facts | Commentary; by Tom Koutsoumpas; 4/23/26 Throughout the 1980s, in the early days of building hospice care into the American healthcare system, those of us on the frontlines helped shape what would become the Medicare hospice benefit. It was a turning point in how this country cares for people at the end of life. At its core, the hospice benefit is simple. ... For millions of families, it has meant more dignity, more support, and more time focused on what matters most. That’s why the scale of fraudulent hospice activity in California is so deeply concerning. This is not a gray area. It is widespread fraud, targeting vulnerable patients and exploiting gaps in oversight.

AAHPM Hospice Statement approved by the Executive Committee on April 17, 2026 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Press Release; 4/17/26 The AAHPM Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, in close coordination with Academy staff and trusted stakeholder partners, has been actively monitoring and discussing recent events and actions, including those by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as Congressional hearings related to hospice fraud. ... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should target fraudulent hospices. We have provided guidance to CMS on our recommendations to do so with precision, including but not limited to identifying red flags such as those below, which should be applied with clinical context and should not be applied mechanically to penalize providers serving complex patient populations. [Continue reading]

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice names Lee Ellison executive director Township Journal, Newton, MA; Press Release; 4/23/26 Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has named Lee Ellison as its new executive director, effective immediately, the organization announced. Ellison brings more than 30 years of leadership experience, including nearly a decade with the hospice organization. She most recently served as director of marketing and media/business development, where officials said she played a key role in expanding programs, strengthening community partnerships and increasing donor engagement.

Mary Chan legacy fuels record fundraising at hospice race The Standard Newspaper, Kingman, AZ; by Allen Scott; 4/22/26 The 21st annual Mary Chan “Race for Hospice” drew roughly 200 runners and walkers to downtown Kingman on Sunday, where participants once again faced the steep and unforgiving Andy Devine Avenue/Route 66 hill leading up to the El Trovatore Motel. The challenging climb has become a defining feature of both the 5K and 10K courses. The race honors Mary Chan, whose Chinese-American family has lived in the Kingman area for six generations, beginning with work on the railroad. Chan has been involved with the fundraiser since its inception in 2005.

Unity raises nearly $95,000 during Give Big Green Bay 2026 The Chamber of Manitowoc County; Press Release; 4/20/26 Unity is celebrating the impact of this year’s Give BIG Green Bay campaign, which generated $94,786 in support of compassionate end-of-life care and grief support services across Northeast Wisconsin. During the 24-hour giving event, 362 donors contributed $78,435 directly to Unity, with an additional $16,786 in matching funds and incentives through Give BIG Green Bay, hosted by the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. 

Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties’ “A Legacy in Bloom” gala celebrates community and compassionate care with dignity focusmedia, Middletown, NY; Press Release; 4/22/26Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties’ annual A Legacy in Bloom Gala on April 18 at West Hills Country Club, brought together community leaders, healthcare partners, supporters and advocates to celebrate compassion, connection and the vital role of dignified hospice care in the region. ... Since 1988, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties has provided compassionate end-of-life care to patients and families across the Hudson Valley.

Older adults and volunteerism: a vital social justice issue Nonprofit Quarterly; by Jan Masaoka; 4/20/26 In this series, The Unexpected Value of Volunteers, author Jan Masaoka takes on the underappreciated topic of volunteerism and provides some unexpected ideas about the role that volunteers can play in building nonprofit reach, impact, and capacity. ... Indeed, senior volunteerism exposes a deep problem with how organizations and society at large view older adults. Seniors are routinely cast as people to be helped instead of people who help.Editor's Note: This article names a quiet paradox especially relevant to hospice: older adults are often seen as recipients of care, yet they are essential to delivering it through volunteer service. When we treat volunteer roles as a Medicare requirement to fulfill, we risk missing the deeper truth. Older adult volunteers bring lived wisdom, presence, and purpose—helping us shape care in ways that truly matter.

Alliance statement on the Ways & Means Hearing examining fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 4/21/26 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) continues to support efforts by policymakers and regulators to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare program. On April 21, the House Committee on Ways and Means hosted a hearing titled “Protecting Patients and Taxpayers: Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud.” The harm experienced by victims of Medicare fraud cannot be overstated. Hospice care exists to provide dignity, comfort, and support at the end of life. When bad actors exploit this trusted system, they don’t just harm individual patients — they erode confidence in the Medicare hospice benefit as a whole. Receiving care at home is the preferred choice for care by many patients and families, and home health plays a vital role in providing skilled care that improves health outcomes and reduces hospitalizations.