Literature Review

Now open: VITAS Healthcare inpatient hospice care at Oak Manor PR Newswire, Largo, FL; by VITAS Healthcare; 3/16/26 Residents in Pinellas County now have improved access to high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care with the opening of VITAS Healthcare inpatient care at Oak Manor in Largo. As the first VITAS inpatient center in the region, the facility strengthens the continuum of care for people facing terminal illness by providing around-the-clock clinical support in a comfortable, supportive environment. The center features 12 private patient rooms designed to offer comfort, dignity and support for patients and families. The facility ... is expected to care for more than 400 patients and their families each year. 

The non-professional virtues of the hospice volunteer Journal of Applied Philosophy; by Michael B. Gill; 3/12/26 Volunteers have long played a significant role in hospice care. Much of the care volunteers provide consists of weekly hour-long in-home visits. Home-visiting hospice volunteers are not professionals, nor are they strangers or intimates. Hospice volunteers will not typically face moral dilemmas, nor be called upon to make dramatic decisions. Nonetheless, hospice volunteering can exemplify a neglected area of in-between ethics – a subset of what Brownlee has called the ‘ethics of interacting’ – that can redound to the wellbeing of all concerned. This article explores the in-between ethics of hospice volunteering and the opportunities it affords to cultivate virtues of attention and gratitude.

Hospice fraud explodes in California after state ‘crackdown’: 742 flagged providers, $105 million overbilled, and ghost offices California Globe; by Megan Barth; 3/11/26 California investigative reporter Christian Hartsock, in collaboration with California State Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo for the California Courier, released a breaking undercover investigation just days ago, exposing dozens of suspicious hospice and home healthcare agencies in Los Angeles. Their on-site visits revealed hundreds of companies registered to crumbling buildings with no ramps, no handicap parking, disconnected phones, and signs reading “Out to Lunch.” Hartsock’s footage highlights how over $3.5 billion in Medi-Cal fraud has been identified in Los Angeles County alone, with 31% of all U.S. hospices registered there despite only 2% of the nation’s aging seniors residing in the area. 

California hospice fraud: What to know as blame game erupts Newsweek; by Jasmine Laws; 3/11/26, updated 3/12/26 The social media platform X has been awash with criticism targeted at California Governor Gavin Newsom as a CBS News report detailed the extent of the state's hospice fraud problem. Newsom's office has been hitting back at the comments, reminding users that the state "cracked down on hospice fraud years ago," and has been pointing the finger at President Donald Trump, as his administration paused a hospice oversight program at the start of 2025. ... Responding to Newsom's office's comments, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Newsweek: "No one cares about Newscum’s boring X posts ..." While California has been in the spotlight for its hospice fraud, it is not the only state experiencing the problem—it is a nationwide issue. ... A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General in 2023 found that suspected hospice fraud amounts totaled an estimated $198.1 million nationwide. However, some states in particular have seen a surge in new operators, namely California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas, meaning these states are considered hotspots for potential hospice fraud.Editor's Note: This article aptly names the deeply partisan “blame game” now playing out across many media outlets. Hospice fraud is not a partisan issue—it is a human one. When hospice is exploited, it erodes trust in a field built on compassion and dignity at life’s most vulnerable moments. Political finger-pointing may generate headlines, but it does little to solve the problem. Stopping hospice fraud requires accountability, strong oversight, and a shared commitment to protect patients—and the integrity of hospice care itself.

VNA of Texas to take over operations of Faith Presbyterian Hospice Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/11/26 Faith Presbyterian Hospice, a subsidiary of the nonprofit senior housing operator Forefront Living, is transferring its patients and most of its staff to the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA). VNA is expanding its census and its footprint through a deepened partnership with Forefront, with which the organization has had a longstanding relationship. Faith Presbyterian is currently winding down its operations, allowing VNA and Forefront to focus on their own core competencies while leveraging each other’s expertise.

Shanti Niketan Hospice Home Campaign reaches $3.5 million goal WGRK K-Country 105.7, Glasgow, KY; by Josh Mickinney; 3/10/26 The T.J. Community Mission Foundation (TJCMF) announced the successful completion of the $3.5 million capital campaign to build Shanti Niketan Hospice Home during a special ceremony celebrating the facility’s five-year anniversary. The campaign, titled “Love Makes This House a Home,” was launched in 2015 with the goal of creating a residential hospice facility to serve families throughout south central Kentucky. Since opening in 2021, Shanti Niketan Hospice Home has provided care and comfort for more than 275 patients and their families. “Shanti Niketan Hospice Home reflects the very best of compassionate healthcare,” said Neil Thornbury, CEO of T.J. Regional Health.

Social Work Month shines spotlight on profession of hope Ashe Post & Times, High Country, NC; by AMOREM; 3/9/26 AMOREM, along with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), proudly celebrates one of the nation's largest professions. March is National Social Work Month and this year's theme, "Social Workers: Uplift, Defend, Transform," highlights the profession's core mission to enhance human well-being, meet basic needs and empower vulnerable populations, especially during challenging times of economic, political and societal division.

How America’s nursing shortage impacts health care Deseret News; by Lois M. Collins; 3/8/26 America has a nursing shortage, but where it is and who’s affected is not evenly distributed across the country. And even communities with an adequate or near-adequate supply must be vigilant to ensure that shortages don’t creep in. Key Points:

Granite VNA names James Culhane President and CEO Granite VNA, Concord, NH; Press Release; 3/5/26 After a rigorous and comprehensive executive search, Granite VNA, New Hampshire’s largest not-for-profit home health and hospice agency, has named James Culhane as its next President and CEO. He will succeed Beth Slepian, who has served in that role since 2015, upon her retirement in June 2026. Culhane has served as President and CEO of Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice in New London, New Hampshire, since 2015. 

Avow Hospice fights new rival in Naples Naples Today | Health; 3/5/26 Avow Hospice, a long-standing hospice provider in Naples, Florida, is objecting to the state's preliminary approval of a new hospice entity, Preferred Care Hospice, that Avow says would be detrimental to its operations of over 40 years in the community. Avow has filed a petition for an administrative hearing to try to overturn the state's approval of the new hospice. ... The battle between Avow Hospice and the new Preferred Care Hospice highlights the competitive nature of the hospice industry, especially in growing markets like Naples. 

Heart to Heart Hospice expands service in East Texas Cision | PR Newswire, Plano, TX; Press Release; 3/3/26 Heart to Heart Hospice, one of the country's largest private providers of hospice care, has opened two new agencies in East Texas, significantly expanding its ability to serve patients and families in the region. Heart to Heart Hospice of Huntsville and Heart to Heart Hospice of Hemphill are now making a broad range of hospice services available in nine additional Texas counties. The Huntsville agency serves the counties of Brazos, Grimes, Houston, Madison, Polk, Trinity, and Walker. The Hemphill location covers Sabine and San Augustine counties. 

Demystifying the end: Hospice care impact on the Black community Word In Black | Houston Defender; by Laura Onyeneho; 3/2/26 ... For African American, Afro-Caribbean and African immigrant families, generational trauma and a lack of trust in the healthcare system often lead to delayed decisions about hospice care. “There’s been a historical gap in access and trust,” said [Monica James, Community Engagement Coordinator for Houston Hospice]. “Our goal is to show up consistently, to listen and to let these communities know they have options and that they’re not alone.” ... “For communities of color, we have to meet people where they are. That means understanding family dynamics, faith and what dignity means to different people,” she said. 

Love hurts: Leadership, quality, and the future of hospice & palliative care | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN Talks); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Alex Smith and Dr. Eric Widera; 3/4/26 TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership host Chris Comeaux and co-host Cordt Kassner join forces with Dr. Eric Widera and Dr. Alex Smith of the GeriPal Podcast, leaders in Palliative Care and Hospice innovation discuss emerging quality measures, data-driven hospice analytics, research challenges, and the leadership needed to guide healthcare organizations through change. For professionals working in healthcare leadership and serious illness care, the conversation offers valuable insight into the policies, research, and innovations shaping the future of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.