Literature Review

Five takeaways: Star investigation into alleged Southern Arizona 'cult' Tuscon.com, Tuscon, AZ; by Tim Stellar; 6/18/26 An Arizona Daily Star investigation found that a Southern Arizona religious group is making millions per year from its hospice in Tucson and Tubac, while former members complain the group forces members to work for free, including at that hospice. Former members interviewed described the Global Community Communications Alliance as a "cult," and court filings call it a high-control religious group with a closed campus. Here are five takeaways from the investigation:

Hospice, ethics & capitalism:  a powerful conversation with  UVA Darden School of Business — part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Lauren Kaufman and Stephen Maiden; 6/17/26 Few topics spark more debate in healthcare than the intersection of compassionate care, ethical responsibility, and financial sustainability. Will mission-driven hospice organizations survive—and thrive—in a healthcare landscape increasingly dominated by for-profit providers? In Part One of this compelling conversation, host Chris Comeaux welcomes Lauren Kaufmann, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and Stephen Maiden, Managing Director of the Darden Case Writing Research Group. Together, they discuss the groundbreaking business case developed around Teleios Collaborative Network and the evolving hospice industry.

Hospice of Davidson County rebrands as Alderwood, expands care  The Dispatch; by Staff; 6/16/26 Hospice of Davidson County has changed its name to Alderwood of Davidson County as it expands beyond traditional hospice care to offer a broader range of services for people facing serious illness, including new palliative care options and enhanced grief support programs. "For over 40 years, we have provided our community with exceptional care," said Kristi Johnson Marion, senior communications and marketing consultant. "As the needs around us have grown, we continue to evolve: expanding our services, elevating our expertise and ensuring we remain a steadfast and trusted presence wherever serious illness calls for us."

Hospice care takes a community: Lynn Mock Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH; by guest columnist Lynn Mock, chief strategy officer for Reserve Care; 6/14/26 ... Across Northern Ohio, families face some of life’s most difficult moments when a loved one is living with serious illness. In those moments, medical expertise matters. But so does something less clinical, but just as essential: human presence. Hospice brings both. ... This support allows patients to focus on what matters most in the time they have. But hospice does not stand alone in that work. It is strengthened by the community around it. ... Community support also makes grief care possible.

Celebration of Compassion raises over $100,000 for Hosparus Health Hospice Care Center Hosparus Health, Louisville, KY; Press Release; 6/11/26 Hosparus Health, one of the region’s leading nonprofit providers of hospice and palliative care, hosted its fourth annual Celebration of Compassion on Friday, June 5, at the Kentucky Derby Museum. The inspiring evening, presented by Republic Bank Foundation, honored outstanding caregivers, donors, and community partners, and raised over $100,000 in support of a bold vision: building the region’s first standalone Hospice Care Center – a facility now under construction after breaking ground last fall. ... Becky Tooker, President of Hosparus Health said, “Because of this community, the vision for the Hospice Care Center has progressed from promise to reality—construction is underway, and we look ahead to opening in 2027.” 

Fashion for a Cause raises more than $300K for community health programs Hospice of the Chesapeake; Press Release; 6/10/26 Hospice of the Chesapeake’s annual Fashion for a Cause event drew a sold-out crowd ready to celebrate community, style and families who depend on the nonprofit’s services. When the night was over, more than $300,000 had been raised for community health programs. ...  Guests were treated to a red-carpet experience complete with bites from local restaurants, food trucks and a moving celebration of compassion and community care.

Providing inclusive and affirmative palliative care for the LGBTQ+ community: why inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients is essential CAPC - Center to Advance Palliative Care; by Kimberly D. Acquaviva, PhD, MSW, CSE, FNAP, Anup Bharani, MD, Brynn Bowman, MPA, Brittany Chambers, MPH, CHES, Diane Farquhar, LCSW, ACSW (1957 – 2023), Noelle Marie Javier, MD, Rabbi Max Zev Reynolds, BCC, MA, Billy Rosa, PhD, MBE, APRN, Rayna Ross, CHES; retrieved from the internet 6/9/26 Despite the historical efforts to advance civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning (LGTBQ+) community – there continues to be ongoing discrimination in society, including in health care. Providing inclusive care for seriously ill LGBTQ+ patients is essential for ensuring equitable, respectful, and comprehensive health care. ... The Bottom Line: For patients that have experienced discrimination from the health system, trust-building is a key priority and the foundation on which health care is delivered.

VITAS CEO: CMS’ national moratorium disappointing Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/5/26 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) national moratorium on home health and hospice enrollment is “disappointing,” according to VITAS Healthcare CEO Joel Wherley. ... “Our stance and position in working with [CMS Administrator] Dr. Oz and their group is that we are extremely supportive,” VITAS CEO Joel Wherley said at the RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference. “What we are disappointed in is the broad brush approach they decided to take nationally in announcing the hospice moratorium. We would much more prefer a targeted specific approach where they’ve identified areas of fraud and work specifically then with local and state governments to weed out that fraud.”

Pulling for Hospice draws record turnout WIFR, South Beloit, IL; by Madalyne Korzeniewski and Caleb Mays; 6/7/26 Teams put their strength to the test Sunday during Pulling for Hospice, a fundraiser supporting Beloit Regional Hospice patients and their families. Teams of eight to 10 people competed to pull a fire truck 75 feet as quickly as possible. The event raises money for services not always covered through traditional care, including grief support and family programs. Beloit Regional Hospice has served families across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois for more than 40 years. Organizers say the fundraiser has grown significantly since it began six years ago, expanding from about eight teams to 16 this year and moving to the Beloit Health System. 

VITAS Healthcare’s growing Florida footprint Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 6/4/26 Florida-headquartered VITAS Healthcare is expanding its reach across the Sunshine State. The Chemed Corp. subsidiary recently launched a new inpatient hospice center in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a part of its existing service region since 2019. Meanwhile, VITAS also announced its expansion into Florida’s Gulf Coast region of Manatee County. Both strategic moves are intended to improve access to hospice and palliative care, according to VITAS Executive Vice President Patty Husted.

A first look at first of its kind children's hospice in Florida Ocala StarBanner; by Doug Engle; 6/3/26 The Bailey Family Tree of Wonder graces the hallway in The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s new Dorion Family Pediatric Center at 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville. The $10 million center was built within Community Hospice's Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring and is named in honor of the Dorion family, led by Dorothy "Dottie" Dorion and her late husband, George Dorion, longtime Community Hospice supporters.

Trellis Supportive Care supports CMS efforts to strengthen hospice oversight The Stokes News, Winston Salem, NC; by Ann Gauthreaux; 6/3/25 [Background information about the CMS Hospice six-month moratorium] “Hospice care should always represent dignity, compassion, and trust,” said Dr. Mike Lalor, CEO of Trellis Supportive Care. “Actions that address bad actors in our industry are necessary to preserve the integrity of hospice and ensure that patients receive the quality care they deserve.” Trellis Supportive Care wants to reassure patients, families, referral partners, and the broader community that this moratorium does not impact its services or operations. The organization continues to provide hospice, palliative, and supportive care throughout the region without interruption.