Literature Review

CMS is right about hospice fraud but wrong about the moratorium on new enrollments Health Affairs; by Tamara Weaver; 6/30/26 Under CMS’s six-month moratorium on new enrollments, I have effectively been told to sit still, burn cash, and hope I survive long enough to eventually serve patients. That is not good policy. That is collateral damage. I am exactly the kind of hospice agency owner the federal government should want in this industry. I am not a private equity fund. I am not a shell company. I am not a fraudster who enrolled patients who did not qualify, billed for services never rendered, or relocated across state lines to outrun regulators. I am a founder who spent years building something genuinely different—investing my life savings, my retirement, and my professional identity into a mission-driven hospice designed specifically as an antidote to the failures that have eroded trust in end-of-life care. ...

Mt. Hood Hospice gets $41K after largest-ever fundraising month Sandy Post, Sandy, OR; by Christopher Keizur; 7/1/26 The 2026 Support Mt. Hood Hospice Month is an annual effort that involves businesses, organizations, and community members across the greater Sandy area. It is in support of Mt. Hood Hospice, which provides care to terminally ill patients regardless of their ability to pay. “This year we tried a lot of new things and had better numbers and donations,” said Brian York, marketing specialist for Clackamas County Bank. On Wednesday, July 1, at Mt. Hood Hospice, 39085 Pioneer Boulevard, a check for $41,877.99 was presented (leave it to a bank to be so precise). That is the highest donation yet.

VNA Hops for Hospice brings community together in support of compassionate care GreatNews.Life, Valparaiso, IN; by Maxwell Barath; 6/29/26 On Saturday, June 27, more than 250 guests and over 60 dedicated volunteers gathered at the Porter County Expo Center for VNA Hospice NWI’s sixth annual Hops for Hospice, an afternoon celebrating local craft beverages, delicious food, live music, and a shared commitment to compassionate hospice care. The Expo Center was filled with energy as attendees sampled offerings from dozens of regional breweries, wineries, and beverage vendors while enjoying live performances by Bryan Elliott and Duke Tumatoe, whose music provided the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon of community, conversation, and giving back.

At Hospice Austin’s summer camp, kids find joy together after experiencing loss KUT 90.5, Austin, TX; by Olivia Aldridge; 6/29/26 On a Friday in mid-June, middle school-aged kids lined up for their shot at a summer camp rite of passage: the infamous high ropes course at John Knox Ranch in Fischer, Texas. The ranch hosts Camp Brave Heart, Hospice Austin’s annual camp for kids and teens who have experienced loss. 13-year-old Alisa bravely stepped up to the challenge first. Soon enough, she was strapped into a harness, inching along ropes strung 30 feet in the air. “You are rocking this!” the counselor belaying her from the ground yelled as Alisa neared the end of the course. “Take a second — you want to look at the view?”

Big Bend Hospice announces grand opening of second Oak Tree Treasures location in Tallahassee Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL; Press Release; 6/29/26 Big Bend Hospice celebrated the grand opening of its second Oak Tree Treasures resale shop on Friday, June 26, welcoming a crowd of supporters, volunteers, donors and community leaders to mark the milestone. The celebration drew such an enthusiastic response ... Located at 3802 N. Monroe St., the new store expands Oak Tree Treasures’ mission of turning everyday shopping and donations into meaningful support for hospice patients and families across the Big Bend.

DAI to acquire 24 home health agencies from HCA, ‘doubling down’ on care in the home Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 6/24/26 Deaconess Associations Incorporated (DAI) has agreed to acquire 31 home health and hospice agencies – primarily home health – from HCA Healthcare. The agencies, which consist of 24 home health locations and seven hospice locations, are spread across eight states. The deal is part of DAI’s strategic push to ‘double down’ its home health and hospice offerings, DAI CEO Trey Crabb told Home Health Care News. ... The 31 agencies are primarily located in Texas and Florida, with smaller numbers in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. The agencies will become part of Central Pyramid, one of DAI’s four owned subsidiaries, and will retain local brands except in any instances where HCA requires DAI to change the name. 

Adams County Community Foundation supports Hospice of Hope patient care initiative The Highland County Press, Hillsboro, OH; by John Condon; 6/24/26 The Adams County Community Foundation has awarded a grant to Hospice of Hope to support a special patient-centered initiative designed to provide comfort, dignity and meaningful personal connections for hospice patients and their families. The grant will help fund the creation of personalized “All About Me” boards that will be developed and decorated by Hospice of Hope volunteers for patients receiving hospice care. Each board will highlight important aspects of the patient’s life, including their personal story, favorite things, family memories, and what matters most to them. ... In addition to serving as a communication and memory-sharing tool during hospice care, the boards will remain with families as keepsakes and reminders of their loved one’s life and experiences.

Walking with Purpose fundraiser: hospice volunteer shares story of 520-mile journey WBUP/WJMN, Marquette, MI; by Rebecca Bartelme; 6/23/26 A volunteer with Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice gives back to hospice patients and their families in a unique way. Bart Carroll set out on a 520-mile journey along the Camino de Santiago in Spain, turning every step into support for hospice patients and families. Now, he’s back to share stories, reflections, and the powerful impact of walking with purpose ... "All the funds that Bart has raised from the walks goes to support our Patient Care Fund," said Jennifer Voegtline, CEO, Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice. 

Leading with care WilmingtonBiz, Wilmington, NC; by Beth A. Klahre; 6/22/26 Following a nationwide search, Karen Brubaker Miller was named president and CEO of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare this spring, becoming just the fourth CEO in the organization’s 46-year history. ... Miller said she plans to continue to grow palliative care services. In addition, with $5 million from the New Hanover Community Endowment, LifeCare will also administer The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Program, a Medicare initiative launched in July 2024. Looking further ahead, Miller hopes to expand LifeCare’s geographic reach while building on the services in place.

Groundbreaking ceremony held for Julia HouseWJET Erie, Erie, PA; by Bailey Mutschler; 6/18/26 What started as moving dirt on Thursday [6/18] is expected to become a place focused on comfort, dignity and support for families that need it. Project leaders broke ground off of West Road in McKean, officially beginning construction of Julia House, Erie County's first free standing in-patient hospice facility and outpatient palliative medicine clinic. "I saw the very first inpatient hospice facility in Cleveland, and I realized that we didn't have a facility like this here in Erie County," said Christopher Strzalka, the medical director and board president of Julia Hospice & Palliative Care. ... This project has been in the works since the pandemic. After receiving multiple state grants and holding a number of fundraisers, their goal of nearly $6 million has been reached.

Heritage Home Health Care, Legacy Hospice, Advanced Home Health and Hospice form Ohio joint venture Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/18/26 Three Ohio-based home health and hospice providers have launched a joint venture branded as Heritage Home Health and Hospice. The JV — involving Heritage Home Health Care, Legacy Hospice and Advanced Home Health and Hospice — is designed to provide home health and hospice services across the Buckeye State, as well as the Erie, Pennsylvania, region. The legacy organizations will continue to operate as they have been. The JV promises a “deeper understanding of clinical resources,” modernized technology, expanded back-office support and an improved operational infrastructure, a statement from Advanced Home Health and Hospice indicated.

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."

NPHI calls for thoughtful hospice payment reform that rewards high-quality care National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 6/16/26The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)is calling for thoughtful modernization of the Medicare Hospice Benefit while raising concerns about recommendations contained in a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that could fundamentally alter the hospice benefit and potentially lead to substantial changes in provider reimbursement. NPHI is exploring potential reforms to the current hospice payment structure, including steps to reduce incentives for bad actors and poor-quality care by lowering the hospice aggregate cap, and reallocating dollars within the existing payment methodology to better compensate high-quality, mission-driven providers caring for the sickest patients. NPHI believes these types of reforms would better align reimbursement with patient needs, preserve the core principles of hospice care, and encourage providers to deliver care based on patient need rather than financial incentives. ...